Origin
Claycomo, MO
Night in Claycomo on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Claycomo, MO to Saint Joseph, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
53.9 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Claycomo, MO
Lena Khrupina
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Claycomo to Saint Joseph, you are in for a quick 53.9-mile transit across Missouri. Expect to spend about one hour behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will rely primarily on I-29, I-435, and I-229 to navigate between these two Midwest locations. With fuel costs estimated at around $8, this is an incredibly budget-friendly excursion. Because the route is straightforward and efficient, it serves as a perfect connector for those looking to reach their destination quickly without the stress of a multi-day journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 26 mi | 27m |
| I 435 | 20.4 mi | 21m |
| I 229 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Edmond Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South 10th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Lewis & Clark Trail | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Frederick Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Walter Welsh Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 26 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Claycomo, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on US 69
525 ft
·
19 sec
·
Lewis & Clark Trail
2
Take the ramp
355 ft
·
10 sec
Toward I 35 South, I 435 North: Kansas City, Saint Joseph
3
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 435 North: Saint Joseph
4
Merge onto I 435
20 mi
·
21 min
·
I 435
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71
26 mi
·
27 min
·
I 29; US 71
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
7
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 229
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
9
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Edmond Street
10
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South 10th Street
11
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft
·
6 sec
·
Frederick Avenue
12
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft
·
2 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.9 miles from Claycomo, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 52.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South, I 435 North: Kansas City, Saint Joseph
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 435 North: Kansas City, Sa...
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 435 North: Saint Joseph
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 435 North: Saint Joseph
6
20.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 29; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71 toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
5
46.7 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
5
52.9 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward Central Business District
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.43 one way
$16.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.25 | $18.50 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.37 | $20.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.90 | $23.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.72 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.55 | $3.45 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Night in Saint Joseph on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 97% of your travel spent on major interstates. You should be prepared for a consistent, high-speed pace as you navigate the corridor. The longest stretch you will encounter is a 26-mile segment on I-29, which allows for steady cruising. Because the infrastructure is heavily dominated by interstates, the drive maintains a predictable character from start to finish. Expect a functional, no-nonsense experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26 mi on I 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and I 435. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.9 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 20.7 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 53.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26 miles on I 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 20.7 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Joseph, MO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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