New York, MO to Licking, MO is 265.3 miles and takes about 5 hours 22 minutes via North Missouri Street and US 63, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Missouri for its entirety. Expect a mix of driving experiences, with a significant portion on highways balanced by stretches on surface roads. It's a straightforward trip for a single day, ideal if you're looking for a manageable drive without needing an overnight stop.
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
132.6 miles from New York, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Missouri Street
86.2 mi
1h 35m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
79.5 mi
1h 31m
US 63
46.4 mi
1h
North Bishop Avenue
33.9 mi
42m
MO A
7.5 mi
10m
MO E
7.5 mi
10m
MO B
3.5 mi
8m
Tim Bradley Way
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
North Missouri Street
— 86.2 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New York, MO and Licking, MO.
1
Start on MO B
3.5 mi·8 min·MO B
2
Turn right onto US 36; MO 110
80 mi·1 hr 31 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 63: Kirksville, Macon
4
Turn right onto US 63
86 mi·1 hr 35 min·North Missouri Street
5
Take the exit onto US 63
1.5 mi·2 min·US 63
Toward US 54 West, US 63 South: Jefferson City
6
Take the exit onto US 63
217 ft·4 sec·US 63
Toward US 63 South, US 50
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 63
0.1 mi·16 sec·US 63
Toward US 63 South, US 50
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 63
0.1 mi·15 sec·US 63
Toward US 63 South, US 50 EastUse the slight left lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 63
12 mi·14 min·US 63
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 63
33 mi·43 min·US 63
Toward US 63 South: Rolla
11
Turn right onto MO A
7.5 mi·10 min·MO A
12
Turn straight onto MO E
7.5 mi·10 min·MO E
13
Enter roundabout onto MO E
62 ft·1 sec·Tim Bradley Way
14
Continue on MO E
0.4 mi·48 sec·Tim Bradley Way
Use the left lane.
15
Turn slight right onto I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63
30 ft·0 sec·North Bishop Avenue
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63
145 ft·2 sec·North Bishop Avenue
17
Continue on I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63
34 mi·42 min·North Bishop Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn left onto MO 32; MO 137
0.3 mi·39 sec·MO 32; MO 137
19
Turn left onto North Main Street
69 ft·3 sec·North Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 22-minute duration, departing in the morning from New York, MO, will comfortably get you to Licking, MO, before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in where and when you choose to break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 86.2-mile stretch on North Missouri Street, as services might be more spread out. The estimated fuel cost of $39 is a good baseline for your budget, but it's always wise to have a little extra for unexpected needs or a spontaneous coffee break.
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 132.6 miles from New York, MO, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.2 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 58 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.6 miles or 2h 35m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Licking, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving New York, 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 New York, MO
This is one driving day of about 265.3 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from New York, 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 North Missouri Street for about 86.2 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 83 and 171 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
83 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward US 63: Kirksville, Macon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 63: Kirksville, Macon
5
169.3 mi into trip|~3h 16m in|US 63
Take the exit onto US 63 toward US 54 West, US 63 South: Jefferson City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 54 West, US 63 South: Jefferson City
5
170.8 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|US 63
Take the exit onto US 63 toward US 63 South, US 50
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 63 South, US 50
7
170.8 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|US 63
Keep slight left at fork onto US 63 toward US 63 South, US 50
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 63 South, US 50
9
171 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|US 63
Keep slight left at fork onto US 63 toward US 63 South, US 50 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 63 South, US 50 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.25 one way
$88.51 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$48.10
$96.20
premium
$5.26
$54.93
$109.86
diesel
$6.18
$64.54
$129.08
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: 92.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.6
0
$27.86
$12.73
Efficient EV
66.3
0
$23.21
$10.61
EV Truck/SUV
106.1
1
$37.14
$16.98
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
New York, MO
Morning
in New York on Sunday
Local time
6:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SSW 0 to 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:40AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Destination
Licking, MO
Morning
in Licking on Sunday
Local time
6:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Patchy Frost then Sunny
N 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:40AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 22m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 48% of this 265.3-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a surface road is 86.2 miles on North Missouri Street, which will likely feel like a more rural cruising experience. After the highway portion, expect a shift to surface roads as you approach Licking, MO. This transition means you'll go from faster speeds and fewer intersections to a more scenic, potentially slower pace.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.2 mi on North Missouri Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 83 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 265.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 83 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.3 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 170.8 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,264 ft534 ft
Total Climb
1,063 ft
Total Descent
599 ft
Highest Point
1,264 ft
~265.3 mi in
Elevation Range
730 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 New York, MO to Licking, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Macon along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 22m. Total distance: 265.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.2 miles on North Missouri Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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 Licking, 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 2 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 83 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.3 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 170.8 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Licking, MO before the return drive.
