Saint Joseph, MO to Versailles, MO is 184.9 miles and takes about 3h 45m via US 50 and I-29, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making it a straightforward drive. With only one recommended stop and a short duration, it’s a good option for a quick weekend getaway or a transit day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
92.4 miles from Saint Joseph, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 50
67.8 mi
1h 20m
I 29
28.4 mi
30m
I 435
28 mi
30m
MO 52
24.7 mi
34m
South Limit Avenue
16.7 mi
21m
Blue Parkway
8.2 mi
12m
I 229
4.5 mi
4m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
3.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 67.8 mi, about 1h 20m
Traffic on I-29
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,322 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,587
Quietest
1 AM
~137 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Versailles, 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
68 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 50
17
Turn right onto US 65
17 mi·21 min·South Limit Avenue
18
Take the exit onto MO 52
0.3 mi·51 sec·MO 52
Toward MO 52 East: Cole Camp
19
Turn left onto MO 52
24 mi·33 min·MO 52
20
Keep slight left at fork onto MO W
0.6 mi·1 min·West Newton Street
21
Turn right onto South Fisher Street
63 ft·1 sec·South Fisher Street
22
Arrive at destination
South Fisher Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 45m duration, leaving Saint Joseph in the morning allows ample time to reach Versailles well before evening. The $29 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you depart. With just one recommended stop, you have the flexibility to decide when and where to take a break. Pay attention as you transition from I-435 to US 50, as this is where the highway feel will shift. Plan your fuel stops accordingly, as the longest stretch without a major highway change is over 67 miles.
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 92.4 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.8 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 41 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.4 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Versailles, 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 184.9 miles and 3h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 US 50 for about 67.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 66.7 — 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 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.31 one way
$54.61 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$30.14
$60.29
premium
$4.72
$34.33
$68.66
diesel
$4.80
$34.91
$69.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.5
0
$19.41
$8.88
Efficient EV
46.2
0
$16.18
$7.40
EV Truck/SUV
74
0
$25.89
$11.83
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Saint Joseph, MO
Morning
in Saint Joseph on Sunday
Local time
6:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
ESE 2 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:17PM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:55PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Versailles, MO
Morning
in Versailles on Sunday
Local time
6:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Isolated Rain Showers then Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 3 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:17PM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:55PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
48°F
Lee's Summit, MO
92 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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 45m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect an 87% highway experience for this 184.9-mile drive. The bulk of your travel will be on I-29 and I-435 before transitioning to US 50. You'll encounter a 67.8-mile stretch on US 50, which is the longest continuous segment without a major highway change. This means you’ll experience mostly rural cruising with fewer exits for a significant portion of the trip.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.8 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and I 29. 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 Effort9/10
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 17 significant decision points across 184.9 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,033 ft721 ft
Total Climb
703 ft
Total Descent
564 ft
Highest Point
1,033 ft
~184.9 mi in
Elevation Range
312 ft
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 Versailles, MO, road signs point toward Raytown and Lee's Summit.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 45m. Total distance: 184.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.8 miles on US 50. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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 Versailles, 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 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Versailles, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
