Ballwin, MO to Blue Springs, MO is 216.4 miles and takes about 4h 13m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Missouri, keeping you in the Midwest region. The profile indicates you'll mostly be on surface roads, so expect a more local driving experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under five hours, this is a very manageable one-day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
108.2 miles from Ballwin, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi
1h 35m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.6 mi
54m
Avenue of the Saints
19.2 mi
23m
Baxter Road
2.9 mi
5m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Holloway Road
1.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,993 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,486
Quietest
1 AM
~217 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ballwin, MO and Blue Springs, MO.
1
Start on this road
219 ft·21 sec·this road
2
Turn left
220 ft·21 sec
3
At end of road, turn left onto Holloway Road
1.2 mi·3 min·Holloway Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on Baxter Road
2.9 mi·5 min·Baxter Road
5
Turn right onto MO 340
1.0 mi·1 min·Clarkson Road
6
Continue on MO 340
483 ft·16 sec·Olive Boulevard
7
Turn left onto North Outer 40
0.4 mi·58 sec·North Outer 40
8
Take the ramp
457 ft·11 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 NorthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
19 mi·23 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto US 40
0.6 mi·1 min·US 40
Exit 1AToward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
15
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
16
Continue on I 70; US 40
49 mi·52 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 20Toward MO 7: Blue Springs, Lake LotawanaUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn left onto MO 7
0.5 mi·1 min·MO 7
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Northwest R D Mize Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Northwest R D Mize Road
20
At end of road, turn left onto Northwest 15th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Northwest 15th Street
21
Arrive at destination
Southwest 15th Street
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 4h 13m duration, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Ballwin, MO in the morning will allow you to reach Blue Springs, MO with plenty of daylight remaining. Plan for your single recommended stop around the halfway point to break up the 80.7-mile stretch on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $33, and be aware that surface road driving can sometimes consume fuel slightly faster than highway driving. The mostly surface road profile means you'll encounter more varied speed limits and potential local traffic delays.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 108.2 miles from Ballwin, MO, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 48 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.2 miles or 2h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blue Springs, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ballwin, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ballwin, MO
This is one driving day of about 216.4 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Ballwin, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 80.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 214.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Holloway Road
At end of road, turn left onto Holloway Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
5.6 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the ramp toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North
5
5.7 mi into trip|~12m in|I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
24.9 mi into trip|~35m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
8
214.7 mi into trip|~4h 9m in
Take the exit toward MO 7: Blue Springs, Lake Lotawana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20
Toward MO 7: Blue Springs, Lake Lotawana
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.96 one way
$63.91 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$35.28
$70.56
premium
$4.72
$40.18
$80.36
diesel
$4.80
$40.86
$81.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.9
0
$22.72
$10.39
Efficient EV
54.1
0
$18.94
$8.66
EV Truck/SUV
86.6
1
$30.30
$13.85
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Ballwin, MO
Late night
in Ballwin on Monday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blue Springs, MO
Late night
in Blue Springs on Monday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:51PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:26PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
22 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 13m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route primarily uses surface roads, with 0% highway share. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 80.7 miles on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. Expect to navigate through local traffic and intersections for the majority of your drive, with fewer opportunities for high-speed cruising. The transition from highway to surface roads will be gradual, so be prepared for changes in speed limits and traffic patterns.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.7 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Holloway Road.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 216.4 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Holloway Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.7 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 13m. Total distance: 216.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.7 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Holloway Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.7 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Blue Springs, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
