Next 7 departures
- TueOct 13
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 54–87°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Cloudy55°F Owatonna8 AM CDT Mostly cloudy54°F Albert Lea8:30 AM CDT Partly sunny55°F Ames10:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny64°F Des Moines10:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny65°F Iowa–Missouri line12 PM CDT Mostly sunny74°F Cameron1 PM CDT Mostly sunny84°F Kansas City1:45 PM CDT Mostly sunny87°F - WedOct 14
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 49–73°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Partly sunny49°F Owatonna8 AM CDT Partly sunny49°F Albert Lea8:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny50°F Ames10:15 AM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers61°F Des Moines10:45 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers61°F Iowa–Missouri line12 PM CDT Light rain showers likely65°F Cameron1 PM CDT Rain showers70°F Kansas City1:45 PM CDT Light rain showers likely73°F - ThuOct 15
CautionChance of thunderstorms near Cameron around 1 PM CDT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers48°F Owatonna8 AM CDT Light rain showers likely48°F Albert Lea8:30 AM CDT Light rain showers likely50°F Ames10:15 AM CDT Light rain showers61°F Des Moines10:45 AM CDT Light rain showers62°F Iowa–Missouri line12 PM CDT Light rain showers65°F Cameron1 PM CDT Chance of thunderstorms70°F Kansas City1:45 PM CDT Chance of thunderstorms73°F - FriOct 16
CautionGusts to 33 mph near Minneapolis around 7 AM CDT. Also at 5 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Partly sunny44°F Owatonna8 AM CDT Partly sunny42°F Albert Lea8:30 AM CDT Partly sunny42°F Ames10:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny50°F Des Moines10:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny51°F Iowa–Missouri line12 PM CDT Mostly sunny53°F Cameron1 PM CDT Partly sunny57°F Kansas City1:45 PM CDT Mostly sunny59°F - SatOct 17
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 35–60°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Areas frost37°F Owatonna8 AM CDT Areas frost35°F Albert Lea8:30 AM CDT Areas frost36°F Ames10:15 AM CDT Sunny46°F Des Moines10:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny47°F Iowa–Missouri line12 PM CDT Sunny50°F Cameron1 PM CDT Sunny57°F Kansas City1:45 PM CDT Sunny60°F - SunOct 18
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 45–68°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Mostly sunny46°F Owatonna8 AM CDT Mostly sunny45°F Albert Lea8:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny45°F Ames10:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny54°F Des Moines10:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny54°F Iowa–Missouri line12 PM CDT Mostly sunny57°F Cameron1 PM CDT Mostly sunny63°F Kansas City1:45 PM CDT Mostly sunny68°F - MonOct 19
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 47–72°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Mostly sunny47°F Owatonna8 AM CDT Mostly sunny48°F Albert Lea8:30 AM CDT Partly sunny47°F Ames10:15 AM CDT Partly sunny59°F Des Moines10:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny59°F Iowa–Missouri line12 PM CDT Partly sunny62°F Cameron1 PM CDT Partly sunny68°F Kansas City1:45 PM CDT Partly sunny72°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 Minneapolis (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Minneapolis, MNStart 840 ftelevation
- Owatonna, MNMile 64 · 1 h 2 min 1,153 ftelevation
- Albert Lea, MNMile 98 · 1 h 32 min 1,307 ftelevation
- Ames, IAMile 212 · 3 h 15 min 922 ftelevation
- Des Moines, IAMile 240 · 3 h 41 min 810 ftelevation
- Iowa–Missouri lineState line · Mile 324 · 4 h 59 min 1,124 ftelevation
- Cameron, MOMile 385 · 5 h 53 min 1,028 ftelevation
- Kansas City, MOMile 436 · 6 h 42 min 910 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Minneapolis, Des Moines and Kansas City.
| Month | Minneapolis Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport station · 872 ft | Des Moines 957 ft | Kansas City 1,005 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 24° / 9° | 3.3 | 31° / 14° | 2.7 | 38° / 20° | 1.7 |
| Feb | 29° / 13° | 2.8 | 36° / 18° | 3.2 | 44° / 24° | 1.5 |
| Mar | 42° / 25° | 2.4 | 49° / 30° | 1.2 | 55° / 34° | 0.5 |
| Apr | 57° / 38° | 0.8 | 62° / 41° | 0.4 | 66° / 44° | 0.2 |
| May | 69° / 50° | 0 | 72° / 52° | 0.1 | 75° / 54° | 0 |
| Jun | 79° / 60° | 0 | 82° / 62° | 0 | 84° / 64° | 0 |
| Jul | 83° / 65° | 0 | 86° / 66° | 0 | 88° / 68° | 0 |
| Aug | 81° / 63° | 0 | 84° / 64° | 0 | 87° / 66° | 0 |
| Sep | 73° / 54° | 0 | 77° / 55° | 0 | 79° / 58° | 0 |
| Oct | 58° / 41° | 0.1 | 63° / 43° | 0.2 | 67° / 46° | 0.1 |
| Nov | 42° / 28° | 1.9 | 48° / 30° | 0.8 | 54° / 34° | 0.3 |
| Dec | 29° / 15° | 3.3 | 36° / 20° | 2.4 | 42° / 24° | 1.5 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL AP (USW00014922, 872 ft); DES MOINES INTL AP (USW00014933, 957 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 Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri rather than repeat them.
- Minnesota · MnDOT511MN road conditions
- Iowa · Iowa DOTIowa 511 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 Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis to Kansas City?
436 miles, about 6½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-35W and I-35. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Albert Lea, at 1,307 ft. It comes at mile 98, about 1 h 32 min of driving after you leave Minneapolis.
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).