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I-70's closure will add a lot of time for KC commuters

Sticking to the highways would tack on up to 20 minutes.

News

If your commute takes you on I-70 in Kansas City, you&#x27;re going to need a new route — and some extra time — next year.Why it matters: 105,000 daily drivers will have to find a way around the fastest, most direct route to and from downtown, and transportation officials want them to take detours that add up to 21 minutes to a one-way trip.

Last call for THC at KC liquor stores

new Missouri law pulls most hemp THC products from gas stations, bars and liquor stores Nov. 12, a month before a federal ban.

Local liquor stores like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gomer&#x27;s Fine Wine and Spirits" data-vars-click-url="https://shop.gomers.com/" data-vars-content-id="a5097023-fbcb-472a-a1ae-7fc8e8543cbe" data-vars-headline="Last call for THC at KC liquor stores" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://shop.gomers.com/" target="_blank">Gomer&#x27;s Fine Wine and Spirits</a> are racing to unload THC gummies and other intoxicating hemp products before Missouri makes selling most of them a felony.Why it matters: If you&#x27;ve been picking up THC gummies and similar products at the liquor store, that largely ends next month. Once his shelves empty, Gomer&#x27;s manager Corey Spaulding says he won&#x27;t restock them.

When KC's leaves will finally turn

It's still 80 degrees, but Kansas City's leaves should peak between Nov. 5 and 10.

Don&#x27;t let the 80° October days fool you. Kansas City&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="leaves" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/26/fall-foliage-mapped-peak-colors-2026" data-vars-content-id="bdfbbc73-d692-4fa5-8520-dc5d617f06a3" data-vars-headline="When KC&#x27;s leaves will finally turn" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/26/fall-foliage-mapped-peak-colors-2026" target="_self">leaves</a> should hit peak color in only a few weeks, according to a map on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Explore Fall" data-vars-click-url="https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-map" data-vars-content-id="bdfbbc73-d692-4fa5-8520-dc5d617f06a3" data-vars-headline="When KC&#x27;s leaves will finally turn" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-map" target="_blank">Explore Fall</a>.Why it matters: KC&#x27;s leaves will look like that for only a week or so. Miss the window and you&#x27;re looking at bare branches until spring.

KC's trendiest dog sounds made up, but it's real

Goldendoodles are still Kansas City's favorite dog, but a Lab and Catahoula mix is growing faster here than in any other big U.S. city, per Rover.

To no one&#x27;s surprise, the goldendoodle is Kansas City&#x27;s favorite dog, but the breed growing fastest in popularity here is one you&#x27;ve probably never heard of.Why it matters: The Labahoula, a Labrador Retriever and Catahoula leopard dog mix, is an energetic, athletic breed, and it&#x27;s catching on in a city that ranks <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="82nd out of 100 for fitness" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/07/17/kansas-city-ranks-low-fitness-health-wellness" data-vars-content-id="c8866a4c-32b0-463d-9cb3-93e783640522" data-vars-headline="KC&#x27;s trendiest dog sounds made up, but it&#x27;s real" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/07/17/kansas-city-ranks-low-fitness-health-wellness" target="_self">82nd out of 100 for fitness</a> and 83rd out of 107 for walkability.

Avoid these Labor Day travel times

Peak holiday congestion could add serious time to your trip.

Holidays

Stay off the roads Thursday afternoon and much of Friday to avoid the worst Labor Day weekend traffic, according to forecasts from AAA and INRIX.Why it matters: Peak holiday congestion could add serious time to your <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="trip" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/29/summer-travel-prices-destinations" data-vars-content-id="c80654ba-2a59-454a-ade0-4328cffb278a" data-vars-headline="Avoid these Labor Day travel times" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/29/summer-travel-prices-destinations" target="_self">trip</a>.

Survey: Should Missouri highways increase to 75 mph?

Driving across parts of the state could get a little faster by the end of the year.

Some Missouri highways may soon have higher speed limits, state transportation officials say. Why it matters: Driving across parts of the state could get a little faster by the end of the year.

KC is searching "solo travel" like never before

Searches for "solo travel" in the metro hit their highest level on record in June.

