Saint Paul, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is 275.7 miles and takes about 5h 16m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, traversing Missouri for its entirety. You'll primarily be on surface roads, making it a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate trip. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion.
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
137.9 miles from Saint Paul, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
82.6 mi
1h 37m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
I 29
26 mi
27m
I 435
20.9 mi
22m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
7.8 mi
9m
I 229
5.7 mi
6m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 82.6 mi, about 1h 37m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 23 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,281 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,830
Quietest
1 AM
~292 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
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 Paul, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on Hackmann Road
351 ft·17 sec·Hackmann Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Saint Paul Road
1.4 mi·3 min·Saint Paul Road
3
Turn right onto MO P
2.9 mi·3 min·MO P
4
Turn left onto Josephville Road
2.9 mi·6 min·Josephville Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto MO A
1.0 mi·1 min·Highway A
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·19 sec
Toward I 70 West
7
Merge onto I 70
83 mi·1 hr 37 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Exit 8BToward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 435; US 24
7.8 mi·9 min·Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
19
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi·1 min·I435 N
20
Continue on I 435
21 mi·22 min·I 435
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71
26 mi·27 min·I 29; US 71
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
22
Take the exit
0.5 mi·54 sec
Exit 43Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
23
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi·6 min·I 229
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 6AToward Central Business District
25
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·Edmond Street
26
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi·20 sec·South 10th Street
27
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft·6 sec·Frederick Avenue
28
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft·2 sec·Walter Welsh Avenue
29
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5h 16m drive, consider an early morning departure from Saint Paul. With a total distance of 275.7 miles and a fuel cost around $42, it's designed for a single day. The route has one recommended stop, so plan that break strategically about halfway through. Given the prevalence of surface roads, be mindful of local speed limits and potential traffic signals, especially as you approach Saint Joseph.
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 137.9 miles from Saint Paul, MO, or about 2h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.6 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 61 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.9 miles or 2h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Joseph, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Paul, 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 Paul, MO
This is one driving day of about 275.7 miles and 5h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Saint Paul, 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 Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 82.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.5 and 274.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.5 mi into trip|~15m in|I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
211.5 mi into trip|~4h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8B
Toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
6
242.6 mi into trip|~4h 38m in|I 29; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71 toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
5
268.6 mi into trip|~5h 6m in
Take the exit toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
5
274.8 mi into trip|~5h 14m in
Take the exit toward Central Business District
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.71 one way
$81.43 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$44.95
$89.90
premium
$4.72
$51.19
$102.38
diesel
$4.80
$52.06
$104.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.7
1
$28.95
$13.23
Efficient EV
68.9
0
$24.12
$11.03
EV Truck/SUV
110.3
1
$38.60
$17.64
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Saint Paul, MO
Late night
in Saint Paul on Sunday
Local time
5:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Clear
SW 1 to 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Late night
in Saint Joseph on Sunday
Local time
5:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 7 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
91°F
Columbia, MO
138 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 16m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to spend about 80% of your time on surface roads, with only 20% on the highway. The longest continuous stretch on a main road, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, covers 82.6 miles. You'll notice the transition from highway cruising to more frequent stops and intersections as you move onto surface roads.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.6 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8.5 miles in near I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 275.7 miles you will encounter 13 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 8.5 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 211.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 242.6 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 16m. Total distance: 275.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.6 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 40 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 Saint Joseph, 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 40 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.5 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 211.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 242.6 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Saint Joseph, MO before the return drive.
