Harrisonville to Saint Peters is 228 miles and takes about 4 hours 34 minutes via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a drive primarily on surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate experience. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure 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
114 miles from Harrisonville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
135.6 mi
2h 35m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
East Mechanic Street
13.2 mi
21m
South Outer Belt Road
7.4 mi
10m
MO VV
4.9 mi
8m
MO E
3.2 mi
5m
South Broadway Street
2.7 mi
5m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 135.6 mi, about 2h 35m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,319 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,912
Quietest
1 AM
~234 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.9×
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 Harrisonville, MO and Saint Peters, MO.
1
Start on South Independence Street
76 ft·6 sec·South Independence Street
2
Turn left onto MO 7
13 mi·21 min·East Mechanic Street
3
Turn right onto MO VV
0.5 mi·50 sec·MO VV
4
Enter roundabout onto MO VV
88 ft·1 sec·MO VV
5
Continue on MO VV
4.4 mi·7 min·MO VV
6
At end of road, turn left onto MO E
3.2 mi·5 min·MO E
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 50 East: Warrensburg, Sedalia
8
Merge onto US 50
1.9 mi·2 min·US 50
9
Take the exit
348 ft·10 sec
10
Turn left onto MO F
7.4 mi·10 min·South Outer Belt Road
11
Continue on MO F
2.7 mi·5 min·South Broadway Street
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
13
Merge onto I 70; US 40
41 mi·43 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi·34 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
16
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower 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
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
19
Continue on I 70; US 40
93 mi·1 hr 49 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 222AToward Mid Rivers Mall DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
205 ft·4 sec
Toward Mid Rivers Mall DriveUse the slight left lane.
22
Turn straight onto Mid Rivers Mall Drive
198 ft·5 sec·Mid Rivers Mall Drive
23
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·20 sec
Toward I 70 West: WentzvilleUse the slight left lane.
24
Merge onto I 70
479 ft·6 sec·I 70
25
Arrive at destination
I 70
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 34-minute drive time, leaving Harrisonville in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Saint Peters with plenty of daylight. Plan for one stop to break up the drive; with only 228 miles, you don't need to split this into an overnight trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $37, and service areas might be less frequent on the surface road sections. The flexibility of a single-day drive allows you to depart whenever is most convenient for you.
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 114 miles from Harrisonville, MO, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135.6 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 50 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114 miles or 2h 20m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Peters, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Harrisonville, 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 Harrisonville, MO
This is one driving day of about 228 miles and 4h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Harrisonville, 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 135.6 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 227.7 — 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|MO 7 / East Mechanic Street
Turn left onto MO 7 / East Mechanic Street
Navigation decision point
5
21.4 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the ramp toward US 50 East: Warrensburg, Sedalia
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 East: Warrensburg, Sedalia
7
227.4 mi into trip|~4h 33m in
Take the exit toward Mid Rivers Mall Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 222A
Toward Mid Rivers Mall Drive
8
227.6 mi into trip|~4h 34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Mid Rivers Mall Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Mid Rivers Mall Drive
6
227.7 mi into trip|~4h 34m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West: Wentzville
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Wentzville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.03 one way
$76.07 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$41.34
$82.67
premium
$5.26
$47.21
$94.41
diesel
$6.18
$55.47
$110.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.4
0
$23.94
$10.94
Efficient EV
57
0
$19.95
$9.12
EV Truck/SUV
91.2
1
$31.92
$14.59
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 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 Oct 21, 2026
Origin
Harrisonville, MO
Late night
in Harrisonville on Wednesday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Peters, MO
Late night
in Saint Peters on Wednesday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
SE 2 mph1% chanceLive forecast
66°F
Lincoln, MO
114 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
19 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 34m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only a small portion on highways. You'll encounter 135.6 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway before transitioning to surface streets like East Mechanic Street. This means you can expect periods of more gradual speeds and potentially more intersections as you move between sections of highway and local roads.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 135.6 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 7 / East Mechanic Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 228 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 7 / East Mechanic Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 227.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
998 ft443 ft
Total Climb
496 ft
Total Descent
1,006 ft
Highest Point
998 ft
~16.9 mi in
Elevation Range
554 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 Harrisonville, MO to Saint Peters, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Sedalia along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 34m. Total distance: 228 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 135.6 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 Saint Peters, 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: near the start (MO 7 / East Mechanic Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 227.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Saint Peters, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
