International Student Registration Guide: Travel Plan Confirmation

As soon as you have obtained your student visa, you must finalize your travel arrangements. Complete the Travel Plan Confirmation found on your TruView page. If your plans change, please submit an updated form. It is important to keep the Center for International Students fully informed of your travel arrangements, including dates, times, methods, and cities of departure and arrival.

Recommended Routes to Kirksville, Missouri

  • If you arrive in Kansas City, Missouri:
    • Take the Truman shuttle from Kansas City International Airport to Truman’s campus (3 hours).
    • Take the Amtrak train from Kansas City, Missouri to La Plata, Missouri (2 hours). Take a Truman shuttle from La Plata, Missouri to Truman’s campus (15 minutes).
  • If you arrive in Chicago, Illinois:
    • Take the Amtrak train from Chicago, Illinois to La Plata, Missouri (5 hours). Take a Truman shuttle from La Plata, Missouri to Truman’s campus (15 minutes).
    • Take the Contour Airlines commuter flight from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Kirksville Regional Airport (1 hour and 15 minutes). Take a Truman Shuttle or a taxi to Truman’s campus (10 minutes).
  • If you arrive in St. Louis, Missouri:
    • Take the MO-X Airport Shuttle from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport to Columbia, Missouri (1 hour and 40 minutes). Take UberX from Columbia, Missouri to Truman’s campus (1 hour).
    • At this time we do not recommend landing in St. Louis due to the difficulty and cost of travelling from St. Louis to Kirksville.

Scheduling and Buying Tickets

Public transit in the United States, especially in the Midwest, is less common than in many other countries. It is important to book your tickets for all parts of your travel in advance to assure seat availability. Additionally, transit is often delayed so we encourage you to leave enough time to make connections.

  • Amtrak Train:
    Tickets can be bought online at amtrak.com.
    Trains leave Chicago Union Station (CHI) daily at 14:50 and arrive in La Plata, Missouri (LAP) at 19:37.
    Trains leave Kansas City Union Station (KCY) daily at 7:28 and arrive in La Plata, Missouri (LAP) at 9:31.
  • Contour Airlines
    Tickets can be bought online at contourairlines.com.
    Flights leave Chicago O’Hare (ORD) 1 or 2 times daily to arrive at Kirksville Regional.

Truman Shuttles

Truman provides shuttles specifically for newly arriving international students. The shuttles run by reservation only. To make a reservation, please fill out the Travel Plan Confirmation on TruView to notify us of your arrival.

  • From Kansas City International Airport
    • Friday, January 12, 2023
    • Pick up at Terminal B, Gate 45
    • The shuttle departs the airport at 10:00am, and arrives in Kirksville at approximately 2:00pm.
    • Cost is $75
  • From the La Plata Amtrak Station
    • Friday, January 12, 2023
    • Pick up at the La Plata Amtrak Train Station upon student arrival.
    • Cost is $25
  • From the Kirksville Airport
    • Friday, January 12, 2023
    • Pick up at the Kirksville Airport upon student arrival.
    • Cost is $25

Kansas City Airport Hotels

You may need to stay in a Kansas City Airport hotel if you arrive prior to arrival day and plan to take the shuttle to Kirksville, Missouri. Many airport hotels provide free shuttle service to and from the airport. Across from the luggage carousels where you pick up your suitcases, there is a hotel directory with free phone service. From that phone you can call a hotel and inquire about room availability, cost, and shuttle pick up. They will pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel. The next day you can arrange for them to bring you back to the airport in time to meet the Truman shuttle. Prices range from approximately $50 to $120 per night.

Comfort Inn – Airport
1200 Highway 92
Platte City, MO 64079
816-858-5430

Best Western Country Inn
11900 Plaza Circle Drive
Kansas City, MO 64153
816-431-2823

Best Western – Airport
11133 N Ambassador Dr.
Kansas City, MO 64153
816-891-9111

Hampton Inn
11212 North Newark Circle
Kansas City, MO 64153
816-464-5454

Holiday Inn
11832 Circle Drive
Kansas City, MO 64153
816-464-2345

Hilton
8801 NW 112th Street
Kansas City, MO 64153
816-891-8900

Residence Inn
9900 NW Prairie View Rd.
Kansas City, MO 64153
816-891-9009

Sleep Inn
7611 NW 97th Terrace
Kansas City, MO 64153
816-891-0111

Econolodge
11300 NW Prairie View Rd.
Kansas City, MO 64153
816-464-5082

Kirksville Hotels

Students who will live in the residence halls and arrive in Kirksville prior to January 07, 2022 must stay in a hotel until the residence halls are open. Early check-in to on-campus residence halls is not allowed. Students who will live off-campus may wish to stay in a hotel until housing can be acquired.

Days Inn
3805 S. Baltimore St.
660-665-8244

Quality Inn
2209 N. Baltimore St.
660-665-2205

Knight’s Inn
2521 S Franklin St
660-665-8352

Hampton Inn
2604 N. Baltimore St.
660-956-4686