National Car Rental
Kansas

After collecting your luggage at Kansas City International Airport, simply follow the overhead signs for the Rental Car Center. All rental car companies, including National, are located in a consolidated facility away from the main terminal. You will board a complimentary gray shuttle bus from the arrivals curb that runs continuously to take you directly to the rental center entrance.

Rental car counters at major airports like MCI are accustomed to flight delays and often adjust their staffing accordingly. To ensure a smooth process, it's always a good practice to include your flight number in your reservation details. This allows the National team to track your arrival status. As long as you arrive within the location's operating hours, the pickup process should proceed as normal.

A good rule of thumb is to budget approximately 30 to 45 minutes from the moment you have your bags in hand. This timeframe accounts for the walk to the shuttle stop, the shuttle ride to the consolidated Rental Car Center, and the time needed to complete your rental agreement and locate your vehicle. During peak travel periods, allowing a little extra time is always a wise decision for a stress-free start to your trip.

The most efficient strategy is for the primary driver to proceed to the Rental Car Center as soon as their flight arrives. The rest of the group can wait comfortably in the terminal's arrivals area with the luggage. Once the driver has the vehicle, they can easily circle back to the terminal's arrivals curb to pick up everyone else before heading to your destination.

The most convenient place to load your bulky gear is directly at your assigned vehicle in the rental facility's garage. While the airport shuttles can accommodate luggage, managing oversized items on the bus can be cumbersome. It's best to keep your gear with you until you reach the car, where you'll have ample space and time to load everything securely before you depart.

When traveling alone with several bags, utilize the luggage carts available in the baggage claim area to easily transport your belongings to the shuttle stop. The rental car shuttles are designed with storage space for luggage, allowing you to manage your items during the short ride. Once at the rental facility, you can take your bags directly to your vehicle for convenient loading.

Like most major airports, the rental car facility at MCI tends to be busiest during peak arrival times. This often includes weekday afternoons when business travelers arrive and on weekends or holidays when leisure travel is at its height. For a potentially quicker experience, mid-day during the week or later evening arrivals are often less crowded.

The drive from MCI to downtown is quite direct, primarily using I-29 South. The first few miles are straightforward highway driving. As you approach the city, I-29 merges with other major interstates, so be prepared for increased traffic and have your navigation ready to guide you onto the downtown loop, typically I-670 or I-70.

The drive to Overland Park is a common route for visitors and is relatively easy to navigate. You will primarily use the I-435 loop, which is a multi-lane beltway that circles the metropolitan area. While it can be busy during peak hours, the signage is clear and the road is well-maintained, making for a manageable drive for those unfamiliar with the area.

Driving to Lawrence is not confusing as it mainly involves two major highways: I-435 West and then K-10 West. The most common mistake for newcomers is not anticipating the exit from I-435 onto K-10, so it's helpful to have your GPS active. Once you are on K-10, it's a straight and scenic drive directly into Lawrence.

When driving to the Country Club Plaza, the most straightforward approach is to head for one of the numerous free parking garages integrated throughout the district. For Westport, you'll find a mix of street parking and paid surface lots. Arriving earlier in the day or on a weekday generally makes finding a convenient spot in either neighborhood much easier.

The Kansas City Convention Center is well-served by multiple large parking garages, with the Barney Allis Plaza Garage being one of the largest and most central. For major events, it's wise to arrive early as lots can fill up. Follow the digital signs for event parking, which will direct you to the most available and convenient options for your specific event.

Driving to Arrowhead on game day requires planning and patience due to the immense volume of traffic. Plan to leave several hours early to account for slow-moving traffic near the Truman Sports Complex. You will be directed by staff into large lots for parking, and the exit process after the game can be equally slow, so it's best to relax and not be in a hurry.

To minimize exit delays at Kauffman Stadium, arriving early is key. Consider parking in a spot that is further from the stadium itself but closer to one of the main exits. This might mean a slightly longer walk to the gates, but it can significantly reduce your time spent in traffic when leaving the complex after the game.

The smartest approach is to navigate directly to the KC Live! parking garage, which is centrally located and provides direct access to the district. Rely on your GPS to handle the one-way streets, as it will guide you efficiently. Parking in this main garage is well-lit and eliminates the stress of searching for street parking in a busy entertainment area.

The area around Union Station is designed to be very accessible by car. There are dedicated passenger drop-off lanes directly in front of the station's grand entrance, making quick stops simple. For longer visits to the station or the adjacent National WWI Museum and Memorial, a large surface lot and parking garage provide convenient and ample space.

This is a very realistic and enjoyable way to see the city. The key is to park once in each neighborhood and explore on foot. Find a central lot or garage in the River Market for the morning, then drive to the Crossroads Arts District and park, and finally head to a garage in the Plaza for the afternoon. This strategy minimizes parking hassles and maximizes your exploration time.

A rental car is extremely helpful for exploring the wider Kansas City metro, including its famous barbecue spots, suburban attractions, and destinations beyond the downtown core. It becomes a headache only if you plan to move it frequently between nearby downtown locations that are easily connected by the KC Streetcar. For overall flexibility and reaching spread-out points of interest, a car is a significant advantage.

Since Kansas City's legendary barbecue restaurants are spread throughout the metro, a rental car is essential for a proper tour. Plan your route geographically to avoid backtracking, perhaps focusing on spots in Kansas one day and Missouri the next. Most establishments have their own parking lots, but be prepared for them to be full during peak lunch and dinner hours.

