Origin
Plattsburg, MO
Late night in Plattsburg on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plattsburg, MO to Saint Joseph, MO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
34.2 mi
55 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plattsburg, MO
Momo King
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 34.2-mile drive from Plattsburg, MO, to Saint Joseph, MO, is easily manageable in about 47 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily be on US 36 and US 169, with a short section on West Broadway Street. With a fuel cost estimated at $5, this route is very budget-friendly. The majority of the drive, 74%, is on highways, so expect a relatively quick journey without many stops needed. Both your origin and destination are within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout this short hop.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 36 | 11.1 mi | 13m |
| US 169 | 8.9 mi | 12m |
| West Broadway Street | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| MO 31 | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| South 10th Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| South Bucklin Drive | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Clay Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 36
— 11.1 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plattsburg, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on North 2nd Street
225 ft
·
11 sec
·
North 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto West Broadway Street
393 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Broadway Street
3
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
404 ft
·
19 sec
·
South 3rd Street
4
Turn right onto MO 116
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Clay Avenue
5
Continue on MO 116
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
West Broadway Street
6
Turn right onto US 169
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
US 169
7
Turn right onto MO 31
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
MO 31
8
Continue on MO 31
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Bucklin Drive
9
Continue on MO 31; CR E6S
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
MO 31; CR E6S
10
Turn left onto US 36
11 mi
·
13 min
·
US 36
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 29 Business
12
Turn slight left onto I 29 Business
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South 10th Street
13
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft
·
6 sec
·
Frederick Avenue
14
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft
·
2 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.1 miles from Plattsburg, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 32.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Broadway Street
Turn right onto West Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South 3rd Street
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MO 116 / West Clay Avenue
Turn right onto MO 116 / West Clay Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
6.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 169
Turn right onto US 169
Navigation decision point
4
32.7 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward I 29 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 29 Business
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.35 one way
$10.69 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.87 | $11.74 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.58 | $13.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.55 | $15.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.59 | $1.64 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Late night in Saint Joseph on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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
47m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 74% of the 34.2 miles taking place on major roadways like US 36 and US 169. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 11.1 miles on US 36, allowing for a good pace. While primarily highway, the route concludes with West Broadway Street, offering a slight shift in character as you approach Saint Joseph. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal distractions on this predominantly highway path.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.1 mi on US 36.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 36 and US 169. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Broadway Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 47m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (MO 116 / West Clay Avenue): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Saint Joseph, MO
Full guide →Founded 1843
Top landmarks
- • Patee House
- • Missouri Theatre — theater, former movie theater and commercial building in St. Joseph, Missouri, U...
- • German-American Bank Building — historic building in St. Joseph, Missouri, USA
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 34.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.1 miles on US 36. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (MO 116 / West Clay Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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