mobilityKC
Accessible trips around Kansas City ♿
KCI Airport to downtown Kansas City
You can get from Kansas City International (MCI) to downtown for $2 on the RideKC 229 bus. It's a long, simple ride — plan around the hourly schedule.
| How often | About once an hour, every day (the weekend schedule is about the same) |
|---|---|
| Hours | Roughly 6 AM to 10 PM. The last buses leave around 10 PM — after that, use a taxi or rideshare. |
| Travel time | About 70 minutes from the airport to downtown (11th/12th Streets near Central), with no transfer |
| Cost | $2 — tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard or Discover card, or your phone. No cash on board. |
| Which bus | From the airport, board the 229 signed “To East Village” (downtown). To the airport, board the 229 signed “To KCI Airport”. |
Based on RideKC/KCATA schedule data (valid July–October 2026) and trip tests on that data. Always confirm the current timetable on RideKC's route 229 page.
Step by step: airport to downtown
- Check the next departure on the 229 route page or in the Transit app before you leave the terminal. If you just missed one, the next is about an hour away.
- Find the RideKC bus stop at the terminal (RideKC's schedule data calls it “KCI Airport New Terminal”). If you can't spot it, ask airport information for the RideKC bus.
- Tap to pay as you board: contactless card or phone wallet, $2. Paying for someone else too? Tell the driver how many people before you tap.
- Ride about 70 minutes to downtown. The stops along 11th and 12th Streets near Central are closest to downtown hotels, the Power & Light District and the Convention Center.
Going beyond downtown
| Where you're headed | How | About |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown hotels, Power & Light | 229 to 11th/12th & Central, then walk | 70 min |
| Convention Center (Bartle Hall) | 229 to 12th & Central; Bartle Hall is a short walk south at 13th & Central | 75 min |
| Crown Center, Union Station | 229 downtown, walk a few blocks to Metro Center (12th & Main), free streetcar to Union Station | 95 min |
| Country Club Plaza, Westport | 229 downtown, then the free streetcar south (Plaza or Westport stop) | 1 hr 45 min or more |
Times include walking and depend on when you arrive — waiting for the hourly bus can add up to an hour. See the KC Streetcar guide for every stop.
When a taxi or rideshare makes more sense
- You land after about 9:30 PM and might miss the last bus.
- You're on a tight schedule, have a lot of luggage, or are traveling in a group that can share a ride.
- You're headed somewhere the bus and streetcar don't reach well — for example Overland Park or Olathe, or the stadiums.
Taxis and rideshare (Uber, Lyft) pick up at KCI — follow the airport's ground transportation signs.
Going back to the airport
- Downtown, board the 229 signed “To KCI Airport” on 11th Street near Central.
- The ride is about 65–70 minutes and the bus comes about hourly, so allow one extra bus of buffer before you need to be at the airport.
- Early flight? Check the timetable the night before — the first airport-bound buses leave downtown early in the morning, but not early enough for every first-wave flight.
Accessibility
- RideKC says buses throughout the region are fitted with lifts or ramps.
- Visitors who are eligible for ADA paratransit at home can use RideKC Freedom for up to 21 days a year — see accessible travel in Kansas City.
- Walking routes from the downtown stops to hotels vary; ask your hotel for the most accessible route if you use a wheelchair or scooter.
Official information: RideKC route 229 schedule · RideKC fares & passes · Service alerts