Kansas City's rush hour traffic is concentrated on the major interstates like I-35, I-70, and the I-435 loop, particularly near downtown. While it can be congested, it's generally less severe than in larger coastal cities. The suburban areas of Lenexa and Olathe also experience heavy rush hour traffic on their main thoroughfares, but it often clears more quickly than the downtown interstate corridors.

For a less intense introduction to Kansas City driving, you can take Cookingham Drive east from the airport area to I-435 South. This route allows you to get accustomed to the car on surface streets before entering the highway. It can feel calmer than immediately merging onto the busier I-29 South directly from the airport exit.

Like many Midwestern cities, road construction in Kansas City is most active during the spring, summer, and fall. The downtown loop, where I-70, I-35, and I-670 converge, is a frequent bottleneck, with or without construction. It's always a good idea to check a real-time traffic app before leaving the airport for the latest updates on closures or delays.

One local feature that can surprise visitors is the state line, which runs down State Line Road, separating Missouri and Kansas. While your GPS will handle it seamlessly, it can be interesting to note the sudden change in street signs and road maintenance. Otherwise, driving in the city is fairly standard for a major metropolitan area.

The drive to Weston and other nearby river towns is quite pleasant and scenic. After leaving the main highways, you'll travel on well-maintained two-lane state highways and country roads. These routes are generally low-traffic and pass through rolling hills and farmland, making for a relaxing and enjoyable driving experience.

The drive to St. Joseph is incredibly easy, as it's a straight shot north from the Kansas City area on Interstate 29 for about an hour. The route is direct and typically free of heavy traffic. Once you arrive in St. Joseph's historic downtown, you will find plenty of free street parking and public lots, making it very convenient to park and explore.

A day trip to Topeka is easily managed with a rental car via Interstate 70 West. To ensure a relaxed pace, plan to depart from Kansas City in the morning to give yourself a full day for sightseeing. Aim to leave Topeka by mid-afternoon to get ahead of any returning commuter traffic, ensuring a smooth and unhurried drive back.

To drive efficiently between suburbs, use the I-435 loop as your main artery. Try to group your visits geographically; for instance, visit family in southern suburbs like Overland Park and Leawood on the same day. The next day, you could focus on northern or eastern suburbs. This approach minimizes crisscrossing the metro and saves significant driving time.

Returning a car for an early flight at MCI is a very straightforward process. As you approach the airport, follow the prominent overhead signs for "Rental Car Return." These signs will guide you directly to the consolidated facility where you'll be directed to the National return lane. From there, a quick shuttle ride will take you to the departures terminal.

It's wise to plan your arrival at the rental car return center about 30 to 45 minutes before you'd ideally like to be at your airline's check-in desk. This buffer provides ample time for the vehicle return process, gathering your luggage, and taking the shuttle bus back to the main terminal. This ensures you won't feel rushed as you head to security.

The most seamless plan is for the person returning the car to do so alone. After they complete the return process, they can take the free shuttle from the rental facility to the departures level of the terminal. They can then meet the rest of their party, who has been waiting at the curb, for a simple and efficient handoff.

The rental car return area at the MCI consolidated facility is covered, which is a great benefit during inclement weather. This allows you to unload your luggage and complete the return process while staying protected from rain or snow. Be sure to allow extra travel time to drive to the airport safely in poor conditions.

Just a few miles south of the airport along I-29 and Barry Road, you'll find the Zona Rosa and Tiffany Springs shopping districts. This area offers a wide variety of fast-food and sit-down restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations, and large retail stores. It's the perfect place to stock up on supplies before continuing your journey into the city.

For a smoother experience with children, have one adult wait with the kids and luggage in the terminal's baggage claim area. The other adult can take the shuttle to the Rental Car Center to retrieve the vehicle. Once the car is ready, the driver can circle back to the terminal's arrivals curb for a quick and easy pickup of the family.

A mid-size sedan or a compact SUV is often the most practical choice for a Kansas City trip. These vehicles are nimble enough to make navigating downtown streets and fitting into parking garage spaces easy. At the same time, they offer enough comfort and space for longer highway drives to the suburbs or for day trips around the region.

When driving on rural roads outside the city late at night, be aware that street lighting is often minimal or nonexistent. It's important to drive cautiously and use your vehicle's high beams when there is no oncoming traffic. Also, remain alert for wildlife, particularly deer, which can be more active near roadways after dark.

For a visitor, driving between the two Kansas Cities is a seamless experience. The primary boundary is State Line Road, and crossing it feels no different than crossing any other major street. Your navigation system will treat the entire metropolitan area as a single region, so you likely won't even notice when you've moved from one state to the other.

Crossing between Kansas and Missouri is a daily routine for locals and requires no special planning. Major highways like I-70, I-35, and I-670 connect both sides of the state line effortlessly. Simply input your Missouri destination into your GPS, and it will provide the most direct route without any distinction for crossing state borders.

Using a rental car is the most practical way to get to Worlds of Fun. The theme park is easily accessible from the highway and has expansive parking lots to accommodate large crowds. On peak days, especially summer weekends, expect some traffic delays entering the park, so it's always a good idea to arrive early to maximize your time.

For events at T-Mobile Center, the easiest strategy is often to park in one of the large garages in the adjacent Power & Light District. This avoids the most immediate congestion right at the arena. Arriving early allows for a stress-free walk to the venue, and after the event, you'll have a much easier time exiting the area and getting back on the highway.

For an efficient same-day trip, drive south from MCI on I-29 to the downtown loop. Park your car once in a central garage, such as near the Power & Light District or River Market, and explore the area on foot or by using the free KC Streetcar. When you're ready to leave, you can easily access the highway system to take I-29 North for a direct and simple return to the airport.