Origin
Saint Joseph, MO
Late night in Saint Joseph on Sunday
Local time
2:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Joseph, MO to Tarkio, 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 20m
Distance
64.7 mi
104 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Tarkio, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through the Missouri Midwest, the 64.7-mile journey from Saint Joseph to Tarkio is a straightforward option. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 20 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate out of Saint Joseph using North 12th Street and Francis Street before transitioning onto I-229 North. With a fuel budget of approximately $10, it is an economical route for a short-term getaway. Because the trip is relatively short, you have the flexibility to head out and return on your own schedule without feeling rushed.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 35 mi | 37m |
| US 59 | 13.4 mi | 20m |
| I 229 | 8.1 mi | 9m |
| US Highway 59 | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| Francis Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Walnut Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South 3rd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Walter Welsh Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 35 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph, MO and Tarkio, 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
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Francis Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 229 North, US 59 North
5
Merge onto I 229; US 59
8.1 mi
·
9 min
·
I 229; US 59
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 14C
Toward I 29 North: Council Bluffs
7
Merge onto I 29
35 mi
·
37 min
·
I 29
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 92
Toward US 59: Craig, Fairfax
9
Turn left onto US 59
12 mi
·
17 min
·
US 59
10
Turn right onto US 59
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
US Highway 59
11
Continue on US 59; US 136
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
US 59; US 136
12
Turn right onto US 136
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Walnut Street
13
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
South 3rd Street
14
Turn right onto Main Street
158 ft
·
6 sec
·
Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.4 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 64.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 12th Street
Turn right onto North 12th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Francis Street
Turn right onto Francis Street
Navigation decision point
5
9.2 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward I 29 North: Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 14C
Toward I 29 North: Council Bluffs
6
44.5 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward US 59: Craig, Fairfax
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 92
Toward US 59: Craig, Fairfax
5
64.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.12 one way
$20.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.11 | $22.21 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.45 | $24.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.28 | $28.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.11 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.06 | $4.14 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Tarkio, MO
Late night in Tarkio on Sunday
Local time
2:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
22 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 20m 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?
This 64.7-mile trek is defined as a turn-heavy local drive, favoring winding paths over high-speed interstate cruising. You will not encounter any significant highway stretches, as the route maintains a 0% highway share, requiring your full attention on local roads. Since there are no designated stops along the way, you should prepare for a continuous drive from start to finish. The road’s personality is characterized by its technical nature, which demands more engagement than a standard highway commute. Navigating these turns requires a steady hand, so settle in and enjoy the focus required to traverse this Midwest corridor.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35 mi on I 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and US 59. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North 12th Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 20m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Francis Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
On the drive from Saint Joseph, MO to Tarkio, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Fairfax along the way.
Fairfax
44.5 mi in
|
~49m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 64.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35 miles on I 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (North 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Francis Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tarkio, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Tarkio, MO
Explore more options from Saint Joseph, MO or browse trips ending in Tarkio, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.