Take a quick but fascinating ride through the heart of the Kansas City metro as we follow a brief, 2-mile stretch of Interstate 35 from downtown Missouri into the state of Kansas. Though short, this urban segment offers a snapshot of the energy, infrastructure, and evolution of a bi-state city that has grown around the backbone of its interstates.
We begin our journey at the interchange where Interstate 670 meets I-35, just south of the downtown loop in Kansas City, Missouri. Surrounded by a web of elevated ramps, concrete retaining walls, and the unmistakable skyline of Kansas City’s core, this section is a hive of movement. To our left, the last glimmers of downtown fade behind us—the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the historic freight yards tucked into the West Bottoms. The road carries a sense of momentum here, with traffic filtering in from multiple directions as commuters and cross-country travelers all merge onto this vital artery.
As we curve southwest beneath a mix of overpasses and bridges, the character of the city subtly shifts. Warehouses and industrial buildings line the corridor, giving way to neighborhoods like Westside North and Penn Valley. To the west, the rolling Missouri River bluff hints at the topographic drama that once challenged road builders and railroad engineers alike. This segment of I-35 follows the old path of the Southwest Trafficway before the modern freeway was constructed, a reflection of mid-20th-century ambitions to unify Kansas City’s transportation network. The route here is hemmed in tight, with sound barriers on one side and steep embankments on the other—a channel through the city’s physical and cultural history.
In just a few minutes, we approach the state line. There’s no dramatic fanfare, just a sign marking our entrance into Kansas as the road dips slightly and continues toward Mission and Overland Park. We pass under Southwest Boulevard, a longtime border-spanning thoroughfare, and cross the state line near the Westside South neighborhood. This short segment may not offer sweeping vistas or roadside curiosities, but it carries the weight of continuity—linking city to suburb, state to state, and past to present in the unassuming rhythm of urban freeway travel.
This video was originally produced in collaboration with CrossCounty Travelers, a now-retired travel group.
🗺️ Route Map
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