Origin
Pleasant Valley, MO
Late night in Pleasant Valley on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pleasant Valley, 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
1h 1m
Distance
53.9 mi
87 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
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pleasant Valley, MO
Q. Hưng Phạm
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward trip across Missouri, the 53.9-mile journey from Pleasant Valley to Saint Joseph is a quick commute. Expect to spend about 54 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a one-day trip. You will navigate using a combination of local routes, including Searcy Creek Parkway, Northeast Shoal Creek Parkway, and I-435 North. Budget roughly $8 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Midwest locations. Because the drive is short, you do not need to worry about overnight logistics, allowing you total flexibility to head back whenever you are ready.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 26 mi | 27m |
| I 435 | 18.8 mi | 20m |
| I 229 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Northeast Pleasant Valley Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Edmond Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Searcy Creek Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Northeast Shoal Creek Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South 10th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 26 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pleasant Valley, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on Northeast Pleasant Valley Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Northeast Pleasant Valley Road
2
Turn right onto Searcy Creek Parkway
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Searcy Creek Parkway
3
Enter roundabout onto Northeast Shoal Creek Parkway
53 ft
·
1 sec
·
Northeast Shoal Creek Parkway
4
Continue on Northeast Shoal Creek Parkway
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Northeast Shoal Creek Parkway
5
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 435 North: Saint Joseph
6
Merge onto I 435
19 mi
·
20 min
·
I 435
7
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
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
9
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 229
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
11
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Edmond Street
12
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
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
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 26.9 miles from Pleasant Valley, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 52.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Searcy Creek Parkway
Turn right onto Searcy Creek Parkway
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left toward I 435 North: Saint Joseph
Navigation decision point
Toward I 435 North: Saint Joseph
6
20.7 mi into trip
|
~24m 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
5
46.7 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
5
52.9 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward Central Business District
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.43 one way
$16.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.25 | $18.50 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.37 | $20.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.90 | $23.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 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 | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.72 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.55 | $3.45 |
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 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 1m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than cruising on a monotonous interstate. While you will utilize I-435 North, the route relies heavily on parkways, meaning you will experience zero percent highway share for the majority of the trip. This transition from local parkway navigation to interstate stretches provides a varied driving experience. You won't face any significant long-haul stretches, as the road requires constant attention to turns and transitions. It is a practical, functional drive that gets you from point A to point B without the fatigue of a long-distance highway grind.
95% 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: 26 mi on I 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and I 435. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near Searcy Creek Parkway.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 1m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (Searcy Creek Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 20.7 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,066 ft
777 ft
Total Climb
477 ft
Total Descent
360 ft
Highest Point
1,066 ft
~42.3 mi in
Elevation Range
289 ft
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 1h 1m. Total distance: 53.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26 miles on I 29. 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: at 1 miles (Searcy Creek Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 20.7 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Pleasant Valley, MO
More trips to Saint Joseph, MO
Explore more options from Pleasant Valley, MO or browse trips ending in Saint Joseph, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.