Hotels in KC (Kansas City, Springfield, Lee's Summit: extended stay, amusement parks, homes)

[Chris19]

I am thinking about staying overnight in the Kansas City area and am familiar with the Northland part of KC. I will be heading down from South Dakota in mid May to Mississippi and will be leaving SD right after work and likely to arrive at around 10 or 11 PM and leave the next morning (relatively early, depending on what part of KC I stay in).

I am wondering which area of Kansas City metro would be good to stay in if I am going to come in on I-29 and take either the 435's western or eastern route and taking US 71 going south of KC to either Joplin or Springfield.

Theoretically, I would like to stay in Belton, Lees Summit or southern Overland Park to avoid the lion's share of the rush hour traffic when going south on US 71. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Chris19]

To clarify myself, is the southern end (Grandview/Belton area) a decent and safe place for getting a hotel room? Any areas to avoid?

Would going through on either 434 (on the west end) or 435 (on the east end) be relatively safe and decent when going through at 10-11 PM on a Thursday night? Which would be better?

Side note: I am somewhat leery about taking I-29 down to US-71 and taking that straight through at 10-11 PM. I may be somewhat overcautious, but any insight as to hotels and routes would be greatly appreciated.

[kcmo]

Chris19,

Stay by KCI, it's right on I-29 as you come into town on the very north end of the metro, it’s very suburban area.

Here are the hotels by KCI as well as the hotels near the amusement parks and near Liberty, those areas are also in the Northland, but I would probably find something near KCI, there is just a lot more to choose from and you can probably stay in a nicer hotel for less, but Liberty and the 435/Parvin Road area is ok too.

If you don't want to go through the city, I would take I-29 to 152 east and take that to 435 south to 71. That's the quickest way as the north side of 435 is rural and 152 is a growing suburban corridor. If you break down on the north side of 435, you are are in the middle of nowhere. If you stay near KCI, you will be very close to 152. 152 will also take you to the hotels in Liberty and then when you take 435 south, that will take you past the hotels near the amusement parks. I wouldn't take the west leg of 435, that will add a half hour to your trip and for no good reason, plus to get over there and take that, you will bypass all the northland hotels.

So, come in on 29 south, pass KCI and find hotel along that corridor, then take 152 east to 435 south to 71 south and you are outa here!

But don't be afraid to take 71 through the city and, coming into KC from the north gives you a great view of the city. It's safe to drive through KC, I've never heard of a tourist getting shot driving through the city, especially on the highway, although if you don't know the city, driving through Downtown can be confusing. Just take 29S-152E-435S-71S .

I would stay in the northalnd though. There are a few motels in the far south suburbs, but not many and I wouldn't stay anywhere along 435 south of the river (except west of 71). So if you pass the northland, you might end up going way out of your way to get a hotel in Overland Park or Lee's Summit if you want to stay south. There are some good motels along 435 near Holmes/Wornall though which would only put you a couple miles from 71.

Near KCI/Zona Rosa

Hampton Inn
Marriott
Radisson
Four Points
Microtel
Best Western
Fairfield Inn
Econo Lodge
Holiday Inn
Extended Stay America
Comfort Suites
Hilton
Days Inn
Embassy Suites
Sleep Inn
Homestead Studio
Drury Inn
Chase Suites
Courtyard Marriott
Hyatt Place
Homewood Suites
Motel 6
La Quinta Inn
Howard Johnson
Super 8

Liberty area

Hampton Inn
Fairfield Inn
Super 8
Holiday Inn Express
Comfort Suites
Days Inn
Value Place

Near Worlds of Fun

Holiday Inn
Days Inn
Red Roof Inn
Crossland
Comfort Inn
Super 8
Fairfield Inn
Hampton Inn

[Chris19]

Thanks, kcmo.

I will keep that into consideration. I have stayed in the Northland twice before and felt very safe, did fine driving through KC when driving there a few times before (although I tend to be cautious), but have a few additional questions.

My guess is the 435 on the Kansas side would be worse in traffic than 435 on the Missouri side (although I can be wrong). How bad/heavy/intense is the morning traffic when one leaves between 6 to 8 AM in the morning and takes 152 east and south on 435 to US 71 or taking I-29 and then taking US-71 south?

When is the peak morning rush hour in Kansas City area?

This may be a major consideration when either picking a Northland hotel or one down in Overland Park or Lee's Summit. From a time standpoint on the trip, getting a hotel somewhere in the KC metro is the most logical option.

If I stay in one of the KCI airport area hotels, I may leave a hare early to get a good start (being that I would arrive there earlier than arriving in Lee's Summit for example.

[kcmo]

If you are leaving KC in the morning and staying near KCI, I would take 435, the traffic going downtown is going to be heavy.
Traffic on 435 won't be too bad, just busy, regardless of which way you go although you could hit some very heavy traffic out near I-35 on the Kansas side that time of morning or anywhere in the MO side. 435 flows pretty well, but a minor accident that time of day can really cause major backups.

If you want to drive across KC at night and drive out in the morning, I would probably stay in the Overland Park area near Metcalf, Roe, Nall or in South KC near Holmes and Wornall just because it's a nice area and there are dozens of hotels to choose from. Lee's Summit would be way out of your way. Like I said, there are motels in Grandview, Belton etc, but there just are not very many.

If you decide to stay in Overland Park, I would take 29 to 635 to 435. But I know that might be confusing for you. Nevermind, that area gets very congested.

[kcmo]

OK, I pulled up google and played with the thing where you can drag your route around and the results were interesting.

If you take 29 to 71, it’s about an hour from Platte City to Raymore.

If you take 435 on the west side, it’s about one hour from Platte City to Raymore.

If you take 435 on the east side, it’s about one hour from Platte City to Raymore.

If you take 29 to 152 to 435 it’s about one hour from Platte City to Raymore.

If you take 29 to 635 to 69 to 435 it’s about one hour from Platte City to Raymore.



I didn't know the routes are so similar in time. It just seems like that drive on 435 from Platte City to about Shawnee is just a very long drive through nothing.

So I guess it depends on where you want to stay. If you stay in OP, than go west, if you stay in the Northland, than go east.

Oh, by the way, traffic on 71 SB is HORRIBLE right now during the evening rush between Grandview and Belton. Avoid that at that time. It's a mess due to several construction projects.

[Chris19]

I will head down through KC and stay just south of the KC metro. It would be easier that way and I can avoid the morning traffic and get on the road quicker in the morning doing it that way. I will likely take 435 around on the eastern part. As for gassing up the car, I would probably do that most likely in St. Jo or nearby. I will probably ask a few more questions as the time gets closer of if something comes up. Very good descriptions of routes, kcmo.