Traveling from Centralia to Blue Springs covers 129.4 miles across the Missouri Midwest and typically takes about 2 hours and 32 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey is manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting approximately $20 for fuel should be sufficient to get you from point A to point B. The route utilizes a combination of local roads and major arteries, including MO B, the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. It serves as a straightforward trip for those moving between these two regional hubs.
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
64.7 miles from Centralia, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m 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
MO B
11.4 mi
16m
MO 124
7.9 mi
11m
Vandiver Drive
1.3 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.3 mi
1m
West Singleton Street
0.5 mi
1m
Northwest 15th Street
0.5 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 Centralia, MO and Blue Springs, MO.
1
Start on South Rollins Street
392 ft·22 sec·South Rollins Street
2
Turn left onto West Singleton Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Singleton Street
3
Turn left onto MO 124
7.9 mi·11 min·MO 124
4
Continue on MO B
11 mi·16 min·MO B
5
Turn right onto Vandiver Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Vandiver Drive
6
Enter roundabout onto Vandiver Drive
119 ft·2 sec·Vandiver Drive
7
Continue on Vandiver Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Vandiver Drive
8
Turn left onto MO 763
0.1 mi·22 sec·Range Line Street
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
10
Merge onto I 70; US 40
1.3 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
49 mi·52 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 20Toward MO 7: Blue Springs, Lake LotawanaUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto MO 7
0.5 mi·1 min·MO 7
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto Northwest R D Mize Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Northwest R D Mize Road
17
At end of road, turn left onto Northwest 15th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Northwest 15th Street
18
Arrive at destination
Southwest 15th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs, as the turn-heavy nature of the route can be more demanding than a standard interstate cruise. Given the total duration of 2 hours and 32 minutes, keeping a steady pace will help you arrive in Blue Springs without unnecessary fatigue. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the initial local stretches, as service options may be more limited compared to the highway portions. Use the 54.4-mile stretch on the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway to maintain a consistent speed, as it offers the most stable driving conditions of the entire trip.
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 64.7 miles from Centralia, MO, or about 1h 20m 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 28 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.7 miles or 1h 20m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blue Springs, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Centralia, 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 Centralia, MO
This is one driving day of about 129.4 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Centralia, 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 128.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West Singleton Street
Turn left onto West Singleton Street
Navigation decision point
5
21.3 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
8
127.7 mi into trip|~2h 28m in
Take the exit toward MO 7: Blue Springs, Lake Lotawana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20
Toward MO 7: Blue Springs, Lake Lotawana
5
127.9 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|MO 7
Turn left onto MO 7
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
128.9 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|Northwest 15th Street
At end of road, turn left onto Northwest 15th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.23 one way
$40.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.21
$44.42
premium
$4.89
$24.90
$49.80
diesel
$5.61
$28.57
$57.14
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: 45.3 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
38.8
0
$13.59
$6.21
Efficient EV
32.4
0
$11.32
$5.18
EV Truck/SUV
51.8
0
$18.12
$8.28
Gas CO2
45 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 20, 2026
Origin
Centralia, MO
Morning
in Centralia on Tuesday
Local time
9:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blue Springs, MO
Morning
in Blue Springs on Tuesday
Local time
9:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
14 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
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 requires your full attention as you transition between different road types. Only about 6% of your journey is spent on major highways, meaning you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating smaller, more localized roads. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch while covering 54.4 miles on the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. This mix of terrain ensures the drive feels active rather than monotonous, keeping you engaged as the landscape shifts toward Blue Springs. Be prepared for frequent adjustments as you leave the slower, winding sections behind and merge onto the busier highway segments.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 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?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Singleton Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Centralia, MO to Blue Springs, MO is easy. At 2h 32m with 6% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Singleton Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 129.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
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 0.1 miles (West Singleton Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Blue Springs, MO before heading back.
