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KANSAS CITY, KS

Early Barbecue, Then the Nelson on a Late Night

Dinner at Joe's at 5:15, then the Nelson-Atkins, which stays open until 9 PM on Thursdays and Fridays.

About $20–$40 for two2 hrs 46 minEstimated fit
Plan this date
Map of the stops for Early Barbecue, Then the Nelson on a Late NightA map of a neighborhood or two, not to scale, north at the top, with straight lines between stops. Stop 1, Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que (47th and Mission), the start. Stop 2, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 2.1 miles from stop 1, 11 min drive. The route is about 2.1 miles end to end. Neighborhoods shown: Plaza, Westport. Landmarks shown: Country Club Plaza.PLAZAWESTPORTRAINBOW BLVDUS-5611 min driveTHE PLAZASTART Joe's Kansas City…The Nelson…12N½ miEarly Barbecue, Then the Nelson on a Late…FoodMuseumDriveStreetcar lineStraight lines between stops, not driving directions.Not to scale, north up. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
The route is about 2.1 miles end to end. © OpenStreetMap

Whole route inGoogle Maps Apple Maps

Also close by
  • Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, museum, 5 min walk from stop 2
  • Louie's Reserve (formerly Café Trio), food, 6 min walk from stop 2
  • Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden, outdoors, 8 min walk from stop 2
  • Gillham Park, outdoors, 8 min walk from stop 2
  • Emily & Todd Voth Artspace (Kansas City Art Institute), art, 8 min walk from stop 2
  • Ragazza Food & Wine, food, 8 min walk from stop 2

The stops

  1. Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que (47th and Mission)Dinner at the counter. Walk-ins only.about 55 min · 3002 W 47th Ave, Kansas City, KS 66103 · hours freshly checked · then 11 min driveWebsite Google Maps Apple Maps
  2. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of ArtGeneral admission is free. The museum stays open late on Thursdays and Fridays.about 100 min · 4525 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64111 · hours freshly checkedWebsite Google Maps Apple Maps
The green Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que sign over the original location at 47th and Mission, with people waiting outside
Photo: Whoisjohngalt · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art seen across its south lawn
Photo: Peterspexarth · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

How the night flows

Eat early, then walk through the galleries until the museum closes at 9 PM on Thursdays and Fridays. It is about a ten minute drive between the two.

Good to know

Reservations
Not needed
Parking
Confirm parking at each stop.
Getting around
Driving
Setting
Indoors
Alcohol
None needed
What to wear
Whatever you feel good in.

Before you go

Hours, prices and reservations change. Anything we haven't recently source-checked is marked “Confirm today” in the planner rather than presented as fact. Check the venue's own page before you head out.

We last looked over this date on October 11, 2026. That is a review of the plan, not a promise that every detail is current.

Spot something closed, moved or wrong? Tell us so it can be fixed.

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