Best route from Kansas City to Fort Leonard Wood
TEXAS
Leonard Wood to pick up a relative. What is the fastest route? US 71
to I-44 would be too far out of the way, as would MO 7-13 to 44, but
with the uneven quality of MO two lane highways, it might be faster to
go one of those ways. MO 7 to I-44 is an alternative, but I've been
on 7 and it's a fairly slow drive in places. I'm sure I-44 to US 71
would be the best route from Fort Leonard Wood to Mena. Anyone
familiar with the area roads got any suggestions?
Grauto
any vital statistics. My name is John Fischer; I'm a mathematics
major at the University of Columbia. Fortunately, I'm uniquely
qualified on more than one count to answer your questions.
As to your Kansas City-Fort Wood route question, I have just the route
for you:
US 50 to MO 5 to MO 52 to MO 17
I'm a native of Ulman, MO, three miles off MO 17 in Miller County, and
our state representative has worked toward getting the above route
recognized as the best deployment route from Fort Wood to Whiteman Air
Force Base (and thus Kansas City).
All of the route from Sedalia to Crocker is good two-lane. MO 5 and
MO 52 are fairly straight and flat, and you could (somewhat) safely
average 70 mph on MO 17 north of Crocker if necessary. South of
Crocker, MO 17 gets pretty twisty, but it's no worse than MO 7 over
the Gasconade River, and it's worth it to drive the better roads to
the north and west. Some advice from a local: when the speed limit
drops coming into Waynesville on MO 17, obey it.
This route (MO 5-52-17) is shorter in distance and in time compared to
using MO 7 through Clinton, Warsaw, and Camdenton; it also bypasses
more towns along its routing. Warsavians travelling to Camdenton tend
to use US 65 to US 54 just to avoid MO 7; it's almost scary to drive.
As for your second route, much of my mother's family is from the Mena
area, so I've used those roads a lot as well. We most often take I-44
to US 71. Although we used to take US 60/MO 37, it's much nicer to
have four lanes that much longer. The opening the
Rogers-Springdale-Fayetteville bypasses, and later of I-540, sure
shaved a lot of time off the trip.
Best of luck should you decide to run through my stomping grounds!
John Fischer
Ulman/Columbia, MO
bu...@hotmail.com (TEXAS) wrote in message news:<39a87bd2.01121...@posting.google.com>...
Mark Stauter
> I will be travelling from KC to Ft Leonard Wood. What is the fastest route?
> MO 7 to I-44 is an alternative,
Take this route. The shorter distance more than makes up for the
slower speeds. Lake traffic is negligible this time of year. In case
of ice and snow you might consider the longer but more heavily
traveled route.
Keep in mind that substantial delays are possible entering the Fort
now, although I've heard that the western gate will be re-opened soon,
which should help.
Mark Stauter
Rolla, Mo.
msta...@umr.edu
US71
> As for your second route, much of my mother's family is from the Mena
> area, so I've used those roads a lot as well. We most often take I-44
> to US 71. Although we used to take US 60/MO 37, it's much nicer to
> have four lanes that much longer. The opening the
> Rogers-Springdale-Fayetteville bypasses, and later of I-540, sure
> shaved a lot of time off the trip.
I am inclined to agree. 60 is looking kind of worn these days as is 37
from Monett to Cassville. Your best bet _is_ 44 to 71/540. One minor
word of caution: there is construction on the Fayetteville Bypass...
the road is being resurfaced (and not a moment too soon), so be
prepared for slow traffic in the area.
South of Fayetteville should generally be smooth sailing.
Don't forget to wave as you pass through ;)
Mark Stauter
The only problem I have with this route is that you must go through
Sedalia, which can be very tedious.
> All of the route from Sedalia to Crocker is good two-lane.
Eldon will slow you down, and I would not go anywhere near the Osage
River bridge in icy weather.
