Kansas City → Los Angeles

1 a dayfastest 35h50AmtrakNight train

Direct trains · no change

21:37 → 07:27⁺²
Southwest Chief 3 Night train
Kansas City → Los Angeles · via Albuquerque, Flagstaff
35h5023 stops
Runs: DailyAmtrak ↗

Local times at each station. Times from official open data: Amtrak (file of 26 Oct 2026). Checked Mon 26 Oct 2026; they cover 26 Oct to 22 Nov 2026. Timetables change, so check with the operator before you travel. How we build this.

Door to door vs flying

Overnight: leave 21:37, arrive 07:27

The plane is 27h30 quicker on paper, but the night train uses your night instead of a day and saves a hotel.

Train · fastest direct36h00

Before departure10 min
Southwest Chief 335h50

Plane · nonstop MCI to LAX8h30

To Kansas City (MCI)1h10
Check-in & security2h00
Flight MCI to LAX3h50
Landing to exit35 min
From LAX55 min

From city centre to city centre unless you pick otherwise. Getting to stations and airports: typical public-transport times (estimates). Airport: check-in & security 2h before, 35 min to get out after landing. Flight time is typical for the distance.

Flying instead? Kansas City → Los Angeles

3 airlines fly it nonstop. Book direct on the airline's own site:

Delta Air LinesMCI→LAXBook direct ↗
Southwest AirlinesMCI→LAXBook direct ↗
United AirlinesMCI→LAXBook direct ↗

Compare on picktheflight ↗