Blue Springs, MO to University City, MO is 226.5 miles and takes about 4h 22m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Missouri, offering a straightforward drive. Given its relatively short duration, it's perfectly suited for a single-day journey. The route is characterized by a mix of highway travel and local road navigation, suggesting a drive that requires attention but isn't overly demanding. Plan for a day where you'll experience varied driving conditions as you make your way east.
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
113.3 miles from Blue Springs, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
131.6 mi
2h 29m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Avenue of the Saints
27.7 mi
33m
Daniel Boone Expressway
4.9 mi
6m
South Big Bend Boulevard
2 mi
4m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Southwest 15th Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 131.6 mi, about 2h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blue Springs, MO and University City, 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
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Take the exit onto US 40
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 40
Exit 210AToward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
14
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
28 mi·33 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Continue on I 64; US 40
4.9 mi·6 min·Daniel Boone Expressway
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 33AToward Big Bend BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
131 ft·10 sec
Toward Big Bend Boulevard, Fontbonne UniversityUse the left / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto South Big Bend Boulevard
2.0 mi·4 min·South Big Bend Boulevard
19
At end of road, turn right onto Delmar Boulevard
0.2 mi·17 sec·Delmar Boulevard
20
Enter roundabout onto Delmar Boulevard
94 ft·1 sec·Delmar Boulevard
21
Continue on Delmar Boulevard
523 ft·16 sec·Delmar Boulevard
22
Turn right onto Kingsland Avenue
98 ft·6 sec·Kingsland Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on Kingsland Avenue
173 ft·12 sec·Kingsland Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Kingsland Avenue
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 4.5 hours and a fuel cost around $35, this trip from Blue Springs to University City is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unforeseen delays. You'll have one significant stretch of 131.6 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, so plan your primary refueling stop before or after this segment. Given the 'turn-heavy' nature, it's wise to have a reliable GPS or navigation app ready, as you'll be making frequent adjustments. The flexibility of a single-day drive means you can depart at your convenience, but early starts are generally recommended for smoother travel.
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 113.3 miles from Blue Springs, MO, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131.6 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 50 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.3 miles or 2h 4m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near University City, 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 226.5 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 131.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 226.5 — 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
191.1 mi into trip|~3h 36m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 210A
Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Ches...
7
224 mi into trip|~4h 16m in
Take the exit toward Big Bend Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 33A
Toward Big Bend Boulevard
9
224.2 mi into trip|~4h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Big Bend Boulevard, Fontbonne University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward Big Bend Boulevard, Fontbonne University
7
226.5 mi into trip|~4h 22m in|Kingsland Avenue
Turn right onto Kingsland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.41 one way
$70.82 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$38.88
$77.76
premium
$4.89
$43.59
$87.18
diesel
$5.61
$50.01
$100.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68
0
$23.78
$10.87
Efficient EV
56.6
0
$19.82
$9.06
EV Truck/SUV
90.6
1
$31.71
$14.50
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Blue Springs, MO
Morning
in Blue Springs on Tuesday
Local time
8:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 6:24PM CDT until April 22 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 6:24PM CDT until April 22 at 2:00PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Destination
University City, MO
Morning
in University City on Tuesday
Local time
8:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
17 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 22m 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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
$19
near mile 226.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, with a highway share of 2 out of 10, meaning you'll encounter a good amount of non-interstate travel. While there's a significant longest stretch of 131.6 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, the overall journey involves more frequent turns and transitions than a pure highway cruise. Expect the road to change character as you move between different types of thoroughfares, requiring you to stay engaged with navigation and speed adjustments. This isn't a route for autopilot; it's one where you'll actively manage your path.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 131.6 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 226.5 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 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 191.1 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 224 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
St. Louis County is an area in the St. Louis Area of Missouri. Its current boundaries were set in 1877, when St. Louis City split off to become an independent city separate from any county. It is the most populated part of the St. Louis area, though it has fewer sites of interest than the City. It mostly consists of suburban residential areas.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 22m. Total distance: 226.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 131.6 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 32 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.
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 University City, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 191.1 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 224 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at University City, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
