Los Angeles → Kansas City

1 a dayfastest 35h23AmtrakNight train

Direct trains · no change

16:55 → 06:18⁺²
Southwest Chief 4 Night train
Los Angeles → Kansas City · via Flagstaff, Albuquerque
35h2323 stops
Runs: Daily, not Tue 27 OctAmtrak ↗

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 16:55, arrive 06:18

The plane is 27h03 quicker on paper, but the night train uses your night instead of a day and saves a hotel.

Train · fastest direct35h33

Before departure10 min
Southwest Chief 435h23

Plane · nonstop LAX to MCI8h30

To Los Angeles (LAX)55 min
Check-in & security2h00
Flight LAX to MCI3h50
Landing to exit35 min
From MCI1h10

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? Los Angeles → Kansas City

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

Delta Air LinesLAX→MCIBook direct ↗
Southwest AirlinesLAX→MCIBook direct ↗
United AirlinesLAX→MCIBook direct ↗

Compare on picktheflight ↗