Where to Stay in Kansas City for Short-Term Rentals - Local Guide to Top Neighborhoods for KC Short Term Housing

Hey there! I’m Amber, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com local expert for Kansas City, and I’m back with another guide to help you find the right place to live in KC. This time, we’re looking at short-term rentals in Kansas City—a handy thing to know about if you’re relocating here for temporary work, you’re between homes, or you’re simply not ready to sign a traditional year-long lease.

One important thing to consider before we dive into the best neighborhoods is that a short-term lease isn’t necessarily the same thing as a furnished apartment. If you need furniture, utilities, or other specifics, be sure to check properties individually to confirm that they have the amenities you need.

Oh, and another thing you should know about before we get started is the free KC streetcar. With recent extensions to the streetcar line, it now stretches 6.5 miles from the Berkley Riverfront south to UMKC, connecting many of the neighborhoods I’d put at the top of a short-term renters list. If you’re looking for an easy way to get around, the streetcar makes choosing the right part of town less about one neighborhood that does everything and more about finding the stop along this corridor that best matches what brought you here.

All right, now let’s take a look at the neighborhoods you should check out first!

River Market Short-Term Rentals: Best for Car-Light Downtown Living

If I were coming to Kansas City temporarily and wanted to depend on a car as little as possible, the River Market would be my first place to look for a short-term rental. This area has a somewhat more residential feel than the heart of Downtown, but you’re still right on the streetcar line and within minutes of the central business district, the Crossroads, Union Station, Midtown, the Plaza, and UMKC.

The neighborhood itself packs a lot into a fairly small area. The City Market within River Market offers several great restaurants, interesting specialty shops, and a year-round farmers market. The riverfront itself gives you some breathing room and places to get out and enjoy the outdoors if apartment living starts to feel a little cramped.

It’s got a great vibe, too. There are always fun events happening in River Market, and it’s one of the more multicultural areas in KC, too. Apart from specialty grocers, there are a variety of cool boutiques and ethnic flavors to check out. Plus, it puts you close to Downtown, making it easy to join in whatever fun is happening at theatres, music halls, the T-Mobile Center, or the Power & Light District.

One thing worth knowing is that the River Market is a walkable area—for Kansas City, not Manhattan! Everyday errands can still take some planning, especially if you prefer to do your grocery shopping as one weekly trip to a larger supermarket.

On the bright side, however, this area is probably the best spot in town for foodies—especially foodies who like to cook their own meals. Skip the weekly supermarket trips and hit up the farmers’ markets or small specialty grocers in the River Market neighborhood. There’s also a Cosentino’s grocery store right on the streetcar line. It’s not quite a supermarket, but it offers a well-rounded selection of just about everything you need to keep your fridge and pantry full.

Downtown Kansas City Short-Term Rentals: Best for Downtown Work Assignments

For someone coming to town specifically to work Downtown, the simplest answer really is to find short-term rentals in the Downtown area proper. You’ll be in the midst of the central business district, plus you’ll be right next to the convention center, the Power & Light District, the Library District, Metro Center, and more.

Downtown rentals are mostly high-rises and skyscrapers—lots of beautifully renovated loft apartments at affordable prices. Start your search by checking out the residential buildings closest to what you want most.

If you want nightlife and entertainment on your doorstep, look close to the Power & Light District, for example. More southern areas of Downtown put you closer to shopping destinations like the Plaza. This will also keep you closer to UMKC, the Nelson-Atkins Museum, and the surrounding Crossroads Arts District. The Northern areas keep you close to the River Market. On the west side, you’ll be close to the West Bottoms, which has an eclectic mixture of art, antiques, haunted houses, and other attractions—definitely a lot of fun during the monthly First Friday weekends.

Crossroads Short-Term Rentals: Best for Restaurants, Arts, and Nightlife

Just south of Downtown, the Crossroads Arts District is the neighborhood I’d point to for someone who wants their temporary stay to feel like the true Kansas City experience rather than just convenient living near the office. There are lots of rental opportunities here, including plenty of places with short term leases. You’ll find a mixture of high-rises, beautifully remodeled lofts, and affordable apartment complexes—and all of it sits directly along the streetcar corridor, which keeps you connected to Downtown, the River Market, and elsewhere.

