Saint Joseph, MO to Lake Winnebago, MO is 84.1 miles and takes about 1h 44m via I 29 and I 435, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip entirely within Missouri, moving you from one part of the Midwest to another. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, it's an ideal option for a quick weekend getaway or a convenient way to connect these two locations. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making for an efficient journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42 miles from Saint Joseph, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 29
28.4 mi
30m
I 435
28 mi
30m
Blue Parkway
8.2 mi
12m
MO 291
4.6 mi
6m
I 229
4.5 mi
4m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
3.5 mi
4m
US 50
2.5 mi
3m
North 9th Street
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 28.4 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph, MO and Lake Winnebago, 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 left at fork onto I 435
3.5 mi·4 min·Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
Toward I 435 South: Wichita
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 66Toward MO 350 East: 63rd Street, Raytown, Lee's SummitUse the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto MO 350
8.2 mi·12 min·Blue Parkway
16
Continue on US 50
2.5 mi·3 min·US 50
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward MO 291 South: HarrisonvilleUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
447 ft·13 sec
Toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville
19
Merge onto MO 291
4.6 mi·6 min·MO 291
20
Turn left onto Lake Winnebago Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Lake Winnebago Drive
21
Turn right onto Seneca Lane
0.3 mi·1 min·Seneca Lane
22
At end of road, turn left onto Lake Winnebago Drive
369 ft·20 sec·Lake Winnebago Drive
23
Turn right onto Mandan Lane
0.2 mi·46 sec·Mandan Lane
24
Continue on Iroquois Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Iroquois Drive
25
Continue on Lake Winnebago Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Lake Winnebago Drive
26
Turn left onto Mescalero
231 ft·10 sec·Mescalero
27
Arrive at destination
Mescalero
Trip Plan
Since this drive is under two hours, you have considerable flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Saint Joseph, MO in the morning or early afternoon should allow you to reach Lake Winnebago, MO with plenty of daylight remaining. With a fuel cost estimated at around $13, you won't need to worry excessively about frequent refueling stops, though it's always wise to start with a full tank. There are no designated stops provided, so plan any necessary breaks around your own needs, perhaps coinciding with any transition points between the main highways like I 29 and I 435.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.4 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 19 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Winnebago, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Joseph, MO
This is one driving day of about 84.1 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Saint Joseph, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 28.4 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 77.6 — 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
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 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
8
66.7 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward MO 350 East: 63rd Street, Raytown, Lee's Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 66
Toward MO 350 East: 63rd Street, Raytown, Lee's...
6
77.6 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.15 one way
$26.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.44
$28.87
premium
$4.89
$16.18
$32.37
diesel
$5.61
$18.57
$37.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.2
0
$8.83
$4.04
Efficient EV
21
0
$7.36
$3.36
EV Truck/SUV
33.6
0
$11.77
$5.38
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Saint Joseph, MO
Night
in Saint Joseph on Saturday
Local time
9:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lake Winnebago, MO
Night
in Lake Winnebago on Saturday
Local time
9:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°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
18 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
1h 44m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the journey taking place on interstates like I 29 and I 435. Expect long stretches of consistent speed, including one uninterrupted segment of 28.4 miles on I 29. The use of Blue Parkway also indicates some familiarity with more direct, parkway-style roads. This means your drive will likely feel efficient and fast-paced, with minimal detours onto slower, local roads.
91% 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: 28.4 mi on I 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and I 435. 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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.1 miles you will encounter 21 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 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; at 35.2 miles (I 435): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Lake Winnebago, MO, road signs point toward Raytown and Lee's Summit.
Raytown
66.7 mi in|~1h 14m
Lee's Summit
66.7 mi in|~1h 14m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 84.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.4 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 Lake Winnebago, 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 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; at 35.2 miles (I 435): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lake Winnebago, MO before heading back.
