This 387.1-mile journey from Poplar Bluff, MO to New York, MO is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take about 6 hours and 25 minutes. You'll primarily be navigating North Westwood Boulevard and State Street before merging onto I-55 North for a portion of the drive. With a fuel cost estimated at $59, this route is budget-friendly for a single day's travel. The drive offers a turn-heavy local feel, making it an engaging experience for those who prefer more varied navigation over long, straight stretches. As both your origin and destination are within the Midwest region, you'll be exploring familiar territory throughout this 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
198.3 miles from Poplar Bluff, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
132.8 mi
2h 33m
US 60
112.6 mi
2h 9m
Avenue of the Saints
98.8 mi
1h 57m
I 55
20.5 mi
22m
I 270
11.5 mi
14m
V.F.W. Memorial Highway
5.8 mi
6m
MO B
3.5 mi
8m
North Westwood Boulevard
2.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 132.8 mi, about 2h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Poplar Bluff, MO and New York, MO.
1
Start on US 60 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·West Pine Street
2
Turn right onto US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·North Westwood Boulevard
3
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·State Street
4
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·North Westwood Boulevard
5
Continue on US 67; US 60 Business
0.4 mi·37 sec·US 67; US 60 Business
6
Continue on US 60; US 67
113 mi·2 hr 9 min·US 60; US 67
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 67
0.3 mi·27 sec·US 67
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Toward I 55 North: Saint Louis
9
Merge onto I 55
21 mi·22 min·I 55
10
Continue on I 55
1.3 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 196Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, ChicagoUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
388 ft·8 sec
Toward I 270 West: Kansas CityUse the slight left lane.
13
Continue on this road
0.7 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 196Toward I 270 West
14
Merge onto I 270
11 mi·14 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 12Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint LouisUse the slight right lane.
16
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.
17
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·9 sec·this road
Exit 12Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
18
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
99 mi·1 hr 57 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
249 ft·14 sec
20
Turn left onto Paris Gravel Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Paris Gravel Road
21
Keep slight right at fork onto County Road 422
279 ft·8 sec·County Road 422
22
Turn right onto Veterans Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Veterans Road
23
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Monroe City
24
Merge onto US 36; MO 110
5.8 mi·6 min·V.F.W. Memorial Highway
25
Continue on US 24; US 36; MO 110
133 mi·2 hr 33 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
26
Turn left onto MO B
3.5 mi·8 min·MO B
27
Arrive at destination
MO B
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour and 25-minute duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow ample time for the 387.1 miles and any unscheduled stops. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of around $59, you have flexibility in pacing. Pay close attention to the 'turn-heavy' nature of the route, especially as you navigate local roads; have your GPS or maps ready for frequent adjustments. The primary roads like North Westwood Boulevard and State Street will require your full attention, so ensure you're well-rested before you begin.
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 198.3 miles from Poplar Bluff, MO, or about 3h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.8 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 87 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 198.3 miles or 3h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New York, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Poplar Bluff, 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 Poplar Bluff, MO
This is one driving day of about 396.7 miles and 7h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Poplar Bluff, 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 Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for about 132.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 139.5 and 254.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
139.5 mi into trip|~2h 41m 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
139.8 mi into trip|~2h 41m 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
152.1 mi into trip|~2h 57m 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
152.2 mi into trip|~2h 57m 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...
6
254.3 mi into trip|~5h 2m in
Take the ramp toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Monroe City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Monroe City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$62.02 one way
$124.04 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg139 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$68.09
$136.19
premium
$4.89
$76.34
$152.68
diesel
$5.61
$87.59
$175.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 138.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
119
1
$41.65
$19.04
Efficient EV
99.2
1
$34.71
$15.87
EV Truck/SUV
158.7
1
$55.54
$25.39
Gas CO2
139 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Poplar Bluff, MO
Evening
in Poplar Bluff on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New York, MO
Evening
in New York on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Chesterfield, MO
198 mi in
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
37 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 50m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for much of this 387.1-mile route, with only a portion on I-55 North. While the highway share is 0% according to the data, the mention of I-55 suggests you will encounter some faster sections. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the 'turn-heavy' profile indicates frequent changes in direction and speed. This means you'll be actively steering and adjusting your pace more often than on a purely interstate route, making for a hands-on driving experience.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 132.8 mi on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and US 60. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 139.5 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 17 significant decision points across 396.7 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 139.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 139.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 152.1 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 Poplar Bluff, MO and New York, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.
Chicago
139.5 mi in|~2h 41m
Saint Louis
152.1 mi in|~2h 57m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 50m. Total distance: 396.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 50m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 132.8 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. 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 New York, 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 139.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 139.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 152.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New York, MO before the return drive.
