Kansas City International Airport (MCI)

Kansas City, Missouri

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There is pretty much one main place to watch planes here, and that is a road called Outer Road which runs directly adjacent to the I-29 freeway on both the north and south sides near exit 15.  The west runway (1L/19R) is used most frequently, and when aircraft are approaching to the south (19R) they'll fly right over this spot.  If they are departing to the north they'll fly directly overhead and either turn to the east or west.

Another spot is a road called NW Hampton Rd which runs through cornfields on the south side of the field.  Just take exit 24 from I-435 and go about 1 mile east, and then go north on Hampton Rd for 2.5 miles until it ends at the airport access gate.  Traffic approaching from the south will fly directly overhead.

A word of caution,  local police aren't too keen on having spotters on this road or even on Outer Rd. close to the runway centerline.  The shoulders of Outer Rd. are worn from cars constantly pulling over to watch however and there isn't a lot of car traffic on this road.  As for plane traffic, be prepared for mostly 737 and MD80 flights.  Southwest is the dominant airline and there isn't a lot of variety at this airport.  Watching planes is nearly impossible from inside the terminal unless you are flying, and forget the parking garages.  The three terminals are an outdated and cramped design from the 1960s.  I'll give MCI 2 and a half, but it would be nice if they built a small park on the north side for people to watch.

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