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Kansas: Start at the Center

Reach the entire U.S. market — and beyond

Whether by highway, rail or air, Kansas offers excellent transportation and marketing advantages for your business. Because we’re centrally located, and because we’ve focused on building and maintaining outstanding multimodal infrastructure, it’s easier and less expensive to ship to and from Kansas. We’re home to numerous production facilities, warehouses and distribution centers that have found shipping raw materials and finished goods is more profitable when you’re located in the nation’s heartland.

ranked infrastructure (CNBC, 2019)

best roads in the nation (Reason Foundation, 2019)

140,000

miles of public roads

19 minutes

average work commute (U.S. News, 2019)

As the geographic center of the United States, Kansas offers excellent transportation and marketing advantages for your business. Because we are focused on building and maintaining an outstanding multimodal infrastructure, it’s easier and less expensive to ship to and from Kansas.

We’re home to numerous production facilities, warehouses and distribution centers that have found shipping raw materials and finished goods is more profitable when you’re located in the nation’s heartland.

Roads and Highways

Running directly through Kansas, I-35 connects the U.S. with two of its largest trading partners – Canada and Mexico. As the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement takes effect, Kansas’ strategic location will play a significant role in safeguarding the health and prosperity of North America’s economy. I-35 and I-70 intersect in the Kansas City Area, which means trucks leaving Kansas can quickly and efficiently reach international ports on both coasts.

Currently, there are more than 1,000 private carriers, 350 intrastate for-hire carriers and 9,500 Kansas-based motor carriers with intrastate and/or interstate operating authority licensed in Kansas. Thanks to our state’s proximity to major markets, our transit times and shipping rates for common carriers can compete with any in the country.

Rail

Kansas is served by a comprehensive rail network comprised of 4,257 miles of total track, the sixth largest network in the nation. Our rail network ensures freight service to virtually anywhere in Kansas via the four Class I railroads, eleven Class III (short line) railroads and three switching/terminal railroads in the state. These operators administer more than 105 freight transfer facilities and terminals in our state, connecting our communities and businesses to local, national and global markets.

Airports

Kansas is home to eight commercial service facilities, 132 public-use airports and more than 200 private airports. Many of our airports are located adjacent to industrial parks, offering attractive, low-cost, foreign trade zone eligible locations to businesses seeking independent air services for cargo and company personnel.

Air Cargo

Wichita’s Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) airport handles substantial freight movements from two dedicated all‐cargo buildings for freight processing. A variety of air cargo carriers service Kansas, most commercial airlines also offer small package delivery services to businesses. Kansas City International Airport (MCI) offers state-of-the-art cargo handling facilities, enabling the easy transit of goods from businesses to global markets.

Inland Waterways

While Kansas is a landlocked state, access to inland waterways provide another convenient mode of transportation. Kansas has access to 122 miles of the Missouri River along the northeast corner of the state with eight commercial terminals located near Atchison, Leavenworth, Lansing, White Cloud and Kansas City. Additionally, the Port of Catoosa is located approximately 50 miles from Kansas’ southern border, making it a convenient option for businesses manufacturing and/or assembling large goods.

The Port of Kansas City Woodswether Terminal

The Port of Kansas City – Woodswether Terminal is located within one mile of downtown Kansas City and the interstate highway loop at River mile 367.1 on the south bank of the Missouri River.