Kansas City International Airport: A guide to MCI

Quick insights

• Kansas City International Airport (MCI) has one terminal and two concourses.
• Transportation options at MCI include a RideKC bus route, taxis, rideshare services, hotel shuttles and on-site car rentals.
• Travelers can park at the parking garage, Economy Lot or Surface Lot or use the airport’s valet service.

Kansas City International Airport—sometimes called “KCI” despite its official airport code “MCI”—is located 15 miles from downtown Kansas City. While primarily serving domestic flights, MCI offers a select number of international routes.

The airport features a range of amenities including complimentary Wi-Fi and charging stations to help you stay connected. Plus, you can sample local flavors, such as burnt ends, at one of the airport’s dining spots.

Whether you want to move to your gate efficiently or stop to explore what MCI has to offer, here are some things to know as you plan your travel, including MCI transportation and parking options, as well as tips for navigating airport security.

Navigating to and from MCI

The airport address is 1 International Square, Kansas City, Missouri 64153, but when using a navigation device, MCI officials recommend entering 1 Kansas City Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64153.

It’s roughly a 20-minute drive from MCI to downtown Kansas City, with I-29 S generally being the quickest route.

MCI offers a range of transportation options, with pickup locations marked by signposts on the lower level at the arrivals curb. Here are some of the options:

• Taxi: Hail a taxi near the yellow columns labeled 3A to 3D, or call 816-243-2345 to order one.
• Rideshare: Rideshare services pick up passengers at the arrivals curb, marked by purple signposts 2K to 2N.
• Bus: The 229 bus route offers daily service between downtown Kansas City and MCI, with a travel time of approximately an hour each way. The bus stops at the main terminal.
• Hotel shuttle: Several Kansas City hotels provide complimentary shuttle service for their guests. Shuttles typically drop off and pick up from the green area signposted 3E to 3H.
• Car rental: Head to the commercial curb outside the terminal to catch the grey shuttle bus that takes you to the rental center, located at 1 Nassau Circle.

MCI parking options

You’ll find both short and long-term parking options at MCI:

• Economy Lot: This lot can be a budget-friendly option for long-term parking. Shuttle service—operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—picks up passengers every twenty minutes to take them to the arrivals level.
• Surface Lot: This lot charges an hourly rate and is located within walking distance of the terminal.
• Parking Garage: The garage—also within walking distance of the terminal—is outfitted with signage providing real-time information about the number of spots and overhead lighting to guide you to available spaces. May be a good short-term parking option, especially during inclement weather.
• Valet Parking: On Departures roadway, follow the signs to veer left into Valet Drive (the valet drop-off area), located just inside the parking garage.

Visit the MCI airport parking webpage for airport parking availability and parking fee estimators. Note that a limited number of EV charging stations are located in the parking garage, Surface Lot and Economy Lot.

Security at MCI

The airport features a single security checkpoint that serves all gates. Although the airport operates 24 hours a day, the checkpoint typically has specific operating hours. For the most current hours, refer to the MCI website.

Security wait times at MCI are usually around 10 minutes or less. During peak travel periods such as the holidays or summer months, wait times may increase.

Airport officials advise arriving 2 hours before domestic flight departures and 3 hours before international ones. You may want to factor the time it will likely take to complete any pre-boarding tasks when planning your airport arrival time.

Travelers arriving from international flights go through Customs, which is located on level 1 of the terminal. Wait times are generally under 20 minutes.

How to get through airport security faster

Customs and TSA wait times can vary, but there are Trusted Traveler Programs (TTPs) designed to help expedite the security and passport screening processes. MCI participates in both the TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry programs.

TSA PreCheck members can access designated lanes at airport security checkpoints and typically don’t need to remove light jackets, shoes, belts or jewelry. Note that MCI does not have a TSA Enrollment Center, so you can’t apply for this program at the airport.

Global Entry allows members to skip the standard customs line and use a designated kiosk to scan their passport, provide fingerprints and complete a customs declaration. Global Entry members also receive TSA PreCheck benefits.

Some credit cards offer reimbursement for TTP application fees when the card is used to pay the fee.

Kansas City airport map

Access an interactive map at the MCI website where you can locate dining, shopping, services and more.

MCI terminals

MCI consists of a single terminal with two concourses (A and B). Passengers check in and depart from level 2, while arrivals are on level 1. The concourses are connected by a walkway.

Because there’s only one terminal, there’s no need for an intra-terminal shuttle, but there are moving walkways to help you travel between the concourses.

In summary

MCI features a single terminal with two concourses connected by a walkway. While domestic flights mainly operate out of this airport, you’ll find a few international routes. Some transportation options to and from the airport include rental cars, taxis, rideshare services and hotel shuttles—each with designated color-coded pickup areas on the arrivals curb (lower level). When parking at MCI, you can choose from short and long-term options. The Economy Lot may be the most affordable on-site option for long-term parking.

When planning your airport arrival time, you may want to consider how long any pre-boarding tasks are likely to take, especially during peak travel periods like holidays and summer vacation.