Castle Point to Gower is 279.6 miles and takes about 5h 30m via I 70 and US 169, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Missouri, taking you across the Midwest region. It's a mostly highway drive, making it a straightforward option if you're looking to cover ground efficiently. With only one recommended stop and a single day for completion, this trip is well-suited for those who prefer a direct approach to their travels.
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
139.8 miles from Castle Point, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
215.4 mi
4h 4m
US 169
21.5 mi
30m
I 435
11.3 mi
12m
Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
8.6 mi
10m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
7.8 mi
9m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
I435 N
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 215.4 mi, about 4h 4m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 76 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,489 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,086
Quietest
2 AM
~315 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Gower, MO.
1
Start on Lord Drive
284 ft·14 sec·Lord Drive
2
Turn right onto Duchess Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Duchess Drive
3
Turn right onto Edgefield Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Edgefield Drive
4
Turn left onto Hudson Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Hudson Drive
5
At end of road, turn right onto MO AC
0.3 mi·29 sec·Halls Ferry Road
6
Keep slight left at fork onto MO AC
0.7 mi·1 min·New Halls Ferry Road
7
Turn left onto Dunn Road
0.4 mi·53 sec·Dunn Road
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 270 West
9
Merge onto I 270
8.6 mi·10 min·Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 20AToward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
11
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·42 sec·this road
Exit 20A-BToward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas CityUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·41 sec
Exit 20BToward I 70 West: Kansas CityUse the slight right lane.
Exit 8BToward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 435; US 24
7.8 mi·9 min·Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
20
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi·1 min·I435 N
21
Continue on I 435
11 mi·12 min·I 435
22
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 41BToward US 169 North: Smithville
23
Merge onto US 169
21 mi·30 min·US 169
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn left onto Whitney Avenue
0.2 mi·45 sec·Whitney Avenue
25
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
52 ft·2 sec·South 3rd Street
26
Arrive at destination
South 3rd Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5.5-hour drive, consider departing early in the morning to avoid any potential midday traffic. While the drive is manageable in one day, you have flexibility if you choose to break it up. The longest stretch on I 70 is over 200 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the final leg of your journey, to ensure you have enough to reach Gower comfortably. The $44 fuel estimate is a helpful guide for budgeting.
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 139.8 miles from Castle Point, MO, or about 2h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 215.4 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 62 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.8 miles or 2h 43m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gower, 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 279.6 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 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 I 70 for about 215.4 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 235.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Duchess Drive
Turn right onto Duchess Drive
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip|~2m in|Hudson Drive
Turn left onto Hudson Drive
Navigation decision point
6
11 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 20A
Toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
8
11.8 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20B
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
8
235.8 mi into trip|~4h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
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.
Exit 8B
Toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.35 one way
$86.70 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$47.53
$95.06
premium
$4.93
$54.25
$108.49
diesel
$5.60
$61.63
$123.27
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: 97.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.9
1
$29.36
$13.42
Efficient EV
69.9
0
$24.47
$11.18
EV Truck/SUV
111.8
1
$39.14
$17.89
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% 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 Aug 10, 2026
Origin
Castle Point, MO
Late night
in Castle Point on Wednesday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 8 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 10 at 2:43PM CDT until August 12 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued August 10 at 2:43PM CDT until August 12 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Gower, MO
Late night
in Gower on Wednesday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 13 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 10 at 2:43PM CDT until August 12 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued August 10 at 2:43PM CDT until August 12 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
91°F
Columbia, MO
140 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.
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
3 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
5h 30m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to be on the highway for about 89% of this 279.6-mile drive, totaling 249 miles of high-speed travel. The longest continuous stretch on I 70 spans 215.4 miles, offering extended periods of cruising. You'll transition to US 169 and then I 435, which will likely involve more frequent exits and changes in speed as you navigate towards your destination.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 215.4 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and US 169. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Duchess Drive.
Driving Effort9/10
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 18 significant decision points across 279.6 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 0.1 miles (Duchess Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Hudson Drive): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 30m. Total distance: 279.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 215.4 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 36 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 Gower, 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 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Duchess Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Hudson Drive): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Gower, MO before the return drive.
