Missouri Route 23

State highway in Missouri

Route 23

Route information
Maintained by MoDOT
Length| 47 mi (76 km)
Major junctions
South end|  Route 2 west of Windsor
Major intersections|

* US 50 in Knob Noster
* I-70 / US 40 in Concordia

North end|  US 24 near Waverly
Location
Country| United States
State| Missouri
Highway system

* Missouri State Highway System

* Interstate
* US
* State
* Supplemental

| ←  Route 22| | →  US 24

|
|

Route 23 is a 47-mile long highway in west-central Missouri. Its northern terminus is at U.S. Route 24 near Waverly; its southern terminus is at Route 2 west of Windsor. Route 23 also provides access to Whiteman Air Force Base just south of  Knob Noster, around which it supports its highest traffic volume of more than 8,000 vehicles a day.[1]

## Route description

[edit]

Missouri Route 23 begins at a junction with Route 2 west of Windsor in Henry County. The highway heads northerly through rural farmland, passing through the unincorporated community of Bowen before entering Johnson County. About 15 miles (24 km) north of Windsor, Route 23 reaches Whiteman Air Force Base, where it intersects Spirit Boulevard, providing access to the base and surrounding facilities.[2]

Continuing north, Route 23 enters the city of Knob Noster, where it meets US 50 at an interchange. The highway briefly runs parallel to US 50 before diverging and heading northeasterly through rolling terrain. After passing through the unincorporated community of Montserrat, Route 23 enters Lafayette County and reaches Concordia, where it intersects I-70 and US 40 at exit 58.[3]

Leaving Concordia, Route 23 continues northward, passing through the unincorporated community of Middleton before reaching Alma, where it meets Route 20. The highway then proceeds northeasterly through agricultural landscapes, crossing several small creeks before reaching its northern terminus at US 24 near Waverly.[4]

## History

[edit]

Route 23 had its beginnings in the early 1930s around Alma.[5] In the late 1940s, it was still a short gravel route that went as far south as Concordia.[6] By the 1950s[7] it was paved and by 1970 it reached as far south as Knob Noster.[8] Finally, at the turn of the century, it reached its present southern terminus at Route 2 south of  Bowen.[9]

## Major intersections

[edit]

County| Location| mi[10]| km| Destinations| Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Henry| Windsor Township| 0.000| 0.000|  Route 2 – Windsor|
Johnson| Washington Township| 15.819| 25.458| Spirit Boulevard – Whiteman AFB|
Knob Noster| 18.179| 29.256|  US 50 – Kansas City, Jefferson City| Interchange
Lafayette| Concordia| 35.376| 56.932|  I-70 / US 40 – Kansas City, Saint Louis| I-70 exit 58
Alma| 43.362| 69.784|  Route 20 – Higginsville, Marshall|
Middleton Township| 49.883| 80.279|  US 24 – Kansas City, Waverly|
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Traffic Volume Maps". MoDOT. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
2. ^ Missouri Department of Transportation (2021). Official Highway Map (Map) (2021–2022 ed.). Jefferson City: Missouri Department of Transportation.
3. ^ Missouri Department of Transportation (2021). Official Highway Map (Map) (2021–2022 ed.). Jefferson City: Missouri Department of Transportation.
4. ^ Missouri Department of Transportation (2021). Official Highway Map (Map) (2021–2022 ed.). Jefferson City: Missouri Department of Transportation.
5. ^ Missouri State Highway Commission (1932). Map of Missouri Showing State Road System, Route Numbers, Road Conditions and Points of Interest (Map). Jefferson City: Missouri State Highway Commission.
6. ^ Missouri State Highway Commission (1946). Map of Missouri's State Highway System (Map) (1945–1946 ed.). Jefferson City: Missouri State Highway Commission.
7. ^ Missouri State Highway Commission (1953). Map of the Missouri State Highway System (Map). Jefferson City: Missouri State Highway Commission.
8. ^ Missouri State Highway Commission (1970). Official Highway Map (Map). Jefferson City: Missouri State Highway Commission.
9. ^ Missouri Department of Transportation (2001). Official Highway Map (Map) (2001–2002 ed.). Jefferson City: Missouri Department of Transportation.
10. ^ Missouri Department of Transportation (June 15, 2021). MoDOT HPMAPS (Map). Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 15, 2021.

KML file (edit • help)

Template:Attached KML/Missouri Route 23

KML is not from Wikidata
*[mi]: Miles
*[km]: Kilometers