Spanning 85.8 miles through the Missouri Midwest, this trek from Lake Lotawana to Saint Joseph typically takes about 1 hour and 31 minutes to complete. Because the route is relatively short, you can easily manage it as a one-day round trip without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $13 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating this journey involves utilizing local thoroughfares like Y Street, Z Street, and South Lake Shore Drive rather than major interstates. It serves as a straightforward connection within the state, perfect for travelers looking to avoid the congestion of high-speed transit corridors.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.8 miles from Lake Lotawana, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
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
I 470
5 mi
5m
Northeast Colbern Road
4.7 mi
8m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
4.1 mi
4m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 26 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Lotawana, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on X Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·X Street
2
Continue on Y Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Y Street
3
Continue on Z Street
1.1 mi·4 min·Z Street
4
Continue on South Lake Shore Drive
0.2 mi·52 sec·South Lake Shore Drive
5
Turn left onto East Colbern Road
0.6 mi·1 min·East Colbern Road
6
Continue on Northeast Colbern Road
4.7 mi·8 min·Northeast Colbern Road
7
Turn right onto Northeast Todd George Parkway
1.6 mi·2 min·Northeast Todd George Parkway
8
Turn left onto Northeast Strother Road
0.3 mi·46 sec·Northeast Strother Road
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 470 North, MO 291 North: Independence
10
Merge onto I 470; MO 291
5.0 mi·5 min·I 470; MO 291
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 16CToward I 70 West: Kansas CityUse the right lane.
Exit 8BToward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 435; US 24
7.8 mi·9 min·Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
18
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi·1 min·I435 N
19
Continue on I 435
21 mi·22 min·I 435
20
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
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi·54 sec
Exit 43Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
22
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi·6 min·I 229
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 6AToward Central Business District
24
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·Edmond Street
25
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi·20 sec·South 10th Street
26
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft·6 sec·Frederick Avenue
27
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft·2 sec·Walter Welsh Avenue
28
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1-hour and 31-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning for major rest stops, as there are no scheduled stops on this direct path. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will stay low at around $13, but since the route lacks highway stretches, allow for extra time if you encounter local traffic or slower speed zones. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to familiarize yourself with the transition between Y Street, Z Street, and South Lake Shore Drive before you head out. Staying alert for these frequent turns will ensure your journey remains smooth and stress-free.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.8 miles from Lake Lotawana, MO, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26 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 19 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.8 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 33m
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 Lake Lotawana, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lake Lotawana, MO
This is one driving day of about 85.7 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Lake Lotawana, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 26 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 9.1 and 78.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9.1 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the ramp toward I 470 North, MO 291 North: Independence
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 470 North, MO 291 North: Independence
7
14.3 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 16C
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
8
21.4 mi into trip|~35m 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
52.5 mi into trip|~1h 11m 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
78.5 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.40 one way
$26.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.71
$29.42
premium
$4.89
$16.49
$32.98
diesel
$5.61
$18.92
$37.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.7
0
$9.00
$4.11
Efficient EV
21.4
0
$7.50
$3.43
EV Truck/SUV
34.3
0
$12.00
$5.48
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 17, 2026
Origin
Lake Lotawana, MO
Late night
in Lake Lotawana on Sunday
Local time
2:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Late night
in Saint Joseph on Sunday
Local time
2:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
5 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
1h 48m 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 that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route relies entirely on local roads, meaning you will find 0% highway share throughout the entire 85.8-mile journey. Your experience will be defined by consistent maneuvering rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed cruising. The personality of this drive is practical and localized, keeping you engaged with the road's curves and transitions. Because the path is composed of smaller arterial roads, you should prepare for a pace that feels more grounded and technical than a standard highway commute.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26 mi on I 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and I 435. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 9.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 85.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26 miles on I 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 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 Saint Joseph, MO before heading back.