> This route (MO 5-52-17) is shorter in distance and in time compared to
> using MO 7 through Clinton, Warsaw, and Camdenton;
You don't really go "through" Warsaw at all. Clinton and Camdenton
can be drags, though, I'll agree.
> Warsavians travelling to Camdenton tend
> to use US 65 to US 54 just to avoid MO 7; it's almost scary to drive.
During "lake" season perhaps, but this time of year I wouldn't bother
with the longer route.
> As for your second route, We most often take I-44 to US 71.
Oh, yass. 8-)
By the way, I was in Anderson, Mo., last week, and work is going well
on the US-71 freeway (future I-49?) on the east side of town. Give it
another year, though.
Actually, KC to Ft. Wood is one of those "you can't get there from
here" propositions. When I drive from KC to Rolla, I take US-50 to
US-63 at Jefferson City. But to the Fort I still think I would take
US-71/MO-7/I-44, although US-50/MO-5/MO-52/MO-17/BR-44 is certainly
acceptable.
US71
>
> By the way, I was in Anderson, Mo., last week, and work is going well
> on the US-71 freeway (future I-49?) on the east side of town. Give it
> another year, though.
I was through there yesterday... looks like the Goodman to Anderson
section is being paved. South of there, it's mostly dirt work (and
blowing up the rocks). Looks like the new road will cross the current
alignment about a mile south of MO 76 (just past the top of the hill).
I was running late, so I didn't check the status over on MO 90.
TEXAS
"Grauto" <roads...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:2ebc118.01121...@posting.google.com...
> All of the route from Sedalia to Crocker is good two-lane. MO 5 and
> MO 52 are fairly straight and flat, and you could (somewhat) safely
> average 70 mph on MO 17 north of Crocker if necessary. South of
> Crocker, MO 17 gets pretty twisty, but it's no worse than MO 7 over
> the Gasconade River, and it's worth it to drive the better roads to
> the north and west. Some advice from a local: when the speed limit
> drops coming into Waynesville on MO 17, obey it.
I found that out the hard way last year (but it was BL 44).
> As for your second route, much of my mother's family is from the Mena
> area, so I've used those roads a lot as well. We most often take I-44
> to US 71. Although we used to take US 60/MO 37, it's much nicer to
> have four lanes that much longer. The opening the
> Rogers-Springdale-Fayetteville bypasses, and later of I-540, sure
> shaved a lot of time off the trip.
Wow, it's a small world! If you don't mind me asking, what is your mom's
family's last name?
> Best of luck should you decide to run through my stomping grounds!
I was talking to somebody today, and they said to take I-70 to US 63 to MO
28. That seems a bit out of the way to me...
TEXAS
"Mark Stauter" <msta...@umr.edu> wrote in message
news:69f71a01.01121...@posting.google.com...
> roads...@yahoo.com (Grauto) wrote:
>
> > As to your Kansas City-Fort Wood route question,
> > US 50 to MO 5 to MO 52 to MO 17
>
> The only problem I have with this route is that you must go through
> Sedalia, which can be very tedious.
Would it be better to take I-70 to MO 5 at Boonville? Also, how good is MO
87?
> > This route (MO 5-52-17) is shorter in distance and in time compared to
> > using MO 7 through Clinton, Warsaw, and Camdenton;
>
> You don't really go "through" Warsaw at all. Clinton and Camdenton
> can be drags, though, I'll agree.
Clinton usually hasn't been too bad, from my experiences. If it makes any
difference, I will be driving late at night...planning on leaving KC around
8 or 9 pm...
TEXAS
> now, although I've heard that the western gate will be re-opened soon,
> which should help.
Luckily, my sister's friend lives off base. If not, I would definitely make
her meet me off base somewhere :)
Grauto
> > drops coming into Waynesville on MO 17, obey it.
>
> I found that out the hard way last year (but it was BL 44).
Sorry to hear that; Waynesville local cops do have a reputation.
> > As for your second route, much of my mother's family is from the Mena
> > area, so I've used those roads a lot as well.
