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Trip from Saint Joseph, MO to Ironton, MO

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 15m

Distance

353.3 mi

569 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$55

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
7h 5m ★
6 AM
7h 16m
8 AM
7h 37m
10 AM
7h 23m
12 PM
7h 21m
3 PM
7h 24m
5 PM
7h 36m
8 PM
7h 9m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Buchanan County, Missouri, United States

Saint Joseph, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Ironton, MO, MO

Ironton, MO

Valeria Boltneva

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Joseph, MO to Ironton, MO covers 353.3 miles and takes about 7h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, MO 47, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 118.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.23 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

176.6 miles from Saint Joseph, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 13m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 118.5 mi 2h 11m
MO 47 57.6 mi 1h 30m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway 54.4 mi 58m
MO 21 38.6 mi 56m
I 29 28.4 mi 30m
I 435 28 mi 30m
East Gravois Avenue 6.2 mi 9m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway 5.6 mi 6m
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 118.5 mi, about 2h 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph, MO and Ironton, 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 14 Toward I 435 East: Saint Louis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto US 24

0.3 mi · 23 sec · US 24
Exit 63 Toward 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 Louis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork

469 ft · 11 sec
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16

Merge onto I 70

0.4 mi · 29 sec · George Brett Super Highway
17

Continue on I 70

2.9 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
18

Continue on I 70

1.8 mi · 2 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on I 70

2.6 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
20

Continue on I 70

53 mi · 56 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
21

Continue on I 70; US 40

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

64 mi · 1 hr 12 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Exit 193 Toward MO 47: Warrenton, Hawk Point
28

Turn right onto MO 47

31 mi · 47 min · MO 47
Use the straight lane.
29

At end of road, turn left onto US 50; MO 47

0.4 mi · 49 sec · US 50; MO 47
Use the left lane.
30

Take the exit

136 ft · 5 sec
Use the right lane.
31

Turn right onto MO 47

6.2 mi · 8 min · MO 47
32

Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 47

1.0 mi · 1 min · Commercial Avenue
33

Continue on MO 30; MO 47

6.2 mi · 9 min · East Gravois Avenue
34

Turn right onto MO 47

20 mi · 34 min · MO 47
35

At end of road, turn right onto MO 21; MO 47

23 mi · 33 min · MO 21; MO 47
36

Continue on MO 21; MO 32

11 mi · 16 min · MO 21; MO 32
37

At end of road, turn right onto MO 21

4.3 mi · 6 min · MO 21
38

Turn right onto East Russell Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · East Russell Street
39

Arrive at destination

Russell Street

Trip Plan

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 176.6 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, or about 3h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.5 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 78 miles or 1h 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 176.6 miles or 3h 13m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ironton, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Saint Joseph, MO

This is one driving day of about 353.3 miles and 7h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Saint Joseph, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 118.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wentzville, MO

177 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

Blue Springs, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Columbia, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 176.6 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 118.5 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Thailand Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Blue Springs, Missouri

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 75.7

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+18162293292

Visit website

El Canelo Mexican Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Elwood, Kansas

1.9 mi

Subway

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Pilot Knob, Missouri

1.6 mi

Thailand Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 75.7

Blue Springs, Missouri

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+18162293292

Visit website

El Canelo Mexican Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Elwood, Kansas

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+19133655550

Visit website

Subway

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour Inexpensiv mile 353.3

Pilot Knob, Missouri

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+15735463156

Visit website

Le Peep

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

St Joseph, Missouri

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+18166719793

Visit website

Los Compadres Mexican Restaurant Bar

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

St Joseph, Missouri

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18162593284

Visit website

Nelle Belle's Diner

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 50.5

Kansas City, Missouri

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+18162161474

Xuyen Vietnamese Restaurant KC

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 50.5

Gladstone, Missouri

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+18165992723

Visit website

Broken Rice & Pho Restaurant Com Tam Viet

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 50.5

Gladstone, Missouri

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+18168005367

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 201.9

Kingdom City, Missouri

+15733106020

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 201.9

Kingdom City, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Rivian Adventure Network

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 176.6

Columbia, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18337484267

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 176.6

Columbia, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Ionna Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 252.3

Warrenton, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18334662474

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 252.3

Warrenton, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EVXY Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 277.6

Union, Missouri

+18554382474

Visit website

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 100.9

Higginsville, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

+16602071324

Visit website

Shoal Creek Living History Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 50.5

Kansas City, Missouri

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+18167922655

Visit website

Glore Psychiatric Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

St Joseph, Missouri

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+18162328471

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 25

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 64.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
1.8 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward I 229 South, US 59 South: Kansas City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 229 South, US 59 South: Kansas City
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
7
64.7 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 East: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$55.23 one way

$110.47 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 124 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $60.65 $121.29
premium $4.89 $67.99 $135.98
diesel $5.61 $78.00 $156.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$55

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$80–$105

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 123.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

2 DC fast chargers · Coverage: fair

Hy-Vee - Tesla Supercharger

St. Joseph, MO

Tesla

8 DCFC

EVERGY @SPEEDYS-440A

St Joseph, MO

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

Tesla: 1 ChargePoint Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 106 1 $37.10 $16.96
Efficient EV 88.3 1 $30.91 $14.13
EV Truck/SUV 141.3 1 $49.46 $22.61

Gas CO2

124 kg

EV CO2

41 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 15, 2026

Origin

Saint Joseph, MO

Afternoon in Saint Joseph on Sunday

Local time

12:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ironton, MO

Afternoon in Ironton on Sunday

Local time

12:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

15 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 15m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

353.3 mi in 7h 15m — 45% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.

45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.5 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 25 significant decision points across 353.3 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 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.

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 Ironton, MO, road signs point toward Kansas City, Sports Complex and Hawk Point.

Kansas City

63.2 mi in | ~1h 10m | via US 24

Sports Complex

63.2 mi in | ~1h 10m | via US 24

Hawk Point

249 mi in | ~4h 36m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 15m. Total distance: 353.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 15m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 118.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. 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 Ironton, 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 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ironton, MO before the return drive.

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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Ironton, MO to Saint Joseph, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

353.3 mi 7h 16m

Continue From Ironton, MO

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