Origin
Riverside, MO
Late night in Riverside on Sunday
Local time
1:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Riverside, MO to Saint Joseph, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
47.4 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Riverside, MO
Mikhail Nilov
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick getaway from Riverside to Saint Joseph, you can expect a straightforward 47.4-mile journey that typically takes about 54 minutes. This drive is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it keeps you entirely within the Midwest region of Missouri. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $7, it is an incredibly economical route for a spontaneous outing. Because the drive is short, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated logistics. It serves as a reliable connection between these two Missouri locations, making it a stress-free option for those looking to reach their destination quickly.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 38.8 mi | 42m |
| I 229 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Northwest Gateway Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Edmond Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South 10th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Frederick Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Walter Welsh Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 38.8 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on this road
154 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn uturn onto US 69
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest Gateway Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
4
Merge onto I 29; US 71
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 29; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
I 29; I 435; US 71
6
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
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
8
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 229
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
10
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Edmond Street
11
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South 10th Street
12
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft
·
6 sec
·
Frederick Avenue
13
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft
·
2 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Riverside, 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 0 and 46.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 69 / Northwest Gateway Avenue
At end of road, turn uturn onto US 69 / Northwest Gateway Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 29; US 71
Merge onto I 29; US 71
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
14.2 mi into trip
|
~17m 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
40.2 mi into trip
|
~45m 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
46.4 mi into trip
|
~52m 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
$7.41 one way
$14.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.14 | $16.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.12 | $18.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.47 | $20.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.15 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.64 | $3.03 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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 Sunday
Local time
1:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
17 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
54m 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?
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience with 94% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. Your journey relies heavily on I-29, I-229, and Northwest Gateway Avenue to keep you moving toward your destination. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the interstate, including a significant 38.8-mile stretch on I-29 that represents the longest uninterrupted segment of the trip. Behind the wheel, you will find this to be a consistent, fast-paced drive rather than a winding scenic byway. This infrastructure-heavy route is designed for utility, prioritizing speed and direct access over winding backroads.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.8 mi on I 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and I 229. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 69 / Northwest Gateway Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.4 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 69 / Northwest Gateway Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (I 29; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.2 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 47.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.8 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: near the start (US 69 / Northwest Gateway Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (I 29; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.2 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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