Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 53–72°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny54°F Cedar Point8:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny53°F Colorado–Kansas line9:30 AM MDT Sunny55°F Oakley11:45 AM CDT Sunny58°F Hays12:45 PM CDT Sunny61°F Salina2:15 PM CDT Sunny69°F Junction City2:45 PM CDT Sunny69°F Topeka3:45 PM CDT Sunny72°F Kansas City4:45 PM CDT Sunny71°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 49–73°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny53°F Cedar Point8:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny49°F Colorado–Kansas line9:30 AM MDT Sunny55°F Oakley11:45 AM CDT Sunny59°F Hays12:45 PM CDT Sunny64°F Salina2:15 PM CDT Sunny71°F Junction City2:45 PM CDT Sunny72°F Topeka3:45 PM CDT Sunny73°F Kansas City4:45 PM CDT Sunny73°F - MonOct 5
CautionGusts to 30 mph near Colorado–Kansas line around 9:30 AM MDT.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Sunny57°F Cedar Point8:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny54°F Colorado–Kansas line9:30 AM MDT Sunny58°F Oakley11:45 AM CDT Sunny60°F Hays12:45 PM CDT Sunny64°F Salina2:15 PM CDT Sunny70°F Junction City2:45 PM CDT Sunny71°F Topeka3:45 PM CDT Sunny71°F Kansas City4:45 PM CDT Sunny70°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 60–77°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Partly sunny60°F Cedar Point8:15 AM MDT Partly sunny60°F Colorado–Kansas line9:30 AM MDT Partly sunny66°F Oakley11:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny66°F Hays12:45 PM CDT Mostly sunny71°F Salina2:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny76°F Junction City2:45 PM CDT Mostly sunny77°F Topeka3:45 PM CDT Mostly sunny76°F Kansas City4:45 PM CDT Mostly sunny74°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 58–80°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny59°F Cedar Point8:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny58°F Colorado–Kansas line9:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny64°F Oakley11:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny68°F Hays12:45 PM CDT Mostly sunny71°F Salina2:15 PM CDT Sunny79°F Junction City2:45 PM CDT Sunny80°F Topeka3:45 PM CDT Sunny80°F Kansas City4:45 PM CDT Sunny78°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 58–81°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Sunny59°F Cedar Point8:15 AM MDT Sunny58°F Colorado–Kansas line9:30 AM MDT Sunny65°F Oakley11:45 AM CDT Sunny68°F Hays12:45 PM CDT Sunny74°F Salina2:15 PM CDT Sunny80°F Junction City2:45 PM CDT Sunny81°F Topeka3:45 PM CDT Sunny81°F Kansas City4:45 PM CDT Sunny79°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 57–81°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Sunny59°F Cedar Point8:15 AM MDT Sunny57°F Colorado–Kansas line9:30 AM MDT Sunny64°F Oakley11:45 AM CDT Sunny68°F Hays12:45 PM CDT Sunny73°F Salina2:15 PM CDT Sunny80°F Junction City2:45 PM CDT Sunny81°F Topeka3:45 PM CDT Sunny81°F Kansas City4:45 PM CDT Sunny79°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Denver (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Denver, COStart 5,276 ftelevation
- Cedar Point, COMile 77 · 1 h 12 min 5,795 ftelevation
- Colorado–Kansas lineState line · Mile 179 · 2 h 37 min 3,922 ftelevation
- Oakley, KSMile 253 · 3 h 39 min 3,048 ftelevation
- Hays, KSMile 338 · 4 h 51 min 1,998 ftelevation
- Salina, KSMile 431 · 6 h 10 min 1,226 ftelevation
- Junction City, KSMile 476 · 6 h 48 min 1,105 ftelevation
- Topeka, KSMile 541 · 7 h 43 min 934 ftelevation
- Kansas City, MOMile 603 · 8 h 41 min 910 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Denver, Cedar Point and Kansas City.
| Month | Denver 5,228 ft | Cedar Point Limon station · 5,364 ft | Kansas City 1,005 ft | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 49° / 21° | 2.4 | 43° / 10° | 38° / 20° | 1.7 |
| Feb | 49° / 22° | 2.6 | 44° / 13° | 44° / 24° | 1.5 |
| Mar | 58° / 30° | 2.5 | 54° / 21° | 55° / 34° | 0.5 |
| Apr | 64° / 36° | 1.5 | 61° / 28° | 66° / 44° | 0.2 |
| May | 73° / 46° | 0.3 | 70° / 38° | 75° / 54° | 0 |
| Jun | 85° / 56° | 0 | 81° / 48° | 84° / 64° | 0 |
| Jul | 91° / 62° | 0 | 87° / 54° | 88° / 68° | 0 |
| Aug | 90° / 60° | 0 | 85° / 53° | 87° / 66° | 0 |
| Sep | 82° / 51° | 0 | 77° / 43° | 79° / 58° | 0 |
| Oct | 68° / 38° | 0.8 | 64° / 29° | 67° / 46° | 0.1 |
| Nov | 56° / 28° | 1.6 | 52° / 18° | 54° / 34° | 0.3 |
| Dec | 47° / 21° | 2.2 | 42° / 10° | 42° / 24° | 1.5 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: DENVER WATER DEPT (USC00052223, 5,228 ft); LIMON WSMO (USW00093010, 5,364 ft); KANSAS CITY INTL AP (USW00003947, 1,005 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Colorado, Kansas and Missouri rather than repeat them.
- Colorado · CDOTCOtrip conditions and cameras
- Colorado · winter rulesTraction and chain laws
- Kansas · KDOTKanDrive road conditions
- Missouri · MoDOTTraveler information map
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Denver to Kansas City with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Denver to Kansas City?
603 miles, about 8½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-70. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Cedar Point, at 5,795 ft. It comes at mile 77, about 1 h 12 min of driving after you leave Denver.
How cold is Cedar Point in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Limon (5,364 ft), averages a high of 43°F and a low of 10°F in January (1991–2020 normals).
How cold is Kansas City in January?
Kansas City averages a high of 38°F and a low of 20°F in January (1991–2020 normals).