>
> Wow, it's a small world! If you don't mind me asking, what is your mom's
> family's last name?
My mother's maiden name is Cogburn; her mother was a Powell. Her
family is spread around the Mena, Oden, and Mount Ida areas.
> I was talking to somebody today, and they said to take I-70 to US 63 to MO
> 28. That seems a bit out of the way to me...
I agree. US 63 to MO 28 is not a good idea from KC, nor from
Jefferson City/Columbia. Wading through Whitton Expressway in Jeff
City is not unlike wading through Sedalia (well, maybe not _that_
bad). Then, after Freeburg and Vienna, there's MO 28, which is worse
than MO 17, especially south of Dixon. From Jeff City to the fort, US
54 to MO 17 is slightly shorter, significantly faster, and follows
better roads. Consequently, it makes little sense to go to Jeff City
just to get from KC to MO 17 in Tuscumbia.
This KC-Fort thread is generating quite a bit of discussion -- who
would have thought that decent proposals could go through towns as far
apart as Clinton and Boonville? It's turning out to be an interesting
question indeed!
John Fischer
on break from Mizzou
in Ulman, MO
Grauto
> > > US 50 to MO 5 to MO 52 to MO 17
> >
> > The only problem I have with this route is that you must go through
> > Sedalia, which can be very tedious.
>
> Would it be better to take I-70 to MO 5 at Boonville? Also, how good is MO
> 87?
I don't recommend I-70, but I'll discuss it. KC to Tipton by US 50 is
about 109 miles; by I-70 and MO 5, it's about 123 miles. The
difference depends on where you start in KC -- from the Overland Park
area, US 50 is better, but from north of the river, I-70 might indeed
win out if you didn't hit construction. Nowadays, however, this is a
big if.
MO 87 is probably less desirable than MO 5. MO 87 is a good road from
Boonville to California, but from California to Eldon, it's a bit
worse. MO 5 and MO 52 are straighter and have a 60 mph speed limit;
MO 87 is 55 mph. The question is still that of the best route from KC
to Eldon, and locals generally use either 50-5-52 or 50-65-52 (there
are still a few Rock Island purists).
> Clinton usually hasn't been too bad, from my experiences. If it makes any
> difference, I will be driving late at night...planning on leaving KC around
> 8 or 9 pm...
It seems that the sticking point in my route is Sedalia -- it really
needs a US 50 bypass built to the north. At night, though, current US
50 through Sedalia would probably be much improved.
At its size, Sedalia might benefit from a full beltway that could
carry US 50 and US 65. With the ribbon growth to the west and the
airport on the east side of town, though, it seems any US 65 bypass
would be so long that traffic would rather stay on Limit Avenue.
TEXAS
> My mother's maiden name is Cogburn; her mother was a Powell. Her
> family is spread around the Mena, Oden, and Mount Ida areas.
I know some Cogburns and some Powells. I have a pretty good friend
named Cogburn. Are you related to anyone with the name of or know
anybody with the last names of Lance, Dilbeck, Putman, or Steed?
> This KC-Fort thread is generating quite a bit of discussion -- who
> would have thought that decent proposals could go through towns as far
> apart as Clinton and Boonville? It's turning out to be an interesting
> question indeed!
I even discussed a proposal of going all the way to Joplin and all the
way to Columbia. Neither one of those would be a 'decent' proposal
IMO.
How about US 71 to US 54 to MO 13 south to MO 32 ot I-44?
If I am able to leave directly from work, I'll probably end up taking
I-70 to MO 5 to MO 7. Especially if I get to leave early, because I
don't want to touch the Triangle with a 10 foot pole around rush hour.
I wouldn't want to mess with US 50 because MO 350 is quite tedious
around that time as well. By the way, I work on Blue Parkway between
I-435 and US 71.
Grauto
> named Cogburn. Are you related to anyone with the name of or know
> anybody with the last names of Lance, Dilbeck, Putman, or Steed?
