If you are planning a trip from Garden City to Castle Point, Missouri, expect to cover 251.6 miles over the course of about 4 hours and 9 minutes. This journey stays entirely within the Midwest, making it a straightforward trek across the state. Because the duration is manageable in a single stint, you can easily complete this as a one-day trip without needing an overnight stay. Budget approximately $38 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Since the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it offers a distinct, hands-on driving experience that differs from standard highway travel.
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
126.8 miles from Garden City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
142.6 mi
2h 45m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
MO Z
13.8 mi
20m
I 270
9 mi
11m
North Olive Street
7.9 mi
14m
MO T
7.7 mi
13m
MO 2
6.6 mi
11m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 142.6 mi, about 2h 45m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 21 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,737 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,325
Quietest
2 AM
~347 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
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 Garden City, MO and Castle Point, MO.
1
Start on Main Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·Main Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto MO F
1.3 mi·2 min·MO F
3
Continue on MO Z
3.6 mi·6 min·MO Z
4
At end of road, turn right onto MO 2
6.6 mi·11 min·MO 2
5
Turn left onto MO T
1.4 mi·2 min·MO T
6
Turn straight onto MO T
6.3 mi·11 min·MO T
7
At end of road, turn left onto MO 58
0.3 mi·34 sec·West Pacific Street
8
Turn right onto MO W
7.9 mi·14 min·North Olive Street
9
Continue on MO W
0.9 mi·1 min·MO W
10
Take the ramp onto MO W
253 ft·3 sec·MO W
11
Merge onto US 50
0.5 mi·32 sec·US 50
12
Take the exit
161 ft·4 sec
13
Merge onto US 50
0.5 mi·37 sec·US 50
14
Turn right onto MO Z
10 mi·14 min·MO Z
15
Turn right onto MO Z
0.2 mi·24 sec·South 2nd Street
16
Continue on MO Z
0.3 mi·51 sec·North Second Street
17
Turn right onto MO Z
0.2 mi·33 sec·East Old US 40 Highway
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
19
Merge onto I 70; US 40
38 mi·40 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
20
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi·34 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
22
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
23
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
24
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
25
Continue on I 70; US 40
103 mi·2 hr 2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·12 sec
Exit 232Toward I 270: Chicago, MemphisUse the slight right lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·36 sec
Toward I 270 North: ChicagoUse the slight left lane.
28
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·18 sec·this road
Exit 232Toward I 270 North: Chicago
29
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 270 North: ChicagoUse the straight lane.
30
Merge onto I 270
9.0 mi·11 min·I 270
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 30Toward AC: New Halls Ferry Road, Old Halls Ferry Road
32
Turn straight onto Pershall Road
0.3 mi·48 sec·Pershall Road
33
Turn right onto MO AC
0.6 mi·57 sec·New Halls Ferry Road
34
Continue on MO AC
0.3 mi·35 sec·Halls Ferry Road
35
Turn left onto Hudson Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Hudson Drive
36
Turn right onto Edgefield Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Edgefield Drive
37
Turn left onto Duchess Drive
0.2 mi·56 sec·Duchess Drive
38
Turn left onto Lord Drive
284 ft·12 sec·Lord Drive
39
Arrive at destination
Lord Drive
Trip Plan
For the best experience, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the four-hour drive and keep yourself fresh. Since you are navigating local streets, leave early in the day to avoid potential traffic congestion and ensure you reach Castle Point before dark. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $38 estimate is based on typical consumption; having a little extra set aside is always a wise precaution for local road travel. Flexibility is your biggest advantage on this trip, so don't be afraid to pull over if you need a quick reset. Specifically, pay close attention to signage when transitioning between West Pacific, North Olive, and South 2nd, as the turn-heavy nature of the route can be easy to miscalculate if you aren't watching your directions closely.
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 126.8 miles from Garden City, MO, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 142.6 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 56 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.8 miles or 2h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Castle Point, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Garden City, 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 Garden City, MO
This is one driving day of about 253.6 miles and 5h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Garden City, 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 142.6 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 19.3 and 251.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
19.3 mi into trip|~34m in|MO 58 / West Pacific Street
At end of road, turn left onto MO 58 / West Pacific Street
Navigation decision point
8
241.3 mi into trip|~4h 55m in
Take the exit toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
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 232
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
7
241.4 mi into trip|~4h 56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 North: Chicago
8
242.2 mi into trip|~4h 56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 270 North: Chicago
6
251.3 mi into trip|~5h 8m in
Take the exit toward AC: New Halls Ferry Road, Old Halls Ferry Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 30
Toward AC: New Halls Ferry Road, Old Halls Ferr...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.45 one way
$74.90 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$41.34
$82.69
premium
$4.72
$47.09
$94.17
diesel
$4.80
$47.88
$95.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.1
0
$26.63
$12.17
Efficient EV
63.4
0
$22.19
$10.14
EV Truck/SUV
101.4
1
$35.50
$16.23
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Garden City, MO
Late night
in Garden City on Sunday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 6 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Castle Point, MO
Late night
in Castle Point on Sunday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Clear
W 6 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
91°F
Columbia, MO
127 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
3 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
5h 14m 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.
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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
$19
near mile 253.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route avoids high-speed highways entirely, maintaining a 0% highway share. You will navigate via West Pacific Street, North Olive Street, and South 2nd Street, which keeps the pace steady but requires frequent adjustments. Because the path is composed of local roads, you should anticipate a more technical driving environment rather than long, straight stretches. This character makes the journey feel more personal and connected to the landscape as you transition through the regional terrain.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 142.6 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 19.3 miles in near MO 58 / West Pacific Street.
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 24 significant decision points across 253.6 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 19.3 miles (MO 58 / West Pacific Street): Navigation decision point; at 241.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 241.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 14m. Total distance: 253.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 142.6 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 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 Castle Point, 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 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.3 miles (MO 58 / West Pacific Street): Navigation decision point; at 241.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 241.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Castle Point, MO before the return drive.
