Dearborn Rest Area (Northbound)
0 mi from route
Trip from Saint Joseph, MO to Strafford, MO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 26m
Distance
227.2 mi
366 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 13m
★
6 AM
4h 27m
8 AM
4h 53m
10 AM
4h 36m
12 PM
4h 33m
3 PM
4h 37m
5 PM
4h 52m
8 PM
4h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Strafford, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Trip Overview
Saint Joseph, MO to Strafford, MO is 227 miles and takes about 4 hours 26 minutes via MO 13 and MO 7, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward, mostly highway trip ideal for a single day of travel. You'll find it efficient for getting from point A to point B without significant detours.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
113.6 miles from Saint Joseph, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MO 13 | 68 mi | 1h 19m |
| MO 7 | 55.6 mi | 1h 4m |
| I 29 | 40.4 mi | 44m |
| Bruce R. Watkins Drive | 37.8 mi | 45m |
| Payne Stewart Highway | 10.8 mi | 12m |
| US 169 | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| I 229 | 4.5 mi | 4m |
| North 9th Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
MO 13
— 68 mi, about 1h 19m
Traffic on I-29
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,163 veh/hr typical · worst 2,528
Quietest
1 AM
~216 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph, MO and Strafford, 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
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
West 6th Street
Use the left lane.
17
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 35 North, I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East
18
Continue on I 35; I 70; US 24; US 40
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
George Brett Super Highway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
George Brett Super Highway
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 71 South: Saint Louis, Joplin
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71
38 mi
·
45 min
·
Bruce R. Watkins Drive
Exit 2M
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Take the exit onto MO 7
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
MO 7
Exit 157
Toward MO 7 South: Clinton
22
Turn slight left onto MO 7
55 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
MO 7
Exit 157
Toward MO 7 South: Clinton
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on MO 13
68 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
MO 13
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 44 East: Rolla, Saint Louis
25
Merge onto I 44
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Payne Stewart Highway
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 88
Toward MO 125: Fair Grove, Strafford
27
Turn right onto MO 125
350 ft
·
8 sec
·
MO 125
28
Turn right
90 ft
·
3 sec
29
Turn slight right onto MO 125
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
MO 125
30
Continue on US Historic 66; MO 125; MO OO
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
US Historic 66; MO 125; MO OO
31
Arrive at destination
US Historic 66; MO 125; MO OO
Trip Plan
Leaving Saint Joseph in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Strafford, as the drive is under 5 hours. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from highway to MO 7, as services might be less frequent. The $36 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you depart. Given the relatively short duration, it's an easy same-day trip, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider an early afternoon departure and a brief overnight.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 113.6 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68 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 50 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.6 miles or 2h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Strafford, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Joseph, MO
This is one driving day of about 227.2 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Saint Joseph, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on MO 13 for about 68 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
114 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 113.6 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before MO 13 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Dearborn Truck Parking (Southbound)
0 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
ONE9 Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Sapp Brothers Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 245 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 54.2 — 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 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
8
53.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 71 South: Saint Louis, Joplin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 71...
7
54.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
US 71 / Bruce R. Watkins Drive
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71 / Bruce R. Watkins Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 2M
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.77 one way
$75.55 round trip
$4.22/gal
25.4 MPG avg
80 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $41.15 | $82.29 |
| premium | $5.18 | $46.36 | $92.72 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $47.86 | $95.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.2 | 0 | $23.86 | $10.91 |
| Efficient EV | 56.8 | 0 | $19.88 | $9.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.9 | 1 | $31.81 | $14.54 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Saint Joseph, MO
Afternoon in Saint Joseph on Wednesday
Local time
4:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 6 mph
82% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Strafford, MO
Afternoon in Strafford on Wednesday
Local time
4:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Patchy Fog
SE 6 mph
16% chance
Live forecast
86°F
Adrian, MO
114 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.
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
2 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
4h 26m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 219.4
Caution: BE AWARE OF HIGH-WATER DANGER
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is about 77% highway, so expect a good amount of time on faster roads. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 68 miles on MO 13. You'll experience a noticeable shift from highway cruising to more rural surface roads as you progress. Be prepared for the frequent exits and merging common on these types of routes.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68 mi on MO 13.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 13 and MO 7. 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 24 significant decision points across 227.2 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 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.2 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,486 ft
780 ft
Total Climb
870 ft
Total Descent
278 ft
Highest Point
1,486 ft
~227.2 mi in
Elevation Range
706 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Strafford, MO, road signs point toward Joplin and Saint Louis.
Joplin
53.6 mi in
|
~1h 3m
|
via I 70; US 24; US 40
Saint Louis
215.6 mi in
|
~4h 12m
About the Cities
Starting in Saint Joseph, MO
Full guide →Founded 1843
Top landmarks
- • Patee House
- • Missouri Theatre — theater, former movie theater and commercial building in St. Joseph, Missouri, U...
- • German-American Bank Building — historic building in St. Joseph, Missouri, USA
Arriving in Strafford, MO
Full guide →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 4h 26m. Total distance: 227.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68 miles on MO 13. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Strafford, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Strafford, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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