If you are planning a trip from Blue Springs to Centralia, Missouri, expect a 130.5-mile journey that typically takes 2 hours and 32 minutes. Because this is a relatively short drive within the Midwest, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $20 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. The route utilizes a mix of major arteries like the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and more localized paths like Paris Road. Since the trip is straightforward, you have the flexibility to head out whenever it fits your schedule best without feeling pressured by a grueling timeline.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.2 miles from Blue Springs, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.6 mi
54m
Paris Road
9.9 mi
14m
MO 124
7.9 mi
11m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.5 mi
1m
US 63
1.2 mi
1m
US 63 Conn
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blue Springs, MO and Centralia, MO.
1
Start on Southwest 15th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Southwest 15th Street
2
Turn right onto Northwest R D Mize Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Northwest R D Mize Road
3
Turn left onto MO 7
0.4 mi·1 min·MO 7
4
Turn slight right onto MO 7
84 ft·2 sec·MO 7
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 70 East: Columbia
6
Merge onto I 70
49 mi·52 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi·34 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.5 mi·1 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 128AToward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
13
Turn left onto US 63 Conn
0.7 mi·1 min·US 63 Conn
Use the straight lane.
14
Merge onto US 63
1.2 mi·1 min·US 63
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward MO B: Hallsville, Centralia
16
Turn right onto MO B
9.9 mi·14 min·Paris Road
17
Continue on MO 124
7.9 mi·11 min·MO 124
18
Turn right onto West Singleton Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Singleton Street
19
Turn right onto South Rollins Street
392 ft·17 sec·South Rollins Street
20
Arrive at destination
South Rollins Street
Trip Plan
For a smooth experience, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 2-hour and 32-minute drive. Since the route is turn-heavy, keeping your focus sharp is essential, especially when transitioning off the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway onto local roads. Leaving during daylight hours is highly recommended to better navigate the turns that define this path. With a fuel budget of $20, it is wise to ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Blue Springs to avoid searching for stations in unfamiliar areas. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so use that single planned stop as an opportunity to stretch and reset before tackling the final stretch into Centralia.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.2 miles from Blue Springs, MO, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 29 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.2 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Centralia, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Blue Springs, 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 Blue Springs, MO
This is one driving day of about 130.5 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Blue Springs, 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 U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 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 1.4 and 111.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 East: Columbia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 70 East: Columbia
6
109.8 mi into trip|~2h in
Take the exit toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 128A
Toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
6
109.9 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|US 63 Conn
Turn left onto US 63 Conn
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
110.7 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|US 63
Merge onto US 63
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
111.9 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward MO B: Hallsville, Centralia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO B: Hallsville, Centralia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.40 one way
$40.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.40
$44.80
premium
$4.89
$25.11
$50.23
diesel
$5.61
$28.81
$57.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.2
0
$13.70
$6.26
Efficient EV
32.6
0
$11.42
$5.22
EV Truck/SUV
52.2
0
$18.27
$8.35
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Blue Springs, MO
Late night
in Blue Springs on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Centralia, MO
Late night
in Centralia on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 32m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Only about 8% of this route consists of highway travel, so you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating smaller roads rather than cruising on a monotonous interstate. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 54.4 miles along the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. As you transition from the suburban feel of Blue Springs toward Centralia, the road personality shifts from major thoroughfares to more intimate, winding local segments. This drive is ideal if you prefer active steering over the repetitive nature of long-distance highway miles.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial 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 1.4 miles in.
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 130.5 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 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 109.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.9 miles (US 63 Conn): Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Blue Springs, MO and Centralia, MO, road signs point toward Moberly and Mo B: Hallsville.
Moberly
109.8 mi in|~2h
Mo B: Hallsville
111.9 mi in|~2h 4m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 130.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (8%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 109.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.9 miles (US 63 Conn): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Centralia, MO before heading back.
