Grain Valley, MO to Castle Point, MO is 220.6 miles and takes about 4h 16m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, I 270, and U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, primarily within Missouri. Expect a drive that mostly utilizes surface roads after leaving the interstate system. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is a straightforward option for getting between these two points.
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
110.3 miles from Grain Valley, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
149.7 mi
2h 52m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
I 270
9 mi
11m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
New Halls Ferry Road
0.6 mi
<1m
North Main Street
0.4 mi
1m
Halls Ferry Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 149.7 mi, about 2h 52m
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 Grain Valley, MO and Castle Point, MO.
1
Start on West Front Street
98 ft·9 sec·West Front Street
2
Turn left onto MO AA
0.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
3
Take the ramp onto US 40
0.2 mi·25 sec·US 40
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia, Saint Louis
4
Merge onto I 70; US 40
45 mi·48 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi·34 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
7
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
103 mi·2 hr 2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·12 sec
Exit 232Toward I 270: Chicago, MemphisUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·36 sec
Toward I 270 North: ChicagoUse the slight left lane.
13
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·18 sec·this road
Exit 232Toward I 270 North: Chicago
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 270 North: ChicagoUse the straight lane.
15
Merge onto I 270
9.0 mi·11 min·I 270
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 30Toward AC: New Halls Ferry Road, Old Halls Ferry Road
17
Turn straight onto Pershall Road
0.3 mi·48 sec·Pershall Road
18
Turn right onto MO AC
0.6 mi·57 sec·New Halls Ferry Road
19
Continue on MO AC
0.3 mi·35 sec·Halls Ferry Road
20
Turn left onto Hudson Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Hudson Drive
21
Turn right onto Edgefield Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Edgefield Drive
22
Turn left onto Duchess Drive
0.2 mi·56 sec·Duchess Drive
23
Turn left onto Lord Drive
284 ft·12 sec·Lord Drive
24
Arrive at destination
Lord Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 16m estimated drive time, departing in the morning will give you ample time to reach Castle Point, MO without feeling rushed. You'll want to plan for one stop, as there's a long stretch of 149.7 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway before you'll likely want to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $39, and it's always wise to top off before heading into areas with fewer services. The drive's profile of mostly surface roads means you'll want to be mindful of local speed limits once you're off the main highways.
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 110.3 miles from Grain Valley, MO, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 149.7 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 49 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.3 miles or 2h 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 24m
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 Grain Valley, 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 Grain Valley, MO
This is one driving day of about 220.6 miles and 4h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Grain Valley, 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 149.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 218.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 40
Take the ramp onto US 40 toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia, Saint Louis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia, Saint L...
8
208.3 mi into trip|~3h 57m 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
208.4 mi into trip|~3h 57m 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
209.2 mi into trip|~3h 58m 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
218.3 mi into trip|~4h 9m 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
$32.58 one way
$65.16 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$35.96
$71.93
premium
$4.72
$40.96
$81.92
diesel
$4.80
$41.65
$83.31
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: 77.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.2
0
$23.16
$10.59
Efficient EV
55.2
0
$19.30
$8.82
EV Truck/SUV
88.2
1
$30.88
$14.12
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Grain Valley, MO
Late night
in Grain Valley on Sunday
Local time
5:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:52PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:42PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Castle Point, MO
Late night
in Castle Point on Sunday
Local time
5:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:52PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:42PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
87°F
Centralia, MO
110 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
1 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 16m 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 220.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 220.6-mile drive is predominantly surface roads, with the highway portion making up about 44% of the total distance. You'll experience 149.7 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway before transitioning to surface roads. The extensive highway share means you can cover significant ground quickly, but be prepared for a change in pace and potentially more exits as you approach your destination.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 149.7 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 0.4 miles in near US 40.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 220.6 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 0.4 miles (US 40): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 208.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 208.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
884 ft495 ft
Total Climb
342 ft
Total Descent
641 ft
Highest Point
884 ft
~157.6 mi in
Elevation Range
389 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 Grain Valley, MO to Castle Point, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 16m. Total distance: 220.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 149.7 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 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 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 40): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 208.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 208.4 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Castle Point, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
