Kansas City

Understand

Kansas City has a population of 2.2 million (2020). The central city of the metro area is Kansas City, Missouri, the largest city in Missouri, with a population of over 500,000 (2020). Across the state border is Kansas City, Kansas, often called "KCK" by locals, which has a population of 157,000 (2020). There are suburbs all around the city, on both sides of the state border. In the "Northland" are North Kansas City, Parkville, Gladstone, Liberty, and several others. To the east is Independence, Blue Springs, and Lee's Summit (SE). In the south are Overland Park, Blue Springs, Olathe, Grandview, and several others. Numbering of east/west streets begins at the Missouri River with the east/west division occurring at Main Street. Westport is around 40th St., the Plaza at 47th St., Brookside at 55th, and Waldo beginning around Gregory (71st St.).

Climate

Because there is no large body of water nearby, KC experiences a continental climate with large swings and extremes of temperature. Winters vary from mild to very cold, with significant snow at times, and temperatures occasionally dipping to single digits and below 0°F (-18°C). Snow accumulation occurs 3-5 times per year, on average, sometimes exceeding a foot (31 cm). KC enjoys very pleasant spring and autumn weather, but suffers hot, humid summers. It is not uncommon for the temperature to stay above 90°F (32°C) for weeks at a time, during July and August. Average heat indices in the summer are 95 °F (35 °C) during the day and 74 °F (23 °C) at night, but the heat index can reach 110 °F (43 °C) and not go below 85 °F (29 °C) at night on some exceptionally hot and sweltering days. Because of the heat, almost all buildings in KC are equipped with air conditioning. While KC has relatively high humidity, the most common weather is clear with almost completely blue skies. The majority of the rain falls in Apr-Jun, but even in these wettest months, rain is light, compared to other cities in the region.

Downtown Downtown Kansas City is generally defined as the areas including the River Market, the central business district (the "Loop"), the Crossroads Arts District, Crown Center and Union Station, and the Power and Light District. After years of neglect and decay in the 1980s and 1990s, downtown is making a comeback. Many once-abandoned buildings in downtown have been (or are being) rebuilt into high-dollar condominiums and loft apartments. The demand for residences downtown is quite high. In 2007, the sports arena now known as T-Mobile Center was completed, bringing a modern sports and entertainment ven

Getting there

By plane 1 Kansas City International Airport (MCI IATA). Serves the Kansas City area and is in the Northland. The IATA code MCI comes from its original name, Mid-continent International, but it is now more commonly called KCI, Kansas City International. A new terminal was opened in 2023, and is now much more on par with the nicest airports in the US. (updated Mar 2023) The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, branded as RideKC, offers hourly service to and from the airport on Route 129 Boardwalk/KCI, 6AM-11PM daily, $1.50 each way. KCI Shuttle offers a shuttle service between the airport and downtown hotels.

2 Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC IATA). Serves smaller general aviation planes.

By train Amtrak serves KC via the cavernous 3 Kansas City Union Station, at 30 West Pershing Road. KC serves as a major stop on the daily Southwest Chief line which provides service between Chicago and Los Angeles. Barring delays, eastbound trains arrive at 7:24AM and westbound trains arrive at 10:11PM. Kansas City is also the western terminus of Amtrak's Missouri River Runner which provides twice-daily service to and from St. Louis with connecting service to Chicago.

By car Interstate 435 forms a ring around the city. Notably I-70 goes east to St. Louis and west to Denver. I-35 is a major corridor running northeast and southwest. US Highway 71 runs north and south and forms a midtown expressway, running from the I-435/I-470 interchange, in a northwesterly course toward downtown, where it joins I-29. North of the River, US 71 follows the same route as I-29. For more information about navigation in the metro area see W:Kansas City Metropolitan Area.

By bus 4 Greyhound bus terminal, 1101 Troost Avenue, ☏ +1 816-221-2835 (Main office), +1 816-221-2885 (customer service). KC is also serviced by other commercial coach service companies, which arrive and depart from the depot at 10th and Troost.

Getting around

The national map companies produce book style maps that can be purchased at many grocery and book stores. Local real estate agents and delivery drivers use a book map produced by a local company in the crossroads district but it is hard to find. The one inside the Feist directory is good and can often be obtained locally for free but the directory may be too bulky to carry.

