Frontenac, MO to Blue Springs, MO is 219.1 miles and takes about 4h 11m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The drive is mostly on local roads, so expect a more varied pace than a pure interstate journey. It's a manageable one-day trip, perfect if you're looking for a straightforward drive without extensive highway time.
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
109.5 miles from Frontenac, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m 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
50.6 mi
54m
Avenue of the Saints
27.6 mi
33m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
US 40
0.6 mi
1m
Northwest 15th Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Frontenac, MO and Blue Springs, MO.
1
Start on I 64; US 40; US 61
28 mi·33 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
2
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.
3
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
4
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
5
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
6
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
49 mi·52 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 20Toward MO 7: Blue Springs, Lake LotawanaUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto MO 7
0.5 mi·1 min·MO 7
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto Northwest R D Mize Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Northwest R D Mize Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto Northwest 15th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Northwest 15th Street
13
Arrive at destination
Southwest 15th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 11m estimated drive time, this route is easily accomplished in a single day. Aim to leave Frontenac in the morning to give yourself ample time for any unscheduled stops or to adjust to the turn-heavy nature of the drive. With a fuel cost estimate of around $34, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before longer stretches like the 80.7-mile segment on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. Planning for one stop should be sufficient for a trip of this length, but the flexibility of a shorter drive means you can linger if you find a spot you enjoy.
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 109.5 miles from Frontenac, MO, or about 2h 10m 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 48 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.5 miles or 2h 10m 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 26m
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 Frontenac, 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 Frontenac, MO
This is one driving day of about 219.1 miles and 4h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Frontenac, 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 218.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Depart onto I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
27.6 mi into trip|~33m 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
217.4 mi into trip|~4h 7m 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
217.6 mi into trip|~4h 7m in|MO 7
Turn left onto MO 7
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
218.6 mi into trip|~4h 9m in|Northwest 15th Street
At end of road, turn left onto Northwest 15th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.53 one way
$65.06 round trip
$3.77/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.25
$36.69
$73.37
premium
$4.65
$40.15
$80.29
diesel
$5.30
$45.75
$91.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.7
0
$23.01
$10.52
Efficient EV
54.8
0
$19.17
$8.76
EV Truck/SUV
87.6
1
$30.67
$14.02
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Frontenac, MO
Night
in Frontenac on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blue Springs, MO
Night
in Blue Springs on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°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
27 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 11m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you won't be on the highway for the entire 219.1 miles, as indicated by the 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 80.7 miles, primarily on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. Be prepared for frequent turns and a more local road feel throughout much of the journey. This suggests a drive that requires more attention to navigation and a slower pace compared to cruising on an interstate.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 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?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 11m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 217.4 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 4h 11m. Total distance: 219.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: near the start (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 217.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Blue Springs, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