Google <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="searches" data-vars-click-url="https://trends.google.com/explore?geo=616&amp;q=solo%2520travel&amp;date=all" data-vars-content-id="75d4e37f-4618-43ac-9db2-6d253df9ff4b" data-vars-headline="KC is searching &quot;solo travel&quot; like never before" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://trends.google.com/explore?geo=616&amp;q=solo%2520travel&amp;date=all" target="_blank">searches</a> for &quot;solo travel&quot; in the Kansas City metro hit their highest recorded level in June, part of a nationwide record year.Why it matters: Traveling alone used to mean waiting for someone else&#x27;s PTO to line up. Now it&#x27;s a plan, not a fallback.

Our recs: National Climb A Mountain Day

You don't need to go west to experience rugged terrain and rolling vistas.

Things to Do

It&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Climb A Mountain Day" data-vars-click-url="https://nationaldaycalendar.com/celebrations/national-climb-a-mountain-day-july-30" data-vars-content-id="8b38b645-bfc4-4bf0-a4cb-76a8d98cd3fc" data-vars-headline="Our recs: National Climb A Mountain Day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nationaldaycalendar.com/celebrations/national-climb-a-mountain-day-july-30" target="_blank">National Climb A Mountain Day</a>, and you don&#x27;t need to go west to experience rugged terrain and rolling vistas.The big picture: Whether you want a different (less crowded) idea for a mountain getaway or just want to stay a little closer to home, we have recommendations for an East Coast hike and one right here in Missouri.

The World Cup ends — construction in KC begins

The orange cones are back out now that the World Cup is over.

The orange cones are back out now that the World Cup is over.The big picture: Officials didn&#x27;t want construction making a mess during the tournament, but now it&#x27;s full steam ahead.

Heavy traffic expected July 3 in Kansas City

Stadium traffic and holiday travelers will hit the interstates at the same time.

Travel

Kansas City&#x27;s worst travel day this weekend could be July 3, when a World Cup crowd and the holiday rush hit the interstates at the same time.Why it matters: Fourth of July travel will be the busiest since at least 2019, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AAA predicts" data-vars-click-url="https://newsroom.aaa.com/2026/06/72-2-million-americans-expected-to-travel-over-july-4th-week/" data-vars-content-id="0746af00-9dcf-4926-94b4-68b8c59f7702" data-vars-headline="Heavy traffic expected July 3 in Kansas City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://newsroom.aaa.com/2026/06/72-2-million-americans-expected-to-travel-over-july-4th-week/" target="_blank">AAA predicts</a>.

KC is one of the summer's hottest travel spots

Flight searches to KC are up 25% from last summer, putting the metro among the country's fastest-rising travel destinations as the World Cup nears.

Flight searches to Kansas City <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="are up 25%" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kayak.com/c/travel-check-in-summer/" data-vars-content-id="59f1efb7-6b3a-4013-8a66-053fd2683f92" data-vars-headline="KC is one of the summer&#x27;s hottest travel spots" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kayak.com/c/travel-check-in-summer/" target="_blank">are up 25%</a> from last summer, putting the metro among the country&#x27;s fastest-rising travel destinations.Why it matters: KC rarely lands on national summer travel lists, but the World Cup, a few years of Chiefs winning and Taylor Swift hype are pulling visitors toward the metro.

World Cup fans love KC. Tourism leaders want more of that.

Politicians are banking on positive fan interactions to improve America's image.

The World Cup is America&#x27;s chance to win back foreign visitors amid falling international tourism and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unpopular" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260406-why-some-travellers-are-rethinking-trips-to-the-us" data-vars-content-id="e343e24e-4e15-4ac3-927b-530a2a8d3b6c" data-vars-headline="World Cup fans love KC. Tourism leaders want more of that." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260406-why-some-travellers-are-rethinking-trips-to-the-us" target="_blank">unpopular</a> federal policies, national and local tourism leaders said at a Visit KC panel Tuesday.Why it matters: Locals are welcoming foreign fans in Kansas City and across the country, and politicians are banking on those positive interactions to improve America&#x27;s image.

KCI warns of heavy traffic this summer

Summer travel demand and World Cup visitors could clog lines.

Travelers should expect heavy traffic at KCI through July, especially around World Cup game days, airport officials say.Why it matters: Travelers could encounter longer lines and delays as large groups of tournament travelers clog lines and summer trips push security into overdrive.

A table lists Labor Day weekend 2026 driving forecasts by day. Best departure times range from before 10 a.m. Saturday to minimal traffic all day Sunday. Worst periods cluster in afternoons and evenings, including 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and noon to 8 p.m. Friday.