Street numbers Addresses on east-west streets are numbered from Main Street in Kansas City, MO, and on north-south streets from St. John Ave. (or the Missouri River, in the River Market area). The direction 'South' in street and address numbers is generally implied if 'N' is not specified, except for numbered 'avenues' in North Kansas City. In most of Wyandotte County, Kansas the north-south streets are numbered and the address numbers are measured from Riverview Ave.

Navigation landmarks The KCTV pyramid-shaped tower can be seen from many parts of the city. It is no longer lit. It is next to KCPT studios at the corner of 31st and Main. It is orange. West and north of that is the Liberty Memorial cylinder-shaped tower, which overlooks Union Station. The twin red brick towers of American Century Investments are oriented north and south along Main at 45th St. They are just north of the Country Club Plaza. The Kemper Museum is slightly east. The Nelson Atkins Museum is east and slightly south. Kansas City Community Christian Church at 4601 Main, has a group of lights that shoot a beam straight up at night. Frank Lloyd Wright designed the church. It is slightly south of and across the street from the American Century Investment Towers. The Nelson Atkins is to the east and the Kemper Museum is to the north and slightly east. Bartle Hall has a section that looks somewhat like a north-south suspension bridge crossing over I-670 at the southwest corner of the downtown loop. It has four towers with metal sculptures on top of each tower. One Kansas City Place is the tallest building in KC (as well as the state). The building walls are entirely black glass and the top has a red/white/blue light ring that can be seen at night. On 12th and Main in downtown. Kansas City Central Library at 14 W 10th St, the main central library of the Kansas City Public Literary system.

Places and notes Brookside refers to the Brookside residential neighborhood as well as the collection of shops between 63d and Meyer off Brookside Blvd. Waldo refers to the Waldo Residential District in Kansas City, Missouri near 75th St. and Wornall Rd. The Country Club Plaza ("the Plaza") is an upscale shopping distric

See

Downtown

Central Business District. Downtown Kansas City houses many beautiful art deco buildings as well as examples of mid-century design and modern glass towers. 1 Power and Light District. New development showcasing restaurants and rowdy bars/clubs. Also see the historic Main Street Theater (now Alamo Drafthouse Cinema) which used to be the Flagship theater for AMC who has its HQ in Kansas City. The theater is said to be one of the most advanced theaters in the country complete with vibrating seats. 2 Historic City Market. Offers shopping, dining, concerts, events and a farmers' market. 3 The College Basketball Experience and College Basketball Hall of Fame, 1401 Grand Boulevard, ☏ +1 816-949-7500. Th-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 11AM-6PM. A 41,500-square-foot facility that is connected to the Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City in the Power and Light district. The facility features lots of interactive basketball exhibits and about 1/3 of the College Basketball Experience is occupied by the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. $20 adults (ages 18-64), $18 kids (ages 4-17), $15 seniors (65+), $18 military (Must be active with ID), Kids 3 & Under are free. (updated Jan 2026)

18th and Vine Historic District 4 American Jazz Museum, 1616 E 18th St. Tu-Sa 10AM–5PM, Su noon–6PM. Adult $10; seniors (ages 60+) $9; youth (ages 6-18) $6; children (ages 5 and under) free; military with ID $4; students & educators (ages 19+ with ID) $8; combined with Negro Leagues Museum $8. (updated Feb 2022) 5 Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, 1616 E 18th St, ☏ +1 816-221-1920. Tu-Sa 10AM–5PM, Su noon–5PM, closed M. A museum devoted to the history of the Negro Leagues, an African-American baseball league that was very popular prior to the racial integration of Major League Baseball. Lots of memorabilia from teams, stadiums, and noted players. $10 adults, $9 seniors, $6 children; combined with Jazz Museum $8. (updated May 2015)

Union Station area 6 Union Station, 30 W Pershing Rd, ☏ +1 816-460-2020, [email protected]. 6AM-midnight. Has a visitor center, theatres, restaurants, shops, the Amtrak station and the following attractions. Also, the nation's second largest train station with ceiling over 100 ft (30 m) tall. (updated Sep 2020) Science City, Gottlieb Planetarium and KC Rail Experience. Ticket to all 3 is $8.95. 7 U.S. National WWI Museum and Memorial, Museum: 2 Memorial Drive; memorial: 100 W 26th St, toll-free: +1-816-888-8100. Museum: Sep-May: Tu-Su 10AM-5PM; May-Aug: Su-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-5PM; memorial: Tu–Su 10AM–5PM (4:15PM for the tower). America's l

