Origin
Oakville, MO
Evening in Oakville on Friday
Local time
5:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 53m
Distance
244.8 mi
394 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oakville, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Excelsior Springs, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Oakville, MO to Excelsior Springs, MO is 244.8 miles and takes about 4h 53m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, 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 drive that primarily uses surface roads, making it a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate experience. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, offering a straightforward connection between these two Missouri locations.
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
122.4 miles from Oakville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D Eisenhower Highway | 80.7 mi | 1h 35m |
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 25.4 mi | 30m |
| MO 13 | 24.6 mi | 31m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 21.7 mi | 23m |
| MO 10 | 16.6 mi | 23m |
| I 270 | 12 mi | 15m |
| I 255 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,972 veh/hr typical · worst 2,520
Quietest
1 AM
~217 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Oakville, MO and Excelsior Springs, MO.
Start on this road
Turn left
Turn left onto Cliff Cave Road
Turn slight right
Turn slight right onto MO 231
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 255; US 50
Continue on I 270
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
Take the exit onto US 40
Merge onto I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Take the exit
Turn right onto MO 13
Take the exit
Continue on MO 10
Keep slight right at fork onto MO 10
Turn right onto South Thompson Avenue
Arrive at destination
Given this route can be completed in under 5 hours, you have flexibility on when to depart. Leaving in the morning allows ample time for any brief stops you might need. The fuel cost is estimated at $39, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before setting out, especially as you'll encounter more surface roads where fuel stops might be less frequent than on interstates. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition from Dwight D Eisenhower Highway onto surface roads, as this is where the driving experience changes most significantly.
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.
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 54 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.4 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Excelsior Springs, MO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Oakville, 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 Oakville, MO
This is one driving day of about 244.8 miles and 4h 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
122 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.
A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 122.4 miles from Oakville, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.3 and 227.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MO 10 West: Excelsior Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Regular Gas
$37.95 one way
$75.91 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $41.62 | $83.23 |
| premium | $4.93 | $47.50 | $94.99 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $53.96 | $107.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.4 | 0 | $25.70 | $11.75 |
| Efficient EV | 61.2 | 0 | $21.42 | $9.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.9 | 1 | $34.27 | $15.67 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Oakville on Friday
Local time
5:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Excelsior Springs on Friday
Local time
5:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only 23% of the total mileage on highways. You'll experience the longest stretch of continuous highway driving on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for 80.7 miles. After this segment, the route transitions to surface roads, which often means navigating through towns and more varied traffic patterns. Be prepared for a change in pace as you move from higher-speed highway cruising to more local road conditions.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.3 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 244.8 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 16.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.4 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
590 ft
Total Descent
403 ft
Highest Point
886 ft
~70 mi in
Elevation Range
379 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Oakville, MO and Excelsior Springs, MO, road signs point toward Saint Louis and Warrensburg.
Saint Louis
Warrensburg
Founded 1880
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 53m. Total distance: 244.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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