Traveling from Bethany to Saint Joseph covers a substantial 438.9-mile journey that takes approximately 8 hours and 56 minutes of drive time. Because of the significant distance, this route is best approached as a two-day trip rather than a single-day haul. You will primarily navigate via US 60, the North Kansas Expressway, and MO 7, keeping you within the Midwest region for the duration of the trip. Plan for a fuel budget of roughly $67 to cover your transit. While it is a highway-focused drive, splitting the trip into two days ensures you arrive feeling refreshed rather than exhausted by the nearly nine-hour travel requirement.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
219.5 miles from Bethany, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 60
176.6 mi
3h 28m
North Kansas Expressway
87.2 mi
1h 42m
MO 7
73.9 mi
1h 24m
I 29
40.2 mi
44m
MO 53
19.5 mi
29m
MO H
8.8 mi
17m
Schoolcraft Freeway
8.1 mi
10m
I 229
5.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 176.6 mi, about 3h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethany, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on County Road 102
0.8 mi·3 min·County Road 102
2
Turn left onto MO H
3.5 mi·8 min·MO H
3
Continue on MO H; MO J
5.2 mi·9 min·MO H; MO J
4
Turn right onto MO 53
20 mi·29 min·MO 53
5
Turn right onto US 67 Business
2.4 mi·3 min·South Westwood Boulevard
6
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·State Street
7
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·North Westwood Boulevard
8
Continue on US 67; US 60 Business
0.4 mi·37 sec·US 67; US 60 Business
9
Continue on US 60; US 67
4.0 mi·4 min·US 60; US 67
10
Take the exit onto US 60
173 mi·3 hr 23 min·US 60
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 65 North: Sedalia
12
Merge onto US 65
8.1 mi·10 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
14
Merge onto I 44
4.1 mi·5 min·Payne Stewart Highway
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
16
Keep slight left at fork
150 ft·3 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
17
Keep slight right at fork
209 ft·7 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
18
Merge onto MO 13
87 mi·1 hr 42 min·North Kansas Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Continue on MO 7
36 mi·39 min·MO 7
20
Take the exit onto MO 7
38 mi·45 min·MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Toward 11th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
22
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
425 ft·16 sec·East 11th Street
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto Charlotte Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Charlotte Street
24
Turn left onto East 9th Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·East 9th Street
25
Turn right onto Locust Street
0.1 mi·17 sec·Locust Street
26
Continue on MO 9
3.0 mi·5 min·MO 9
27
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 9
0.9 mi·1 min·MO 9
Toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward US 169 North: Smithville
29
Continue on US 169
1.2 mi·1 min·US 169
30
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint JosephUse the straight / slight left lanes.
31
Merge onto I 29; US 71
12 mi·13 min·I 29; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
2.7 mi·2 min·I 29; I 435; US 71
33
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71
26 mi·27 min·I 29; US 71
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
34
Take the exit
0.5 mi·54 sec
Exit 43Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
35
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi·6 min·I 229
36
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 6AToward Central Business District
37
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·Edmond Street
38
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi·20 sec·South 10th Street
39
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft·6 sec·Frederick Avenue
40
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft·2 sec·Walter Welsh Avenue
41
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Trip Plan
To manage the 438.9-mile distance effectively, plan for at least two intentional stops to break up the nearly nine-hour drive. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential congestion and ensure you reach your overnight destination before dark. Since the route is heavily reliant on highway driving, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that 176.6-mile stretch on US 60 where services might be more spread out. By pacing yourself over two days, you gain the flexibility to handle the long highway segments at a comfortable speed. Prioritize these rest breaks to maintain your focus, as the high percentage of highway travel can lead to driver fatigue over such a long duration.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 219.5 miles from Bethany, MO, or about 4h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.6 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 97 miles or 2h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 219.5 miles or 4h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 219.5 miles or 4h 37m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Joseph, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bethany, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bethany, MO
Aim for roughly 219 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Saint Joseph, MO
Aim for roughly 219 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 97 miles from Bethany, MO.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 60 for about 176.6 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 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 223.6 and 391.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
223.6 mi into trip|~4h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 13: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
7
223.7 mi into trip|~4h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
7
346.8 mi into trip|~7h 5m in|MO 7
Take the exit onto MO 7 toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: 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 right lanes.
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kan...
7
384.7 mi into trip|~7h 50m in
Take the exit toward 11th Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 11th Street, Downtown
7
391.1 mi into trip|~8h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
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.
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$68.62 one way
$137.23 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg154 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$75.34
$150.68
premium
$4.89
$84.46
$168.92
diesel
$5.61
$96.90
$193.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$69
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$199–$309
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 153.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
131.7
1
$46.08
$21.07
Efficient EV
109.7
1
$38.40
$17.56
EV Truck/SUV
175.6
2
$61.45
$28.09
Gas CO2
154 kg
EV CO2
51 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bethany, MO
Evening
in Bethany on Saturday
Local time
8:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Evening
in Saint Joseph on Saturday
Local time
8:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Billings, MO
219 mi in
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
18 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
8h 56m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 211.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient experience, as 95% of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend the bulk of your time cruising, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 176.6 miles on US 60. The road maintains a consistent, fast-paced personality, making it ideal for drivers who prefer steady progress over stop-and-go traffic. Because the vast majority of the journey is spent on major thoroughfares, you can anticipate a smooth, predictable rhythm behind the wheel. The transition between the North Kansas Expressway and MO 7 provides a reliable connection that keeps you moving toward your destination without unnecessary local detours.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 176.6 mi on US 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and North Kansas Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 223.6 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 438.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 223.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 223.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 346.8 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bethany, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Downtown and Parkville.
Downtown
384.7 mi in|~7h 50m
Parkville
388.7 mi in|~7h 58m|via MO 9
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 176.6 miles on US 60. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 219 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Saint Joseph, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 223.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 223.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 346.8 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.9 hours each way, a round trip means 17.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Saint Joseph, MO before the return drive.
