Connecting Jefferson City to Blue Springs, this 140.7-mile journey across Missouri takes approximately 2 hours and 9 minutes of driving time. Because the trip is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You can expect to spend about $21 on fuel for this transit, making it a budget-friendly option for your regional travels. Navigating through the heart of the Midwest, you will transition from the state capital toward the suburban landscape near the Kansas City metro area. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you have the flexibility to power through the drive or take your time based on your personal schedule. It’s a straightforward route that offers a practical way to traverse the state without the need for extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
70.3 miles from Jefferson City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.6 mi
54m
US 63
27.8 mi
30m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
US 54
1.4 mi
1m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.3 mi
1m
West McCarty Street
0.6 mi
1m
Northwest 15th Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson City, MO and Blue Springs, MO.
1
Start on East Wall Way
155 ft·13 sec·East Wall Way
2
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
251 ft·14 sec·Jefferson Street
3
Turn right onto West McCarty Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West McCarty Street
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
5
Merge onto US 54; US 63
1.4 mi·1 min·US 54; US 63
6
Take the exit onto US 63
28 mi·30 min·US 63
Toward US 63 North: Columbia
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint LouisUse the left / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 63 Conn
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 63 Conn
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the left lane.
10
Merge onto I 70; US 40
1.3 mi·1 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
49 mi·52 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 20Toward MO 7: Blue Springs, Lake LotawanaUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto MO 7
0.5 mi·1 min·MO 7
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto Northwest R D Mize Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Northwest R D Mize Road
18
At end of road, turn left onto Northwest 15th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Northwest 15th Street
19
Arrive at destination
Southwest 15th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 2-hour and 9-minute trip, you have the advantage of total departure flexibility, allowing you to leave whenever fits your itinerary best. While the drive is short enough to complete in one go, keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of these local roads can be more tiring than a straight interstate shot. Budgeting $21 for fuel should cover your needs, but it is always wise to fill up before leaving Jefferson City to avoid searching for stations on unfamiliar local roads. Given the lack of designated stops in the plan, consider mapping out your own breaks along US 54 East if you want to stretch your legs. Prioritize staying alert during the tighter turns on McCarty Street, as these local segments require more frequent braking and steering adjustments.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.3 miles from Jefferson City, MO, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 31 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.3 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 8m
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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson City, MO
This is one driving day of about 140.7 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Jefferson 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 U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 139 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Jefferson Street
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbi...
7
30.1 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint L...
9
30.7 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the exit 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 left lane.
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
8
139 mi into trip|~2h 33m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.00 one way
$43.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.15
$48.30
premium
$4.89
$27.08
$54.15
diesel
$5.61
$31.06
$62.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.2
0
$14.77
$6.75
Efficient EV
35.2
0
$12.31
$5.63
EV Truck/SUV
56.3
0
$19.70
$9.00
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Jefferson City, MO
Night
in Jefferson City on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blue Springs, MO
Night
in Blue Springs on Saturday
Local time
11:40 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
18 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
2h 37m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route relies on Jefferson Street, West McCarty Street, and US 54 East. With a highway share of 0%, your time behind the wheel will be spent navigating local roads that demand more active attention than a high-speed highway stretch. The character of the drive is defined by its winding nature, offering a more hands-on experience as you transition between communities. Because there are no long, uninterrupted highway segments, you should remain focused on the road layout throughout the entire 140.7-mile trek. This profile makes for a more engaging, albeit more technical, driving experience compared to a standard cross-country haul.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Jefferson Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 140.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jefferson City, MO and Blue Springs, MO, road signs point toward Mo Pp: Kansas City and Saint Louis.
Mo Pp: Kansas City
30.1 mi in|~34m
Saint Louis
30.1 mi in|~34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 37m. Total distance: 140.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (21%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Blue Springs, MO before heading back.
