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The Oaks at Prairie View

Your Guide to Kansas City by Streetcar

The KC Streetcar is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to explore Kansas City. The entire system is free to ride and covers 5.7 miles through some of the city's best neighborhoods, from the River Market all the way down to the UMKC campus near Brookside. Whether you're new to KC or just looking for a low-effort way to spend a day out, the streetcar makes it easy to hop on, explore, and hop off whenever something catches your eye.   


The KC Streetcar Route at a Glance   

The route follows Main Street from the River Market to UMKC, with 18 stops along the way. The downtown stops come every couple of blocks, so it's easy to walk between them if you feel like it. Reaching south of Union Station, the stops are spread about four blocks apart.   


Streetcars show up every 10 to 18 minutes and run seven days a week, from 5 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, and 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Every stop has a digital sign showing when the next car is arriving, and you can also track the streetcar in real time on Apple Maps or Google Maps.  

A bus with a rainbow design on the front is driving under a Kansas City Market sign.

A Streetcar Itinerary: The Best Stops Along the Line   

You can easily fill a half day or a full day hopping on and off the streetcar. Here's a suggested route from north to south.   

  • River Market: Start your morning at the City Market to browse dozens of vendors selling fresh produce, spices, and prepared foods. Grab coffee and a meal at one of the nearby restaurants, then check out the Arabia Steamboat Museum or test your group's puzzle-solving skills at Breakout KC.   

  • Library District (9th & Main): Hop off to see the Kansas City Public Library's famous Community Bookshelf, a 25-foot-tall installation of book spines lining the south wall of the parking garage on 10th Street.   

  • Power & Light District: A few stops south, Power & Light has restaurants, bars, and live music venues packed into a walkable area. It's also close to the T-Mobile Center if you're catching a concert or event.   

  • Crossroads Arts District: Galleries, murals, studios, and restaurants line the streets in this creative neighborhood. First Fridays are the signature event here, with galleries staying open late and the whole neighborhood coming alive, but it's a great area to walk around and eat well on any day.   

  • Union Station / Crown Center: Union Station is one of the most recognizable buildings in the city. Inside, you'll find rotating exhibits, Science City, and a connection to Amtrak. Across the way, Crown Center has shops, restaurants, and the Hallmark Visitors Center. The National World War I Museum and Memorial is a short walk from here and is worth the stop.   

  • Westport (Westport Rd & Main): Westport is KC's go-to neighborhood for nightlife, local restaurants, and independent shops. Grab a coffee, browse the bookstores, or check out the live music scene on any given weekend.   

  • 45th & Main (Museum Row): This stop puts you within walking distance of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, one of the country's top art museums, and the Kansas City Art Institute. Both are free to visit.   

  • Country Club Plaza: The Plaza is KC's iconic outdoor shopping and dining district, known for its Spanish-inspired architecture and fountains. Walk the district, pop into local boutiques, and grab a meal.     

  • UMKC: The southern end of the line drops you near campus and within a 15-minute walk of Loose Park, a 75-acre green space with a duck pond, running trails, tennis courts, and one of the city's best rose gardens.   
A black and white train with the words River Market on the front is stopped at a platform.

Tips for Riding the KC Streetcar   

  • No tickets or passes needed: Just step on at any stop. Rides are always free!   

  • Board at the middle doors: The streetcar offers level boarding at the center of the car, making it accessible for wheelchairs, strollers, and bikes.   

  • Park and ride: There are roughly 40,000 parking spaces in downtown KC. On weekends, free parking is available at the 7th and Main lots near the River Market. You can find parking options by neighborhood on the KC Streetcar website.   

  • Pets: Service animals are welcome. They must be in a carrier or leashed and under control.   

  • Connect to the bus network: The streetcar links with RideKC bus routes at River Market, Metro Center, Union Station, and the Plaza, making it easy to reach parts of the city beyond the Main Street corridor.   

  • Stay updated: Sign up for RideKC Notify alerts for schedule changes or service interruptions.   
A woman in a yellow jacket is pointing out something to a child in a bus.

Find Your Kansas City Home   

Kansas City keeps giving you reasons to get out and explore, and the streetcar makes it easy to do exactly that. If you're looking for Kansas City apartments, check out The Oaks at Prairie View. Located in the Northland just off I-29 and minutes from Zona Rosa, The Oaks offers 1 and 2-bedroom apartments and 2 and 3-bedroom duplexes with updated interiors, huge closets, and fireplaces in select units. The community includes a swimming pool, off-the-leash dog park, fitness center, basketball court, and playground. Schedule a tour today and see the space for yourself.  

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