K-52 then overlaps U.S. Route 69 for eight miles (13 km) through Pleasanton and Trading Post, then splits off to the east.

The former routing through Pleasanton follows the former Ozark Trails and Kansas City-Fort Scott-Miami-Tulsa Short Line.

It was realigned to the west of Pleasanton in 1987 and eight years later, the highway was truncated to its current western terminus.

The highway passes through a forested area for a short distance then transitions to flat rural farmlands.

About 0.3 miles (0.48 km) later, the highway reaches an interchange with East 6th Street, which travels west to Pleasanton.

The highway continues through flat rural farmlands, as it curves north and crosses Muddy Creek.

The freeway continues for 0.5 miles (0.80 km) and then curves northeast before it reaches an interchange with East 1350 Road.

It continues northeast and soon crosses Big Sugar Creek, then Marais des Cygnes River 0.9 miles (1.4 km) later.

Then in an October 9, 1957 resolution, it was realigned further east along K-52, then turned south at K-52's current western terminus.

[11][12] Originally K-52 zig-zagged from K-31 northeastward to K-7 in Mound City, but was approved to be straightened in a February 11, 1964 resolution.