Do

Amusement parks 1 Worlds of Fun, 4545 Worlds Of Fun Ave, ☏ +1 816 454-4545. Roller coasters and water slides north of the river. Open during the summer and weekends in the fall. (updated Apr 2021) 2 Great Wolf Lodge Kansas City's Water Park, 10401 Cabela Dr, toll-free: +1 800-608-9653. Hotel with indoor water park. (updated Apr 2026) 3 Legoland Discovery Center Kansas City, 2475 Grand Blvd East Retail Suite 200; Crown Center Shops, toll-free: +1 816-556-3958, [email protected]. Small Lego-themed space in Crown Center. Targeted at small children, adults are not allowed without a child. (updated Apr 2026)

Sports

Major league sports 4 Kansas City Chiefs, 1 Arrowhead Dr (I-70 to exit Blue Ridge/I-435 to exit #63B), ☏ +1 816-920-9400, fax: +1 816-924-4570. National Football League (NFL). A founding member of the upstart American Football League (AFL) in 1960, they moved from Dallas to Kansas City when the Cowboys were put there by the NFL. They lost the first ever Super Bowl to the Green Bay Packers and won the last AFL championship and ensuing Super Bowl in the 1969 season. They failed to return to the big game again until the 2019 season when they won their second Super Bowl Championship 50 years after their last on February 2, 2020. After failing to get to the big game in the 2021-2022, the Chiefs again won the Super Bowl in 2023, and again in 2024, making them a dynasty. (updated Feb 2023) 5 Kansas City Royals, Kauffman Stadium, 1 Royal Way (I-70 to exit Blue Ridge/I-435 to exit #63B), toll-free: +1-800-6ROYALS (769257). Kansas City's Major League Baseball (MLB) team plays in Kauffman Stadium, one of the few remaining examples of 1960s-era modernist stadiums in baseball and still one of the best examples of modernist stadium design, with a fountain beyond the right field wall that sends jets of water high into the air. The team has had a notable turnaround; after going nearly 30 years without a playoff appearance, the Royals staged a stunning World Series run in 2014 and returned to win the championship in 2015, much to the joy of their fans. 6 Sporting Kansas City, Children's Mercy Park, 1800 Village W Pkwy, Kansas City, KS (I-435 to exit #13B/#14B, continue W to 110th St. and turn left), ☏ +1 913-387-3400, toll-free: +1-888-4KCGOAL (524625), fax: +1 913-387-3401, [email protected]. Major League Soccer (MLS). 7 Kansas City Current, CPKC Stadium, 1460 E Front St, Kansas City, MO (I-29 to exit #4B and follow signs). The region's representative in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)—which, while not a "major league

Buy

1 Country Club Plaza. The nation's first shopping center, designed for the automobile. It offers high-end shops and restaurants in a quaint European atmosphere. The architecture is modeled after Seville, Spain and includes a replica of the Giralda Tower. 2 Oak Park Mall (suburban). Largest indoor mall in the region. Brookside Shops. Local non-chain shops and non-chain restaurants. Grocery stores, bar, sandwiches. 3 39th Street West. Roughly between State Line Rd. and Southwest Trafficway. 4 Halls. (updated Apr 2022) 5 Crown Center. (updated Apr 2022) 6 Zona Rosa. (updated Apr 2022) 7 119th Street (Suburban Kansas). The area east of the Sprint HQ is home to a number of shopping complexes like Town Center Plaza, Leawood Park Place and One Nineteen. Park Place is a highly dense, mixed use suburban town center catering to local retailers. Antiques: KC has many unique things you will not find on the coasts. The best places to poke around are estate sales and whatnot in the outlying farm areas -- they throw nothing away. Check out the River Market Antique Mall for 4 stories of vendors selling something between trash and treasure. The West Bottoms warehouses host antique and estate sale auctions on the weekends, look to the KC Star for details. 8 Crossroads Arts District. Highly inspiring mix of shops ranging from apparel to home design. Shops are scattered throughout this gritty district of former warehouses and industrial spaces. The district is also one of the largest collections of art galleries and studios in the Midwest. 9 Legends. Legends Outlets Kansas City is a super-regional shopping mall located in the Village West development near Kansas City, Kansas. (updated Sep 2018) City Market Area: once called the River Market (and before that the River Quay back when mobsters used to end up in trunks with bullet holes). Like Times Square, they chased out the venerable old peep shows and dive bars. Now the neighborhood hosts a farmer's market, live music during the summer from major acts, and the Steamboat Arabia Museum which hosts the largest collection of prewar silver in the world -- recovered from a large paddlewheeler that went down in the 1830s.

