Origin
North Kansas City, MO
Late night in North Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Kansas City, MO to Saint Joseph, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
53.2 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Kansas City, MO
Edgar Colomba
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from North Kansas City to Saint Joseph, you can expect a straightforward, efficient journey covering 53.2 miles. This trip typically takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily utilize I-29, I-229, and Burlington Street to navigate between these two Midwestern cities. With a fuel budget of approximately $8, this route is highly economical for travelers looking to move between these Missouri hubs without breaking the bank. Because the drive is short, you do not need to worry about overnight logistics, allowing you total flexibility to head back whenever your schedule permits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 40.2 mi | 44m |
| I 229 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Burlington Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| US 169 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| MO 9 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Edmond Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Bedford Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East 10th Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 40.2 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Kansas City, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on this road
194 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on East 12th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
East 12th Avenue
3
Turn right onto Ozark Street
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
Ozark Street
4
Turn left onto Bedford Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Bedford Road
5
Continue on Bedford Avenue
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Bedford Avenue
6
Turn straight onto East 10th Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East 10th Avenue
7
Turn right onto MO 9
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Burlington Street
8
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 9
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
MO 9
Toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Toward US 169 North: Smithville
10
Continue on US 169
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 169
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Merge onto I 29; US 71
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 29; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
I 29; I 435; US 71
14
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
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
16
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 229
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
18
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Edmond Street
19
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South 10th Street
20
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft
·
6 sec
·
Frederick Avenue
21
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft
·
2 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.6 miles from North Kansas City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 20 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Ozark Street
Turn right onto Ozark Street
Navigation decision point
6
2.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
MO 9
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 9 toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
7
5.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport,...
5
5.8 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 29; US 71
Merge onto I 29; US 71
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
20 mi into trip
|
~28m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.32 one way
$16.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.13 | $18.26 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.24 | $20.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.75 | $23.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.59 | $2.55 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.45 | $3.40 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Late night in Saint Joseph on Sunday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Weston, MO
27 mi in
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
1h 5m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This 53.2-mile journey is heavily focused on highway travel, with 90% of the route consisting of high-speed transit. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-29, which features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 40.2 miles that allows for steady, consistent driving. While the transition from North Kansas City via Burlington Street gets you out of the urban center, the road quickly settles into a predictable interstate pace. Expect a functional, interstate-focused experience that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding backroads. Once you reach the Saint Joseph area, the shift to I-229 helps you navigate toward your final destination with ease.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.2 mi on I 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and I 229. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Ozark Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.2 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 0.2 miles (Ozark Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (MO 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,071 ft
736 ft
Total Climb
822 ft
Total Descent
665 ft
Highest Point
1,071 ft
~44.3 mi in
Elevation Range
334 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 North Kansas City, MO to Saint Joseph, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Parkville along the way.
Parkville
2.9 mi in
|
~7m
|
via MO 9
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 53.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.2 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 0.2 miles (Ozark Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (MO 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.3 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Saint Joseph, MO
More from North Kansas City, MO
More trips to Saint Joseph, MO
Explore more options from North Kansas City, MO or browse trips ending in Saint Joseph, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.