Origin
Saint Joseph, MO
Morning in Saint Joseph on Sunday
Local time
10:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Joseph, MO to Kansas City, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
53.8 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 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Kansas City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Saint Joseph to Kansas City, this quick 53.8-mile journey is an ideal day trip that typically takes just over an hour. You will spend the vast majority of your time—about 93%—on major highways, making this a straightforward and efficient connection within the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of only $8, it is a very budget-friendly transit. Because the trip is so short, you certainly do not need an overnight split, allowing you to easily complete the drive in a single morning or afternoon. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick change of scenery, the simplicity of this route makes it a stress-free experience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 40.4 mi | 44m |
| US 169 | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| I 229 | 4.5 mi | 4m |
| North 9th Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West 6th Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Oak Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Francis Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| US 36 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 40.4 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph, MO and Kansas City, 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 left at fork onto I 29; US 71
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 29; US 71
Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
Use the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 2B
Toward US 169 South: Kansas City Downtown
14
Merge onto US 169
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
US 169
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto Broadway Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Broadway Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto West 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
West 6th Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto Page Street
478 ft
·
21 sec
·
Page Street
18
Turn slight right onto Oak Street
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
Oak Street
19
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
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 Saint Joseph, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 52.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Francis Street
Turn right onto Francis Street
Navigation decision point
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
6
6.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
8
35.2 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 29; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71 toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
6
52.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
Broadway Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork onto Broadway Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.41 one way
$16.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.23 | $18.47 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.35 | $20.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.88 | $23.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 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 | 16.1 | 0 | $5.65 | $2.58 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.71 | $2.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.53 | $3.44 |
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
Kansas City, MO
Morning in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
10:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Weston, MO
27 mi in
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 3m 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 classic highway-focused drive as you navigate between these two Missouri cities. The route relies heavily on I-29, US-169, and I-229 to keep traffic moving efficiently. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the road—specifically a 40.4-mile stretch—on I-29, which serves as the backbone of your journey. Because of the high highway percentage, the drive is functional and direct rather than technical or winding. You will find that the road maintains a consistent pace, allowing you to settle into a comfortable rhythm behind the wheel without the need for frequent lane changes or slowing down for local traffic.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.4 mi on I 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and US 169. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Francis Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.8 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 0.1 miles (Francis Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Kansas City, MO
Full guide →Kansas City is a major Midwestern metropolitan area that spreads across the border of Missouri and Kansas. It is a city that tends to hide itself from tourists. Reputed to have more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world except for Rome, it can be a beautiful city, too. It is unique in that it is split down the middle by the state line of Kansas and Missouri.
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 3m. Total distance: 53.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.4 miles on I 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Kansas City, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.1 miles (Francis Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: 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 Kansas City, 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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