Eat

Barbecue "Who has the best barbecue in Kansas City?" is a question that causes much debate in Kansas City. Although the debate is usually in good humor, be ready for a passionate explanation which may take some time (or a light-hearted argument if asked in front of more than one person). Although the different restaurants each have their own unique flavors, they will usually have a sauce which is thicker and sweeter than offered in most other parts of the U.S. Kansas City is also home to a barbecue dish that is rarely found outside the area, called "Burnt Ends." These are the overcooked ends and edges of a brisket, which although dry and chewy, are amazingly smoky and full of flavor (much more flavorful than any other cut). If you are feeling open-minded about your KC barbecue experience, they are definitely worth a try.

1 Arthur Bryant's, 1727 Brooklyn Ave, ☏ +1 816-231-1123, [email protected]. M-F 10AM-8PM, Sa 11AM-8PM, Su 11AM-7PM. It has pictures on the wall of presidents and other famous people who have visited. The sandwich consists of a large pile of brisket and two pieces of butternut bread. One sandwich could feed three people. Ask for sauce for take-outs. Bryant's signature sauce is a vinegar based sauce with slight lower neutral overtones. There are alternative, sweeter versions of the sauce available. There is a security guard in the parking lot at night. (updated Jul 2025) 2 B.B.'s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E 85th St, ☏ +1 816-822-7427. B.B.'s Lawnside BBQ is in an old roadhouse in south Kansas City, and serves Kansas City-style barbecue. All the ribs, sausage and meats are slow-smoked in a 60 year old pit with apple wood. This often includes Cajun/Creole staples such as Boudin Balls & Jambalaya. However, BB's is best known for live Blues, Zydeco, and other various types of live music six nights a week. Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue (3 locations). Jack Stack is considered to be the Kansas City area's "High Class" BBQ restaurant (although jeans & T-shirts are perfectly acceptable) Jack stack offers one of the largest varieties of meats in the metro area. Choices can vary from lamb ribs, to prime rib. Jack Stack's sauce is extremely similar to Gates sauce in that it is sweet, but slightly less tangy than Gate's version. Notable sides include their hickory pit beans and cheesy corn bake. 3 Martin City, 13441 Holmes Rd, ☏ +1 816-942-9141. M-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 11AM-8:30PM; Happy hour: M-F 3PM-6PM. (updated Apr 2022) 4 Freight House, 101 W 22nd St. #300, ☏ +1 816-472-7427. M-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 11AM-8:30PM; Hap

Drink & nightlife

There is a popular brewery in KC by the name of Boulevard whose beers are available on tap at many different bars and restaurants throughout town. Live Music Venues: Uptown Theatre (Midtown, on Broadway and Valentine) hosts lots of up and coming acts and many timeless performers play here because it is so famous. Beaumont Club is a soulless Westport C&W club that hosts live music but has acoustics' issues and a mechanical bull. The Grand Emporium used to be one of the best blues clubs but after being bought by the owners of the Beaumont they changed it considerably, including the name to Tao.

Downtown 1 Angel's Rock Bar, 50 East 13th St, Suite 200, ☏ +1 816-842-1045. 2 The Drum Room, 1329 Baltimore (In the Hilton President Hotel Kansas), ☏ +1 816-303-1686. Historic jazz and blues location. 3 Howl at the Moon, 1334 Grand Blvd, ☏ +1 816-471-4695. Th 7PM-2AM, F Sa 7PM-3AM, Su-W open for events. 4 John's Deck, 928 Wyandotte St, ☏ +1 816-255-3396. 5 Kansas City Live!, 50 E 13th St, Suite 200, ☏ +1 816-842-1045. Open-air live music and entertainment venue, open-container allowed. Surrounded by the Power & Light District's various bars and eateries. 6 Knucklehead's, 2715 Rochester Ave, ☏ +1 816-483-1456. W-Su. Also known for the wide variety of music they bring to KC like country, blues, rockabilly. Roots, singer/songwriters and Zydeco. Free shuttle available. 7 McFadden's Sports Saloon, 50 E 13th St, Suite 200, ☏ +1 816-842-1045. 8 The Peanut, 418 W 9th St, ☏ +1 816-221-7470. 9 The Phoenix, 302 W 8th St, ☏ +1 816-221-5299. Live jazz 10 The Quaff, 1010 Broadway Blvd, ☏ +1 816-471-1918. Large, very popular bar with scantily-clad waitresses and tough guy bartenders. Frequented mostly by the post-college crowd.

