This paper attempts to develop kinetic flux vector splitting (KFVS) for the Euler equations with general pressure laws. It is well known that the gas distribution function for the local equilibrium state plays an important role in the construction of the gas–kinetic schemes. To recover the Euler equations with a general equation of state (EOS), a new local equilibrium distribution is introduced with two parameters of temperature approximation decided uniquely by macroscopic variables. Utilizing the well-known connection that the Euler equations of motion are the moments of the Boltzmann equation whenever the velocity distribution function is a local equilibrium state, a class of high resolution MUSCL–type KFVS schemes are presented to approximate the Euler equations of gas dynamics with a general EOS. The schemes are finally applied to several test problems for a general EOS. In comparison with the exact solutions, our schemes give correct location and more accurate resolution of discontinuities. The extension of our idea to multidimensional case is natural.