Spanning 371.9 miles across the Missouri heartland, this trek from Perryville to Saint Joseph typically takes about 7 hours and 5 minutes of driving time. While it is technically feasible to complete this journey in a single day, the duration makes for a long stint behind the wheel, so prepare accordingly. You will primarily navigate via the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, I-55, and the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. Budgeting roughly $56 for fuel is a smart way to keep your trip planning on track. Because both your origin and destination are located within the Midwest, you can expect a consistent regional feel throughout the entire excursion.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
186 miles from Perryville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi
1h 35m
I 55
59.4 mi
1h 4m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
I 29
26 mi
27m
Avenue of the Saints
25.4 mi
30m
I 435
20.9 mi
22m
I 270
11.5 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Perryville, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on South Spring Street
221 ft·15 sec·South Spring Street
2
Turn left onto East Saint Joseph Street
365 ft·16 sec·East Saint Joseph Street
3
Turn right onto MO B
349 ft·10 sec·North Main Street
4
Continue on MO B
0.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
5
Enter roundabout onto US 61
194 ft·3 sec·North Kingshighway Street
6
Continue on US 61
2.4 mi·3 min·North Kingshighway Street
7
Continue on US 61
2.8 mi·4 min·North King's Highway
8
Turn left onto MO M
0.5 mi·1 min·MO M
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 55 North: Saint Louis
10
Merge onto I 55
59 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 55
11
Continue on I 55
1.3 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 196Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, ChicagoUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
388 ft·8 sec
Toward I 270 West: Kansas CityUse the slight left lane.
14
Continue on this road
0.7 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 196Toward I 270 West
15
Merge onto I 270
11 mi·14 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 12Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint LouisUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: WentzvilleUse the slight left lane.
18
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·9 sec·this road
Exit 12Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
19
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
25 mi·30 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit onto US 40
0.6 mi·1 min·US 40
Exit 1AToward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
22
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
23
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
24
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
25
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Exit 8BToward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Merge onto I 435; US 24
7.8 mi·9 min·Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
33
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi·1 min·I435 N
34
Continue on I 435
21 mi·22 min·I 435
35
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
36
Take the exit
0.5 mi·54 sec
Exit 43Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
37
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi·6 min·I 229
38
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 6AToward Central Business District
39
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·Edmond Street
40
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi·20 sec·South 10th Street
41
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft·6 sec·Frederick Avenue
42
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft·2 sec·Walter Welsh Avenue
43
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Trip Plan
To keep your energy high during this 7-hour drive, plan for at least two intentional stops along the way. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach Saint Joseph before nightfall. Since you are looking at a $56 fuel expense, check your tank levels before hitting the longest 80.7-mile stretch to avoid unnecessary stress in more remote sections. Because this route is designed as a one-day trip, embrace the flexibility of your schedule by choosing your rest stops based on how you feel rather than a rigid timeline. Keeping your pace consistent will make the transition between the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and your final destination much smoother.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 186 miles from Perryville, MO, or about 3h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.7 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 82 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 186 miles or 3h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 58m
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 Perryville, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Perryville, MO
This is one driving day of about 371.9 miles and 7h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Perryville, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 80.7 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 67.3 and 105.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
67.3 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 196
Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chi...
8
67.6 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 West: Kansas City
8
79.9 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12
Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Lo...
8
80 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
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
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Went...
8
105.9 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|US 40
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
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.14 one way
$116.28 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg130 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$63.84
$127.68
premium
$4.89
$71.57
$143.14
diesel
$5.61
$82.11
$164.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 130.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
111.6
1
$39.05
$17.85
Efficient EV
93
1
$32.54
$14.88
EV Truck/SUV
148.8
1
$52.07
$23.80
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Perryville, MO
Evening
in Perryville on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Evening
in Saint Joseph on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
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
18 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
7h 5m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the B...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 25.6
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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
$19
near mile 76.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile, balancing high-speed interstate travel with more varied road types. With highway travel accounting for 34% of the route, you will experience a shift between bustling main corridors and smaller segments. You should be prepared for the longest uninterrupted stretch, which covers 80.7 miles along the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. As you transition between these different roadway categories, the personality of the drive changes from expansive, fast-paced stretches to more localized, secondary roads. Staying attentive to these shifts in road type will help you maintain a steady pace across the 371.9-mile distance.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.7 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 67.3 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 371.9 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 67.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Perryville, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.
Chicago
67.3 mi in|~1h 17m
Saint Louis
79.9 mi in|~1h 33m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 5m. Total distance: 371.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 5m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.7 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 67.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park and Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Saint Joseph, MO before the return drive.