Brookside 11 The Brooksider, 6330 Brookside Plaza, ☏ +1 816-363-4070. M 3PM-midnight, Tu W Su 11AM-midnight, Th-Sa 11AM-1:30AM. 12 Carmen's Cafe, 6307 Brookside Plaza, ☏ +1 816-333-4048. Carmen's serves up tapas, pasta, and Latin- and Italian-style entrees, wine and cocktails in an intimate and friendly setting. Come in through the downstairs bar. $15-30. 13 Charlie Hooper's, 12 W. 63rd Street, ☏ +1 816-361-8841.

Country Club Plaza 14 The Granfalloon, 608 Ward Pkwy, ☏ +1 816-753-7850. 15 JJ's, 4810 Roanoke Pkwy, ☏ +1 816-561-7136. JJ's is a laid back, wine and martini type bar that generally caters to older patrons, but the drink selection is good and the bartenders friendly. The outdoor patio is heated so it can be enjoyed during most of the year. 16 O'Dowd's, 4742 Pennsylvania Ave, ☏ +1 816-561-2700. O'Dowd's is a standard

Sleep

Budget 1 Honeycomb Hostel, 3314 The Paseo, ☏ +1 816-399-7294. Kansas City's only hostel. Dorm beds come with locker and USB port. One private room available. Free wireless internet. Dorms $38.50, private room $88. (updated Feb 2018) 2 Microtel Inn and Suites Kansas City Airport, 11831 NW Plaza Cir, ☏ +1 816-270-1200.

Mid-range 3 Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City, 3200 N Ameristar Dr, ☏ +1 816-414-7000. Refurbished lobby, 184 rooms all with king or 2 queen size beds. (updated Jan 2026) 4 Embassy Suites by Hilton Kansas City International Airport, 7640 NW Tiffany Springs Parkway (4 mi from MCI Airport, 1 mi from Zona Rosa), ☏ +1 816-891-7788, [email protected]. Check-in: 4 PM, check-out: 11 AM. (updated Jan 2026) 5 Southmoreland on the Plaza, 116 E 46th St, ☏ +1-816-500-1196, [email protected]. B and B. (updated Jan 2026) 6 Courtyard Kansas City Downtown/Convention Center, 1535 Baltimore Ave, ☏ +1 816-221-7400. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. Minimum age to check in is 21. On-site parking is $34 daily. (updated Jan 2026) 7 Residence Inn Kansas City Downtown / Convention Center, 1535 Baltimore Ave, ☏ +1 816-221-1400. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. Minimum age to check in is 21. On-site parking is $34 daily. (updated Jan 2026)

Splurge 8 Courtyard Kansas City Country Club Plaza (Historic Courtyard Marriott Plaza), 4600 JC Nichols Pkwy. In the heart of the Plaza. The hotel has free Wi-Fi, complimentary parking, refrigerators and microwaves in every room and bar. 9 Hilton President Kansas City, 1329 Baltimore Ave (Sign reads 'President' in P and L District), ☏ +1 816-221-9490, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. On-site self-parking is $30 per day. (updated Jan 2026) 10 Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center, 2345 McGee St, ☏ +1 816-841-1000. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. Connected to the Crown Center office and shopping complex. (updated Jan 2026) 11 InterContinental Kansas City at The Plaza, 401 Ward Pkwy, ☏ +1 816-756-1500, [email protected]. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. 366 luxury-class rooms and suites. (updated May 2026) 12 Kansas City Marriott Downtown, 200 W 12th St (In Convention District, 12th and Wyandotte), ☏ +1 816-421-6800. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. 22-floor hotel that connects to the historic Muehlebach Hotel. Most recognizable at night, when the front of the hotel shows a light display from dusk-11PM. Indoor rooftop pool available. On-site parking is $8 hourly and $35 daily. (updated Jan 2026) 13 Hotel Phillips, 106 W 12th St, ☏ +1 816-221-7000, [email protected]. Check-

Go next

Kansas City is one of those places where hidden in darker corners, you will find the gems, the places to visit and go. Rarely do things jump out at you and say: come visit this attraction, food, shopping, or historical establishment. Pick up a Pitch Weekly for nightlife information. If you want to relax and enjoy a walk, check out Loose Park just south of the Country Club Plaza. During the spring and fall, it's one of the most beautiful places to stroll. When you are done there are plenty of other beautiful and majestic cities in this region like Omaha, Chicago, Saint Louis, Independence, Lee's Summit, and Des Moines.