This 260-mile journey from Castle Point to Forsyth, Missouri, is designed for a single day of driving, taking approximately 5 hours to complete. You'll navigate primarily via the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, American Legion Memorial Highway, and US Highway 65, with only about 13% of the drive on highways, suggesting a more local, scenic feel. With an estimated fuel cost of $41, this trip is budget-friendly. The route is characterized by its turn-heavy nature, making it a more engaging drive than a straightforward interstate cruise. It's a solid day trip that allows you to immerse yourself in the Midwest's landscape without feeling overly rushed.
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
130 miles from Castle Point, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
194.7 mi
3h 31m
American Legion Memorial Highway
12.1 mi
13m
US Highway 65
12 mi
13m
Schoolcraft Freeway
11 mi
13m
US 160
10.3 mi
15m
Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway
3.5 mi
4m
Jennings Station Road
3.3 mi
6m
North Skinker Boulevard
2.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
— 194.7 mi, about 3h 31m
Traffic on I-44
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,417 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,956
Quietest
2 AM
~186 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13×
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 Castle Point, MO and Forsyth, MO.
1
Start on Lord Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·Lord Drive
2
At end of road, turn right onto Chambers Road
0.4 mi·39 sec·Chambers Road
3
Turn left onto MO AC
1.6 mi·2 min·Halls Ferry Road
4
Turn right onto Jennings Station Road
3.3 mi·6 min·Jennings Station Road
5
Continue on Kienlen Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·Kienlen Avenue
6
Continue on North Skinker Boulevard
2.8 mi·5 min·North Skinker Boulevard
7
Continue on McCausland Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·McCausland Avenue
8
Turn left onto Arsenal Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Arsenal Street
9
Turn right onto Jamieson Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·Jamieson Avenue
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 44 WestUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto I 44
0.7 mi·54 sec·Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway
12
Continue on I 44
2.7 mi·3 min·Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
13
Continue on I 44
3.5 mi·4 min·Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 44; US 50
195 mi·3 hr 31 min·Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Exit 82AToward US 65 South: Branson
16
Merge onto US 65
11 mi·13 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 65
11 mi·12 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
18
Continue on US 65
12 mi·13 min·US Highway 65
19
Continue on US 65
1.2 mi·1 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward US 160: Reed Springs Junction, Forsyth
21
Turn left onto US 160
4.3 mi·6 min·US 160
22
Turn slight left onto US 160; MO 176
6.0 mi·9 min·US 160; MO 176
23
Turn slight right onto Rockhill Drive
0.1 mi·24 sec·Rockhill Drive
24
Arrive at destination
Rockhill Drive
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Castle Point to maximize your daylight hours, especially since it's a single-day trip. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. The route's 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you should stay attentive to navigation, as quick turns might be more frequent than on interstate routes. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the 260-mile distance with a significant portion on local roads might mean fewer readily available gas stations compared to major highways. Budgeting around $41 for fuel should cover your needs for this journey.
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 130 miles from Castle Point, MO, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 194.7 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 57 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130 miles or 2h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forsyth, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Castle Point, 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 Castle Point, MO
This is one driving day of about 260 miles and 5h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Castle Point, 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 Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor for about 194.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 249.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|Chambers Road
At end of road, turn right onto Chambers Road
Navigation decision point
6
12.1 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 44 West
5
214 mi into trip|~4h 3m in
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Branson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 82A
Toward US 65 South: Branson
5
214.3 mi into trip|~4h 4m in|US 65 / Schoolcraft Freeway
Merge onto US 65 / Schoolcraft Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
249.4 mi into trip|~4h 45m in
Take the exit toward US 160: Reed Springs Junction, Forsyth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 160: Reed Springs Junction, Forsyth
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.23 one way
$86.46 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$47.09
$94.17
premium
$5.18
$53.05
$106.11
diesel
$5.35
$54.76
$109.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78
0
$27.30
$12.48
Efficient EV
65
0
$22.75
$10.40
EV Truck/SUV
104
1
$36.40
$16.64
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Castle Point, MO
Afternoon
in Castle Point on Wednesday
Local time
3:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Clear
E 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 8:19PM CDT until June 3 at 3:00PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 8:19PM CDT until June 4 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Destination
Forsyth, MO
Afternoon
in Forsyth on Wednesday
Local time
3:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 8:19PM CDT until June 3 at 3:00PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 8:19PM CDT until June 4 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 2m 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...
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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 224.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, indicated by its low highway share of just 13%. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 194.7 miles along the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, offering a substantial period of consistent travel before transitioning. This profile suggests a drive that winds through local roads and potentially smaller towns, requiring your attention and offering a more intimate experience of the landscape. It's less about high-speed cruising and more about engaging with the road as it meanders through Missouri.
Only 13% 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: 194.7 mi on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Chambers Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 2m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Chambers Road): Navigation decision point; at 12.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 214 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 194.7 miles on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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.
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 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Chambers Road): Navigation decision point; at 12.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 214 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park and Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Forsyth, MO before the return drive.
