Spanning 486.6 miles across Missouri, this route connects Saint Joseph to Caruthersville in approximately 9 hours and 6 minutes of drive time. Because of the length and the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, you should plan to split this journey over 2 days to avoid exhaustion. You will spend about $74 on fuel, so budget accordingly before heading out. While the entire trip remains within the Midwest, the transition from the northwest corner of the state to the bootheel in the southeast offers a significant change in local geography. It is a substantial commitment, but with two planned stops, you can manage the distance comfortably. Expect a practical, utilitarian drive that favors functionality over speed.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
243.3 miles from Saint Joseph, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
173.9 mi
3h 6m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
135.3 mi
2h 34m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
I 29
28.4 mi
30m
I 435
28 mi
30m
Avenue of the Saints
25.1 mi
30m
I 270
11.5 mi
14m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
— 173.9 mi, about 3h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph, MO and Caruthersville, MO.
1
Start on Walter Welsh Avenue
417 ft·8 sec·Walter Welsh Avenue
2
Turn right onto North 12th Street
297 ft·10 sec·North 12th Street
3
Turn right onto Francis Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·Francis Street
4
Turn left onto I 29 Business
1.2 mi·2 min·North 9th Street
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·15 sec
6
Merge onto US 36
0.2 mi·19 sec·US 36
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 229 South, US 59 South: Kansas City
8
Merge onto I 229; US 59
4.5 mi·4 min·I 229; US 59
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·29 sec
Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
10
Merge onto I 29; US 71
26 mi·27 min·I 29; US 71
11
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
2.2 mi·2 min·I 29; I 435; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 435
28 mi·30 min·I 435
Exit 14Toward I 435 East: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24
0.3 mi·23 sec·US 24
Exit 63Toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex
14
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·1 min
Toward I 70 East: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
469 ft·11 sec
Toward I 70 East: Saint LouisUse the slight left / straight lanes.
32 mi·34 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
23
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
24
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
25
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
26
Continue on I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27
Take the exit onto US 40
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 40
Exit 210AToward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
28
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
25 mi·30 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 25Toward I 270: Chicago, MemphisUse the slight right lane.
30
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward I 270 South: MemphisUse the slight right lane.
31
Merge onto I 270
11 mi·14 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
32
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 1AToward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward I 55 South: Memphis
34
Merge onto I 55
1.5 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
35
Continue on I 55
1.8 mi·2 min·Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
36
Continue on I 55
174 mi·3 hr 6 min·Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 19Toward MO 84: Hayti, Caruthersville
38
Turn left onto MO 84
5.1 mi·9 min·MO 84
39
Turn right
45 ft·3 sec
40
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To tackle this 486.6-mile trip effectively, prioritize an early morning departure to ensure you reach your overnight destination before dark. Since the route is turn-heavy, stay alert on the local segments where road conditions may shift more frequently than on the interstates. Pacing is essential here; use your 2 planned stops to stretch and refuel, as the total duration exceeds 9 hours. Keep your $74 fuel budget in mind, and consider filling up before hitting the more rural local stretches to avoid unexpected price spikes. A helpful pro tip: because of the high volume of local roads, keep a physical map or reliable GPS handy, as these smaller highways can be easy to miss during navigation.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 243.3 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, or about 4h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 173.9 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 107 miles or 1h 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 243.3 miles or 4h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 243.3 miles or 4h 32m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Caruthersville, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Joseph, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Joseph, MO
Aim for roughly 243 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Caruthersville, MO
Aim for roughly 243 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 107 miles from Saint Joseph, MO.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway for about 173.9 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.2 and 303.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
35.2 mi into trip|~39m in|I 435
Keep slight right at fork onto I 435 toward I 435 East: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 14
Toward I 435 East: Saint Louis
7
63.2 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|US 24
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24 toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 63
Toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Ka...
7
63.5 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
8
291.2 mi into trip|~5h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
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 25
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
8
303.3 mi into trip|~5h 45m in
Take the exit toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$76.07 one way
$152.15 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg170 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$83.53
$167.05
premium
$4.89
$93.64
$187.28
diesel
$5.61
$107.44
$214.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$76
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$206–$316
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 170.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
146
1
$51.09
$23.36
Efficient EV
121.7
1
$42.58
$19.46
EV Truck/SUV
194.6
2
$68.12
$31.14
Gas CO2
170 kg
EV CO2
57 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 17, 2026
Origin
Saint Joseph, MO
Evening
in Saint Joseph on Saturday
Local time
8:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 9 to 14 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Caruthersville, MO
Evening
in Caruthersville on Saturday
Local time
8:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Chesterfield, MO
243 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
8 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
9h 6m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 352.4
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mix of major thoroughfares and technical, winding local segments as you traverse the state. You will navigate stretches of the Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. With only 16% of the route consisting of major highways, much of your time will be spent on local roads that demand your full attention. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 173.9 miles on the Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, providing a rare chance to settle into a rhythm. Overall, the drive feels less like a monotonous interstate grind and more like a hands-on navigation of Missouri’s regional road network.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 173.9 mi on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.2 miles in near I 435.
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 26 significant decision points across 486.6 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 35.2 miles (I 435): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.2 miles (US 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
893 ft276 ft
Total Climb
358 ft
Total Descent
975 ft
Highest Point
893 ft
Elevation Range
617 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Joseph, MO and Caruthersville, MO, road signs point toward Kansas City, Sports Complex and Memphis.
Kansas City
63.2 mi in|~1h 10m|via US 24
Sports Complex
63.2 mi in|~1h 10m|via US 24
Memphis
291.2 mi in|~5h 29m
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
9h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 173.9 miles on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 243 miles on day one.
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 Caruthersville, 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 35.2 miles (I 435): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.2 miles (US 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 9.1 hours each way, a round trip means 18.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Caruthersville, MO before the return drive.
