Fair Grove to Saint Joseph is 215.8 miles and takes about 4h 17m via MO 13 and I-29, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region on a route that's mostly highway driving. You'll find this route efficient for covering ground, making it a solid option if you need to get from point A to point B without extensive detours. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a straightforward path with minimal complexity.
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
107.9 miles from Fair Grove, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MO 13
76.3 mi
1h 30m
MO 7
73.9 mi
1h 24m
I 29
40.2 mi
44m
MO CC
9.2 mi
12m
I 229
5.7 mi
6m
MO 9
3.9 mi
7m
West Old Mill Road
2.2 mi
3m
US 169
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
MO 13
— 76.3 mi, about 1h 30m
Traffic on I-29
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,163 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,528
Quietest
1 AM
~216 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Fair Grove, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on MO 125
2.2 mi·3 min·West Old Mill Road
2
Continue on MO CC
9.2 mi·12 min·MO CC
3
Turn right onto MO 13
76 mi·1 hr 30 min·MO 13
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on MO 7
36 mi·39 min·MO 7
5
Take the exit onto MO 7
38 mi·45 min·MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Toward 11th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
425 ft·16 sec·East 11th Street
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto Charlotte Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Charlotte Street
9
Turn left onto East 9th Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·East 9th Street
10
Turn right onto Locust Street
0.1 mi·17 sec·Locust Street
11
Continue on MO 9
3.0 mi·5 min·MO 9
12
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 9
0.9 mi·1 min·MO 9
Toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward US 169 North: Smithville
14
Continue on US 169
1.2 mi·1 min·US 169
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint JosephUse the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Merge onto I 29; US 71
12 mi·13 min·I 29; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
2.7 mi·2 min·I 29; I 435; US 71
18
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
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·54 sec
Exit 43Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
20
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi·6 min·I 229
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 6AToward Central Business District
22
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·Edmond Street
23
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi·20 sec·South 10th Street
24
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft·6 sec·Frederick Avenue
25
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft·2 sec·Walter Welsh Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 17m estimated drive time, leaving Fair Grove in the morning will comfortably get you to Saint Joseph before evening. While the drive is manageable in one day, you could break it up if you prefer a more relaxed pace, though it's not strictly necessary. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before the 76.3-mile segment on MO 13, as services might be less frequent in certain stretches. The estimated fuel cost is around $34, so budget accordingly and plan for one stop to refuel and stretch your legs.
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 107.9 miles from Fair Grove, MO, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.3 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 47 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.9 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 33m
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 Fair Grove, 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 Fair Grove, MO
This is one driving day of about 215.8 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Fair Grove, 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 MO 13 for about 76.3 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 123.7 and 182.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
123.7 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|MO 7
Take the exit onto MO 7 toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: 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 right lanes.
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kan...
7
161.6 mi into trip|~3h 11m in
Take the exit toward 11th Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 11th Street, Downtown
6
165.5 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|MO 9
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 9 toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
7
168 mi into trip|~3h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
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.
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport,...
6
182.6 mi into trip|~3h 39m 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
$31.87 one way
$63.74 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$35.18
$70.36
premium
$4.72
$40.07
$80.13
diesel
$4.80
$40.75
$81.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.7
0
$22.66
$10.36
Efficient EV
54
0
$18.88
$8.63
EV Truck/SUV
86.3
1
$30.21
$13.81
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Fair Grove, MO
Late night
in Fair Grove on Monday
Local time
12:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 8 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:26PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Late night
in Saint Joseph on Monday
Local time
12:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 6 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:26PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
48°F
Lee's Summit, MO
108 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
4 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
4h 17m 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.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 7.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 93% of the route on high-speed roads. You'll encounter a long stretch of 76.3 miles on MO 13 before transitioning to other highways. Expect a consistent pace for most of the trip, with minimal time spent on slower, surface roads. The high highway share means you'll likely experience fewer, more spaced-out exits.
93% 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: 76.3 mi on MO 13.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 13 and MO 7. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 123.7 miles in near MO 7.
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 17 significant decision points across 215.8 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 123.7 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 161.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 165.5 miles (MO 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,241 ft762 ft
Total Climb
443 ft
Total Descent
761 ft
Highest Point
1,241 ft
~30.8 mi in
Elevation Range
478 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fair Grove, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Downtown and Parkville.
Downtown
161.6 mi in|~3h 11m
Parkville
165.5 mi in|~3h 18m|via MO 9
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 17m. Total distance: 215.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.3 miles on MO 13. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 123.7 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 161.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 165.5 miles (MO 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Saint Joseph, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
