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MCI

Kansas City International Airport

Kansas City, United States

Where to start
Rideshare from the purple signposts 2K–2N / RideKC Route 229

Everything picks up along the Level 1 arrivals curb, sorted by colour-coded signpost. Rideshare uses the purple signposts 2K–2N; taxis are at the yellow columns 3A–3D; hotel shuttles at the green area 3E–3H. RideKC Route 229 runs to downtown but only once an hour, and now requires tap-to-pay — no cash.

Ride Options

Uber

rideshare

Door-to-door to downtown or the suburbs

AvailabilityCommonly available; surges during Chiefs and Royals games, convention weekends and late-night arrivals
Pickup NotePurple signposts 2K–2N on the Level 1 arrivals curb.
Convenience
Relative costMid cost
Visit Website

Lyft

rideshare

Alternative rideshare

AvailabilityCommonly available
Pickup NoteSame purple signpost area, 2K–2N.
Convenience
Relative costMid cost
Visit Website

zTrip

taxi

App-based hail of a licensed local vehicle

AvailabilityOne of MCI's authorised app-based services alongside Uber and Lyft
Pickup NoteFollow the app's assigned signpost on the arrivals curb.
Convenience
Relative costMid cost
Visit Website

Kansas City Licensed Taxi

taxi

No app or account needed

AvailabilityAvailable at the rank; can also be ordered by phone
Pickup NoteYellow columns 3A–3D on the arrivals curb.
Convenience
Relative costHigher cost
Visit Website

RideKC Route 229

transit

Lowest-cost route downtown if your timing lines up

AvailabilityHourly only, roughly 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.; the only RideKC route serving the terminal
Pickup NoteStops at the main terminal; ends at the East Village Transit Center downtown. Fares returned 1 June 2026 — tap-to-pay only, no cash on board. Journey takes about an hour.
Convenience
Relative costLower cost
Visit Website

SIXT Ride — Pre-booked Airport Transfer

Private Transfer

Fixed-rate pre-booked door-to-door transfer

AvailabilityAvailable at Kansas City — book via SIXT app or website
Pickup NoteDriver meets you in arrivals with a name sign. Fixed price, flight tracking, up to 60 min free waiting.
Convenience
Relative costHigher cost
Book Transfer

Pickup Guidance

Rideshare

Purple signposts 2K–2N on the Level 1 arrivals curb. Follow signs to the commercial curb after baggage claim; the purple markers are clearly numbered. MCI's own guidance is to wait until you have your bags and are at the curb before booking — requesting from baggage claim starts the clock while you're still walking.

Taxi

Yellow columns 3A–3D on the same arrivals curb. Taxis can also be ordered by phone if the rank is empty.

Shuttle

Hotel shuttles use the green area, signposts 3E–3H. Rental car customers take the grey shuttle bus from the commercial curb to the rental centre. Free Blue Buses run 24/7 between the Economy Lots and the terminal.

Transit

RideKC Route 229 stops at the main terminal, running between MCI and the East Village Transit Center downtown. Journey time is around an hour; service runs roughly 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., hourly.

Private Transfer

Pre-booked cars and shuttle operators use the commercial curb. With a single terminal there's no terminal ambiguity — give your operator the arrivals curb and signpost area.

Travel Extras

Need a SIM?Need a hotel?

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Local Tips

  • Book your ride app only once you're at the purple signposts with your bags — MCI asks travellers not to request from inside the terminal.
  • Locals call it KCI; the airport code is MCI. Both refer to the same place — don't let the mismatch worry you when booking.
  • Route 229 runs hourly. If it's late or you miss it, the wait is a full hour — build in a buffer or take a car.
  • Cash is no longer accepted on RideKC buses. Have a contactless card or phone ready before boarding.
  • The terminal is H-shaped with one central security checkpoint; Concourse A is south, Concourse B is north, joined airside by a long connector with moving walkways.
  • Gate numbering is inherited from the old terminal — B gates are numbered in the 40s to 60s despite there being 40 gates total. It looks like an error and isn't.
  • During the 2026 World Cup window, a temporary ConnectKC26 Airport Direct service runs far more frequently than Route 229; check whether it's still operating when you travel.

Tarmyq local tip

The colour-coded signposts do the work here — purple for rideshare, yellow for taxi, green for hotel shuttles. Read the colour, walk to the number, and MCI becomes one of the simplest US airports to leave.