{{Short description|State highway in Missouri, U.S.}} {{Use American English|date=April 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox road |state=MO |type=MO |route=23 |map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=230|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Missouri Route 23}}}} |map_custom=yes |maint=MoDOT |established= |length_mi=47 |direction_a=South |direction_b=North |terminus_a={{jct|state=MO|Route|2}} west of Windsor |junction= *{{jct|state=MO|US|50}} in Knob Noster *{{jct|state=MO|I|70|US|40}} in Concordia |terminus_b={{jct|state=MO|US|24}} near Waverly |previous_type=MO |previous_route=22 |next_type=US |next_route=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.<ref name="tv">{{cite web|url=https://www.modot.org/traffic-volume-maps|publisher=MoDOT|title=Traffic Volume Maps|access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref>
==Route description== 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 {{convert|15|mi|km}} north of Windsor, Route 23 reaches Whiteman Air Force Base, where it intersects Spirit Boulevard, providing access to the base and surrounding facilities.<ref>{{Cite MoDOT map|year=2021}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite MoDOT map|year=2021}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite MoDOT map|year=2021}}</ref>
==History== Route 23 had its beginnings in the early 1930s around Alma.<ref>{{Cite MoDOT map|year=1932}}</ref> In the late 1940s, it was still a short gravel route that went as far south as Concordia.<ref>{{Cite MoDOT map|year=1946}}</ref> By the 1950s<ref>{{Cite MoDOT map|year=1953}}</ref> it was paved and by 1970 it reached as far south as Knob Noster.<ref>{{Cite MoDOT map|year=1970}}</ref> Finally, at the turn of the century, it reached its present southern terminus at Route 2 south of Bowen.<ref>{{Cite MoDOT map|year=2001}}</ref>
==Major intersections== {{jcttop|length_ref=<ref name="MoDOT">{{MoDOT Flex|accessdate=June 15, 2021}}</ref>}} {{MOint |county=Henry |township=Windsor |ctdab=Henry |mile=0.000 |road={{jct|state=MO|Route|2|city1=Windsor}} }} {{MOint |county=Johnson |cspan=2 |township=Washington |ctdab=Johnson |mile=15.819 |road=Spirit Boulevard – Whiteman AFB }} {{MOint |location=Knob Noster |mile=18.179 |road={{jct|state=MO|US|50|city1=Kansas City|city2=Jefferson City}} |notes=Interchange }} {{MOint |county=Lafayette |cspan=3 |location=Concordia |mile=35.376 |road={{jct|state=MO|I|70|US|40|city1=Kansas City|city2=Saint Louis}} |notes=I-70 exit 58 }} {{MOint |location=Alma |mile=43.362 |road={{jct|state=MO|Route|20|city1=Higginsville|city2=Marshall}} }} {{MOint |township=Middleton |ctdab=Lafayette |mile=49.883 |road={{jct|state=MO|US|24|city1=Kansas City|city2=Waverly}} }} {{jctbtm}}
==References== {{reflist}} {{attached KML}}
023 Category:Transportation in Henry County, Missouri Category:Transportation in Johnson County, Missouri Category:Transportation in Lafayette County, Missouri