Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
30.1 mi
48 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blackwater, MO
Mathias Reding
Prairie Home, MO
Soraya photogaphy
Blackwater, MO to Prairie Home, MO is 30.1 miles and takes about 40m via U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway and MO 87, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within Missouri, offering a straightforward drive through the Midwest region. Given its brief length and low fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick excursion or as a segment of a larger trip. You'll find it's a practical way to connect these two points without a significant time commitment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 16.1 mi | 17m |
| MO 87 | 10.5 mi | 14m |
| Main Street | 2.9 mi | 7m |
| MO K | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Blackwater, MO and Prairie Home, MO.
Start on MO K
At end of road, turn left onto MO K
Turn right onto MO K
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 70; US 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
Take the exit
Turn right onto MO 87
Turn sharp left onto MO EE
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 30.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto MO K
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto MO K
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Boonville
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MO 87: Boonville, Prairie Home
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn sharp left onto MO EE / Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Regular Gas
$5.00 one way
$10.01 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $5.45 | $10.90 |
| premium | $5.18 | $6.14 | $12.28 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $6.34 | $12.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.93 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Blackwater on Wednesday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Prairie Home on Wednesday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is about 35% highway, so expect a mix of faster travel and local roads. You'll cruise for up to 16.1 miles on the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway before transitioning to MO 87 and Main Street. The change from highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you encounter more local traffic and potentially lower speed limits. It’s a fairly direct path with a clear shift in driving conditions.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in near MO K.
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 30.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 2.9 miles (MO K): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (MO K): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
449 ft
Total Descent
185 ft
Highest Point
893 ft
~30.1 mi in
Elevation Range
264 ft
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 30.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Blackwater, MO or browse trips ending in Prairie Home, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.
