Jennings, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is 299.4 miles and takes about 5h 42m via I 70 and I 29, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward drive mostly on major interstates, making it a convenient option for a single-day transit. Plan for a relatively quick travel day with minimal fuss.
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
149.7 miles from Jennings, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
225.5 mi
4h 17m
I 29
26 mi
27m
I 435
20.9 mi
22m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
7.8 mi
9m
I 229
5.7 mi
6m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
I435 N
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 225.5 mi, about 4h 17m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,943 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~346 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.4×
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 Jennings, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
Exit 8BToward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 435; US 24
7.8 mi·9 min·Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi·1 min·I435 N
11
Continue on I 435
21 mi·22 min·I 435
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71
26 mi·27 min·I 29; US 71
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·54 sec
Exit 43Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
14
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi·6 min·I 229
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 6AToward Central Business District
16
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·Edmond Street
17
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi·20 sec·South 10th Street
18
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft·6 sec·Frederick Avenue
19
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft·2 sec·Walter Welsh Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 42m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning from Jennings, MO will allow you to reach Saint Joseph, MO well before evening. With only one recommended stop and 93% highway driving, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest 225.5-mile stretch on I 70, as services can be spread out. The $46 fuel estimate is a good baseline for your budget.
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 149.7 miles from Jennings, MO, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.5 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 66 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.7 miles or 2h 51m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Joseph, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jennings, 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 Jennings, MO
This is one driving day of about 299.4 miles and 5h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Jennings, 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 I 70 for about 225.5 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 298.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
235.1 mi into trip|~4h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8B
Toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
6
266.2 mi into trip|~5h 4m in|I 29; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71 toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
5
292.2 mi into trip|~5h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
5
298.4 mi into trip|~5h 40m in
Take the exit toward Central Business District
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.21 one way
$88.43 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$48.81
$97.62
premium
$4.72
$55.59
$111.18
diesel
$4.80
$56.53
$113.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.8
1
$31.44
$14.37
Efficient EV
74.9
0
$26.20
$11.98
EV Truck/SUV
119.8
1
$41.92
$19.16
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Jennings, MO
Late night
in Jennings on Sunday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 8 mph32% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:27PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Late night
in Saint Joseph on Sunday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 9 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:27PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
91°F
Columbia, MO
150 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 42m 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?
You'll be on highways for 93% of this 299.4-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on the interstate is 225.5 miles, primarily on I 70. Expect to encounter a significant number of exits and potential for merging traffic as you navigate through populated areas before transitioning to more open cruising. The final portion of your drive will likely involve less intense highway travel.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 225.5 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and I 29. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near I 70.
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 299.4 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 1.4 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 235.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 266.2 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 42m. Total distance: 299.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 225.5 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 42 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 Joseph, 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 42 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 235.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 266.2 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Saint Joseph, MO before the return drive.
