Lemay, MO to Jefferson City, MO is 123 miles and takes about 2h 40m via US 50, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Missouri, making it a straightforward drive between two points in the same state. You'll primarily navigate via US 50, with some segments on I-270 and the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. With a recommended single day for this journey, it’s a practical option for a quick transfer or a day trip, especially if you're looking for a relatively short, highway-focused experience.
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
61.5 miles from Lemay, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 50
78.4 mi
1h 34m
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
28.1 mi
31m
I 270
5.9 mi
7m
Telegraph Road
2.4 mi
4m
I 255
1.9 mi
2m
County Route 605
1.5 mi
5m
Loose Creek Highway
1 mi
2m
County Route 604
0.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 78.4 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lemay, MO and Jefferson City, MO.
1
Start on Rembold Avenue
198 ft·14 sec·Rembold Avenue
2
Turn left onto Placid Avenue
347 ft·21 sec·Placid Avenue
3
Turn sharp right onto Gentry Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Gentry Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto Telegraph Road
2.4 mi·4 min·Telegraph Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·26 sec
Toward I 255 West, US 50 West: Memphis
6
Merge onto I 255; US 50
1.9 mi·2 min·I 255; US 50
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on I 270
5.9 mi·7 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 5BToward I 44 West, US 50 West: TulsaUse the right lane.
9
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·22 sec·this road
Exit 275Toward Soccer Park Road, North Highway Drive
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·9 sec
Exit 5BToward I 44 West: Tulsa
11
Merge onto I 44; US 50
28 mi·31 min·Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 50
0.2 mi·27 sec·US 50
Exit 247Toward US 50 West: Union, Jefferson City
13
Merge onto US 50
61 mi·1 hr 13 min·US 50
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on MO U
0.3 mi·38 sec·MO U
15
Turn right onto County Route 605
1.5 mi·5 min·County Route 605
16
Turn right onto County Route 604
0.6 mi·2 min·County Route 604
17
Continue on Loose Creek Highway
1.0 mi·2 min·Loose Creek Highway
18
Turn left onto Wolf Ridge Trail
0.4 mi·1 min·Wolf Ridge Trail
19
Turn right onto US 50
17 mi·20 min·US 50
20
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Jefferson Street
21
Turn left onto West McCarty Street
495 ft·16 sec·West McCarty Street
22
Turn right onto Washington Street
250 ft·12 sec·Washington Street
23
Turn right onto East Wall Way
341 ft·25 sec·East Wall Way
24
Arrive at destination
East Wall Way
Trip Plan
Given that this 123-mile drive can be completed in under 3 hours, it's ideal for a same-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Leaving mid-morning should easily get you to Jefferson City with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one suggested stop, you can choose to break up the drive on US 50 at your convenience, perhaps around the halfway mark. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated $19 cost suggests you'll want to fill up before you leave Lemay or early in your journey on US 50.
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 61.5 miles from Lemay, MO, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.4 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 27 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.5 miles or 1h 17m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jefferson City, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lemay, 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 Lemay, MO
This is one driving day of about 123 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Lemay, 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 US 50 for about 78.4 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 40.4 — 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|Placid Avenue
Turn left onto Placid Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Gentry Avenue
Turn sharp right onto Gentry Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
11 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Tulsa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 5B
Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Tulsa
7
12.2 mi into trip|~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 44 West: Tulsa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 5B
Toward I 44 West: Tulsa
6
40.4 mi into trip|~51m in|US 50
Take the exit onto US 50 toward US 50 West: Union, Jefferson City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 247
Toward US 50 West: Union, Jefferson City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.23 one way
$38.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.11
$42.23
premium
$4.89
$23.67
$47.34
diesel
$5.61
$27.16
$54.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.9
0
$12.92
$5.90
Efficient EV
30.8
0
$10.76
$4.92
EV Truck/SUV
49.2
0
$17.22
$7.87
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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 20, 2026
Origin
Lemay, MO
Late night
in Lemay on Tuesday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jefferson City, MO
Late night
in Jefferson City on Tuesday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Union, MO
62 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
15 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
2h 40m 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.
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 predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 72% of the journey on faster roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 78.4 miles on US 50, offering a consistent pace for a good portion of the trip. While much of the drive will feel like a typical highway commute, the inclusion of I-270 and the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor suggests some variation in the road's character. Expect a generally efficient journey with minimal slowdowns, allowing you to cover ground quickly.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.4 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Placid Avenue.
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 123 miles you will encounter 19 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 (Placid Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Gentry Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 40m. Total distance: 123 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.4 miles on US 50. 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 Jefferson City, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Placid Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Gentry Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jefferson City, MO before heading back.
