De Soto, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is 330.9 miles and takes about 6h 25m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region. The majority of the route is on surface roads, offering a more grounded travel experience compared to a pure interstate drive. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a straightforward trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently within the state.
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
165.4 miles from De Soto, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi
1h 35m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
I 29
26 mi
27m
MO 21
23.9 mi
28m
Avenue of the Saints
22.1 mi
26m
I 435
20.9 mi
22m
MO 141
15.3 mi
23m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 54 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,890 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,438
Quietest
1 AM
~270 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 De Soto, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on Easton Street
435 ft·24 sec·Easton Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto North Main Street
1.4 mi·2 min·North Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto MO 110
1.5 mi·1 min·MO 110
4
At end of road, turn right onto MO 21
406 ft·6 sec·MO 21
5
Continue on MO 21
3.8 mi·5 min·MO 21
6
Turn left onto MO 21; MO B
0.4 mi·35 sec·MO 21; MO B
7
Continue on MO 21
20 mi·22 min·MO 21
Toward MO 21 North: Saint Louis
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·24 sec
Toward MO 141: Arnold, Fenton
9
Turn left onto MO 141
4.0 mi·5 min·MO 141
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 141
11 mi·17 min·MO 141
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Take the exit
133 ft·7 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
12
Turn left
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
13
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
22 mi·26 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit onto US 40
0.6 mi·1 min·US 40
Exit 1AToward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
16
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
17
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
18
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
19
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Exit 8BToward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto I 435; US 24
7.8 mi·9 min·Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
27
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi·1 min·I435 N
28
Continue on I 435
21 mi·22 min·I 435
29
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
30
Take the exit
0.5 mi·54 sec
Exit 43Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
31
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi·6 min·I 229
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 6AToward Central Business District
33
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·Edmond Street
34
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi·20 sec·South 10th Street
35
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft·6 sec·Frederick Avenue
36
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft·2 sec·Walter Welsh Avenue
37
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6h 25m drive, aim to depart in the morning to allow ample daylight. Since it's a single-day trip covering 330.9 miles, plan for one brief stop to stretch your legs and refuel. With a fuel cost estimated around $52, keeping an eye on your gas gauge is practical. Given that the majority of the route is on surface roads, be prepared for potentially slower travel times and more frequent turns than a typical interstate journey.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 165.4 miles from De Soto, MO, or about 3h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.7 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 73 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.4 miles or 3h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Joseph, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving De Soto, 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 De Soto, MO
This is one driving day of about 330.9 miles and 6h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from De Soto, 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 Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 80.7 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 297.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|MO 110
At end of road, turn left onto MO 110
Navigation decision point
6
31.2 mi into trip|~39m in|MO 141
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 141
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
64.9 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
8
266.6 mi into trip|~5h 12m 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
6
297.7 mi into trip|~5h 47m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.20 one way
$110.40 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg116 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$60.23
$120.45
premium
$5.25
$68.43
$136.87
diesel
$6.28
$81.76
$163.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.3
1
$34.74
$15.88
Efficient EV
82.7
0
$28.95
$13.24
EV Truck/SUV
132.4
1
$46.33
$21.18
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 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 Oct 22, 2026
Origin
De Soto, MO
Night
in De Soto on Friday
Local time
10:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
NE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Night
in Saint Joseph on Friday
Local time
10:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
S 7 mph0% chanceLive 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
2 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
6h 25m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
$19
near mile 34.2
Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the B...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly on surface roads, with only 29% on highways like the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway and U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. The longest stretch on a highway is 80.7 miles on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. You'll transition from highway cruising to navigating more frequent intersections and local traffic as you move onto surface roads.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.7 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near MO 110.
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 19 significant decision points across 330.9 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 1.4 miles (MO 110): Navigation decision point; at 31.2 miles (MO 141): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.9 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,025 ft462 ft
Total Climb
1,074 ft
Total Descent
716 ft
Highest Point
1,025 ft
~286.6 mi in
Elevation Range
563 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from De Soto, MO to Saint Joseph, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Fenton along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 25m. Total distance: 330.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 25m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.7 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 42 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 Saint Joseph, 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 42 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (MO 110): Navigation decision point; at 31.2 miles (MO 141): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.9 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park and Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Saint Joseph, MO before the return drive.
