Castle Point to Macon is 173.3 miles and takes about 3h 27m via I 70, US 63, and Rosemary Straub Davison Highway, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Given its mostly highway profile and a duration under four hours, this route is a straightforward drive. It's a good option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground between these two points without a lengthy commitment.
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
86.6 miles from Castle Point, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
103.2 mi
2h 2m
US 63
55.6 mi
1h
Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
8.6 mi
10m
South Rollins Street
1.3 mi
3m
New Halls Ferry Road
0.7 mi
1m
US 63 Conn
0.6 mi
1m
Dunn Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Halls Ferry Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 103.2 mi, about 2h 2m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 42 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,683 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,355
Quietest
2 AM
~345 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.7×
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 Macon, 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.
13
Merge onto I 70
103 mi·2 hr 2 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 128AToward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
15
Turn right
174 ft·3 sec
Toward US 63 North: Moberly
16
Merge onto US 63 Conn
0.6 mi·1 min·US 63 Conn
Use the straight lane.
17
Merge onto US 63
56 mi·1 hr·US 63
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn left onto South Rollins Street
1.3 mi·3 min·South Rollins Street
19
At end of road, turn right onto East Washington Street
154 ft·11 sec·East Washington Street
20
Turn left onto Walker Street
157 ft·6 sec·Walker Street
21
Arrive at destination
Walker Street
Trip Plan
Since this trip is about 3.5 hours and can be completed in a single day, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving mid-morning should allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. The longest uninterrupted stretch is over 100 miles on I 70, so plan for a fuel stop before or during that segment if needed. With a fuel cost estimated at $27, it's a budget-friendly drive. Consider a brief stop around the 100-mile mark to stretch your legs before continuing on Rosemary Straub Davison Highway.
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 86.6 miles from Castle Point, MO, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.2 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 38 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.6 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Macon, 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 173.3 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 103.2 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 115.6 — 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
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
6
115.4 mi into trip|~2h 21m 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
115.6 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|US 63 Conn
Merge onto US 63 Conn
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.87 one way
$53.74 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$29.46
$58.92
premium
$4.93
$33.62
$67.25
diesel
$5.60
$38.20
$76.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52
0
$18.20
$8.32
Efficient EV
43.3
0
$15.16
$6.93
EV Truck/SUV
69.3
0
$24.26
$11.09
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Sep 6, 2026
Origin
Castle Point, MO
Evening
in Castle Point on Monday
Local time
8:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Macon, MO
Evening
in Macon on Monday
Local time
8:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°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
3h 27m 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.
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?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 92% of the 173.3 miles on interstates and major roads. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 103.2 miles on I 70 before transitioning. The bulk of your travel will be on high-speed roads, so expect typical interstate cruising. Surface roads make up a smaller portion of the drive, appearing later in the itinerary.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.2 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and US 63. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 173.3 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 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
891 ft495 ft
Total Climb
632 ft
Total Descent
260 ft
Highest Point
891 ft
~61.9 mi in
Elevation Range
396 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Castle Point, MO and Macon, MO, road signs point toward Kansas City and Moberly.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 27m. Total distance: 173.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.2 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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 Macon, 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 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Duchess Drive): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Macon, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
