Salem, MO to Blue Springs, MO is 228.5 miles and takes about 4h 34m via US 63, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you head west. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this is a straightforward drive suitable for a single day of travel.
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
114.3 miles from Salem, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 63
76.6 mi
1h 33m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.6 mi
54m
MO 72
23.5 mi
30m
North Bishop Avenue
12.9 mi
15m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
US 54
1.4 mi
1m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 76.6 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, MO and Blue Springs, MO.
1
Start on East 4th Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·East 4th Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto MO J
456 ft·12 sec·North McArthur Avenue
3
Continue on MO J
1.3 mi·3 min·West Rolla Street
4
Turn right onto MO 72
24 mi·30 min·MO 72
5
Turn right onto Salem Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Salem Avenue
6
Turn right onto Holloway Street
0.9 mi·2 min·Holloway Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
At end of road, turn left onto East 18th Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·East 18th Street
8
Continue on North Walnut Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·North Walnut Street
9
Turn right onto I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63
13 mi·15 min·North Bishop Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on US 63; MO 28
48 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 63; MO 28
11
Take the exit onto US 63
0.3 mi·40 sec·US 63
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
12
Merge onto US 54; US 63
1.4 mi·1 min·US 54; US 63
13
Take the exit onto US 63
28 mi·30 min·US 63
Toward US 63 North: Columbia
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint LouisUse the left / straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 63 Conn
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 63 Conn
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the left lane.
17
Merge onto I 70; US 40
1.3 mi·1 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
18
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
19
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
20
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
21
Continue on I 70; US 40
49 mi·52 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 20Toward MO 7: Blue Springs, Lake LotawanaUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn left onto MO 7
0.5 mi·1 min·MO 7
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto Northwest R D Mize Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Northwest R D Mize Road
25
At end of road, turn left onto Northwest 15th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Northwest 15th Street
26
Arrive at destination
Southwest 15th Street
Trip Plan
This 228.5-mile drive can easily be completed in under five hours, so consider leaving mid-morning to allow for a relaxed start. There's one recommended stop, which is a good opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel if needed. With a fuel cost estimate around $36, plan your fill-ups accordingly, especially before heading into longer stretches. The longest section on US 63 is 76.6 miles, so ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that part of the drive.
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 114.3 miles from Salem, MO, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.6 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 50 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.3 miles or 2h 27m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blue Springs, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Salem, 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 Salem, MO
This is one driving day of about 228.5 miles and 4h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Salem, 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 63 for about 76.6 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 226.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|MO J / North McArthur Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto MO J / North McArthur Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
27 mi into trip|~40m in|I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63 / North Bishop Avenue
Turn right onto I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63 / North Bishop Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
118 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint L...
9
118.6 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
8
226.9 mi into trip|~4h 30m in
Take the exit toward MO 7: Blue Springs, Lake Lotawana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20
Toward MO 7: Blue Springs, Lake Lotawana
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.69 one way
$71.37 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.33
$38.95
$77.91
premium
$4.69
$42.17
$84.35
diesel
$5.99
$53.91
$107.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.6
0
$23.99
$10.97
Efficient EV
57.1
0
$19.99
$9.14
EV Truck/SUV
91.4
1
$31.99
$14.62
Gas CO2
80 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.
Forecast as of Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Salem, MO
Morning
in Salem on Saturday
Local time
7:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 6 to 13 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:40AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Destination
Blue Springs, MO
Morning
in Blue Springs on Saturday
Local time
7:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Partly Cloudy then Patchy Frost
N 2 to 8 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:40AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
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
4 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 34m 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?
About 45% of this 228.5-mile route is on highways, with the remaining 55% on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a major highway, US 63, is 76.6 miles. You'll transition between the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and other main roads, experiencing a variety of driving conditions from more open cruising to areas with more frequent exits. Be prepared for changes in speed limits and road types.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.6 mi on US 63.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near MO J / North McArthur Avenue.
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 228.5 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.2 miles (MO J / North McArthur Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 27 miles (I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63 / North Bishop Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 118 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,185 ft593 ft
Total Climb
579 ft
Total Descent
790 ft
Highest Point
1,185 ft
Elevation Range
592 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Salem, MO and Blue Springs, MO, road signs point toward Columbia, Mo Pp: Kansas City and Saint Louis.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 34m. Total distance: 228.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.6 miles on US 63. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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 Blue Springs, 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 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (MO J / North McArthur Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 27 miles (I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63 / North Bishop Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 118 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Blue Springs, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