Not that I know of. I asked my mother, and she didn't find any of
them to be familiar, although she moved to Warrensburg, MO as she was
starting middle school. Her father, Bob Cogburn, still lives there,
just a mile or two east of town. He probably knows people with these
names.
> How about US 71 to US 54 to MO 13 south to MO 32 ot I-44?
The quickest way to get from Harrisonville to Collins is to take MO 7
and MO 13, which is now four lanes all the way to Osceola. Although
US 71 to US 54 bypasses Clinton, it goes through El Dorado Springs,
incurring a similar delay. US 71 to US 54 is also 21.6 miles longer.
MO 32 is good (60 mph, I think) from Bolivar to Buffalo; however, east
of Bolivar, MO 32 is not a very good road. MO 64 to the north is
better. Even so, I'd say any route south of MO 7 is probably out of
the way.
> If I am able to leave directly from work, I'll probably end up taking
> I-70 to MO 5 to MO 7.
If you're sticking with I-70 -- an interesting idea -- then I must
give one final plug for my route. Starting at the MO 5/MO 52 east
intersection, MO 5 to MO 7 to I-44 is 83 miles long. MO 52 to MO 17
to BL 44, by contrast, is 66 miles long.
MO 5 on the west side of the lake may be undesirable for two reasons.
First, the road is a giant speed zone; while wading through Gravois
Mills, Laurie, Sunrise Beach, Hurricane Deck, and Greenview, the speed
limit is commonly 45 mph. Local cops are a common sight. Second, the
MO 5/7 Niangua bridge replacement north of Camdenton is underway. I
haven't been though there, but there may be reduced speeds.
Call me biased, but a trip through Miller County is worth your time.
Some knock it, but I'm glad to call it home.
TEXAS
> Not that I know of. I asked my mother, and she didn't find any of
> them to be familiar, although she moved to Warrensburg, MO as she was
> starting middle school. Her father, Bob Cogburn, still lives there,
> just a mile or two east of town. He probably knows people with these
> names.
I bet my grandparents know him. I'll ask sometime.
> If you're sticking with I-70 -- an interesting idea -- then I must
> give one final plug for my route. Starting at the MO 5/MO 52 east
> intersection, MO 5 to MO 7 to I-44 is 83 miles long. MO 52 to MO 17
> to BL 44, by contrast, is 66 miles long.
I ended up taking I-70 to MO 5 to MO 52 to US 54 to MO 42 to MO 17. I took
54 through Osage Beach because I wanted to take a detour to the dam on Bus
US 54 in Lake Ozark. The roads were generally good except for MO 42, which
was pretty slow going.
Grauto
> 54 through Osage Beach because I wanted to take a detour to the dam on Bus
> US 54 in Lake Ozark. The roads were generally good except for MO 42, which
> was pretty slow going.
MO 42 and I go way back -- I went over the Osage Beach-Brumley section
every school day for eleven years. (That was my high school on MO 42
about two miles east of US 54.) One of the "curve left - 50 mph"
signs in Lake of the Ozarks State Park is due to me; I put my car in
the ditch around that curve one unfortunate night during my senior
year. The little cedar I knocked down is still sitting there. A
month or two later, the speed warning sign came up. I can attest,
then, to the fact that MO 42 isn't much account west of Brumley.
For a real scare, try MO 42 between Vienna and Belle -- it's got some
of the steepest hills and sharpest curves I've seen on Missouri's
state highway system. I think one or two of the curves are marked for
15 mph.
Sounds like a good trip -- the MO 17 bridge over the Gasconade River
lies in especially scenic territory.
TEXAS
> of the steepest hills and sharpest curves I've seen on Missouri's
> state highway system. I think one or two of the curves are marked for
> 15 mph.
That's saying a lot. There are some horrible curves in MO.
> Sounds like a good trip -- the MO 17 bridge over the Gasconade River
> lies in especially scenic territory.
It was dark when I went through, but the aforementioned bridge was a nice
surprise.