The Crossroads is one of those areas where the neighborhood itself is the amenity. Galleries and murals mingle with independent restaurants, breweries, cocktail bars, and live music venues. Of note, you’ll also find one of KC’s more famous barbecue joints here, too—Jack Stack at the Freight House, which is one of my personal favorites. Although don’t choose this neighborhood just for Jack Stack! No matter where you go in KC, you’ll never be far from fantastic KC barbecue.

The Crossroads has a huge art scene, too. You’ll be close to the Nelson-Atkins and other art museums, plus there are monthly First Friday events that bring the best in art out into the streets. At the northern end of the Crossroads, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts hosts more than 350 live music, dance, and theatre performances each year.

This area does make it a little more challenging to do things like shop for groceries, but it’s by no means difficult. If you prefer to stay car-free, you’ll have longer streetcar rides to go to Cosentino's in the Downtown and River Market beyond. If you have a car, then you’ll find supermarkets, big box stores, and department stores 10 to 15 minutes south along and near to State Line Road.

Crown Center Short-Term Rentals: Best for Hospital Proximity, Union Station, and Central Access

Need temporary accommodations in KC so that you can be close to one of the city’s major hospitals? Whether it’s for work or medical reasons, the Crown Center neighborhood puts you close to Children’s Mercy Hospital and University Health’s Hospital Hill area. You’ll also be within a few minutes’ drive of the KU Medical Center and St. Luke's.

Crown Center is about more than hospitals, though. It’s also close to the Hallmark headquarters, the Federal Reserve Bank, Union Station, and the National WWI Museum and Memorial. All of this combined makes the area worth considering for traveling professionals, med students, and families coming to KC for medical care.

When it comes to fun stuff, the Crown Center complex itself has a lot going for it. The mall is a beautiful one with interesting boutiques and good eats, and you’ll also be on or near the streetcar line, which means you’ll have easy access to everything from River Market in the north to the Plaza area and UMKC in the south.

As to the vibe, this is one of the quieter areas of the inner metro. Nightlife is mostly centered in the Downtown and Westport areas, while the cultural attractions are more around the museum district, the Crossroads, and River Market. Even though these attractions won’t be right on your doorstep, they’re still only minutes away via the streetcar or a short drive.

Country Club Plaza Short-Term Rentals: Best for a Polished, Walkable Lifestyle

If you’re interested in a very different version of Kansas City, the Country Club Plaza area might be right for you. There are lots of short-term rentals in this area, and the recent streetcar extension means it’s now connected to Westport, the Crossroads, Downtown, River Market, and more. This also puts you closest to UMKC if you need temporary lodging near the university—and again, streetcar access means you won’t need to drive if you work or study at UMKC.

What makes the Country Club Plaza area unique is the Plaza itself. It’s a beautiful shopping district full of Spanish-inspired architecture plus plenty of shops and restaurants in one concentrated area. The nearby Nelson-Atkins Museum and Loose Park make for great nearby escapes (and they build on the area’s multicultural vibes, too).

The one thing to watch as you’re looking for rentals in the Plaza area is that it’s a deceptively large neighborhood. If walkability is a big part of your plan, check walking routes before you sign a lease. While there are plenty of rentals near the streetcar line, some can be quite far—and a few are tucked into residential neighborhoods if you prefer a quieter vibe that still keeps you near the life of the Plaza.

Finding the Right Short-Term Rental in Kansas City

What stands out to me about Kansas City’s short term rental landscape is that much of it now follows the Downtown corridor—which makes sense because these areas keep you close to major downtown employers, hospitals, and educational opportunities. River Market works especially well for a walkable lifestyle, the Crossroads is your best bet for the arts and close proximity to the city’s robust nightlife, and Crown Center is where you want to be for medical stays.

And of course, all of this doesn’t mean that there aren’t short term rentals elsewhere in Kansas City. If you don’t need access to the downtown area, feel free to look closer to where you’ll actually need to be. Overland Park, Liberty, the Northland—you’ll find great places to stay all throughout KC.