Sullivan, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is 299.4 miles and takes about 5h 51m via US 50 and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region on a mix of highway and surface roads. It’s a straightforward drive that doesn't demand an overnight stay, making it a practical option for a single-day transit. You'll find the route generally accommodating for travelers looking for an efficient way to cover ground between these two points.
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
149.7 miles from Sullivan, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 50
62.4 mi
1h 12m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
US 63
28.1 mi
31m
I 29
26 mi
27m
I 435
20.9 mi
22m
MO 185
15.6 mi
23m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
7.8 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 62.4 mi, about 1h 12m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,295 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,818
Quietest
2 AM
~286 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Sullivan, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on this road
55 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto West Washington Street
337 ft·9 sec·West Washington Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto Hughes Ford Road
117 ft·8 sec·Hughes Ford Road
4
Turn left onto West Main Street
376 ft·12 sec·West Main Street
5
Turn right onto Elmont Road
2.7 mi·4 min·Elmont Road
6
Turn right onto MO 185
16 mi·23 min·MO 185
7
Turn left onto US 50
45 mi·50 min·US 50
8
Continue on MO U
0.3 mi·38 sec·MO U
9
Turn right onto County Route 605
1.5 mi·5 min·County Route 605
10
Turn right onto County Route 604
0.6 mi·2 min·County Route 604
11
Continue on Loose Creek Highway
1.0 mi·2 min·Loose Creek Highway
12
Turn left onto Wolf Ridge Trail
0.4 mi·1 min·Wolf Ridge Trail
13
Turn right onto US 50
18 mi·21 min·US 50
14
Take the exit onto US 63
0.3 mi·40 sec·US 63
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
15
Merge onto US 54; US 63
1.4 mi·1 min·US 54; US 63
16
Take the exit onto US 63
28 mi·30 min·US 63
Toward US 63 North: Columbia
17
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.
18
Continue on US 63 Conn
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 63 Conn
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the left lane.
20
Merge onto I 70; US 40
1.3 mi·1 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
21
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
22
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
23
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.
30
Merge onto I 435; US 24
7.8 mi·9 min·Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
31
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi·1 min·I435 N
32
Continue on I 435
21 mi·22 min·I 435
33
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
34
Take the exit
0.5 mi·54 sec
Exit 43Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
35
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi·6 min·I 229
36
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 6AToward Central Business District
37
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·Edmond Street
38
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi·20 sec·South 10th Street
39
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft·6 sec·Frederick Avenue
40
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft·2 sec·Walter Welsh Avenue
41
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5h 51m drive, consider an early morning departure from Sullivan, MO, to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, you have flexibility in timing your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 62.4-mile stretch on US 50, as services might be less frequent. The $47 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in potential price variations. This route is designed for a single-day transit, so focus on efficient travel and enjoying the drive without feeling rushed.
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 149.7 miles from Sullivan, MO, or about 3h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.4 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 66 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.7 miles or 3h 6m 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 52m
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 Sullivan, 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 Sullivan, MO
This is one driving day of about 299.4 miles and 5h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Sullivan, 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 62.4 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 266.2 — 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|Hughes Ford Road
At end of road, turn right onto Hughes Ford Road
Navigation decision point
7
114.3 mi into trip|~2h 26m 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
114.9 mi into trip|~2h 27m 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
235.1 mi into trip|~4h 39m 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
266.2 mi into trip|~5h 14m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.94 one way
$99.89 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$54.28
$108.56
premium
$5.26
$61.99
$123.98
diesel
$6.18
$72.83
$145.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.8
1
$31.44
$14.37
Efficient EV
74.9
0
$26.20
$11.98
EV Truck/SUV
119.8
1
$41.92
$19.16
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Sullivan, MO
Late night
in Sullivan on Sunday
Local time
5:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Mostly Clear
N 5 mph0% 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
Saint Joseph, MO
Late night
in Saint Joseph on Sunday
Local time
5:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Areas Of Frost
WSW 1 mph0% 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
5h 51m 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?
This drive involves a 55% highway share, meaning you'll spend over half the distance on faster routes like US 50 and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Expect a longest stretch of 62.4 miles on US 50 before transitioning to surface roads. Given the mix, you'll experience both cruising at higher speeds and navigating areas with more frequent exits and potential slowdowns. The profile suggests a blend of efficient travel and more local road conditions.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.4 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Hughes Ford Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 299.4 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 (Hughes Ford Road): Navigation decision point; at 114.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.9 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
1,012 ft546 ft
Total Climb
836 ft
Total Descent
925 ft
Highest Point
1,012 ft
~256.6 mi in
Elevation Range
466 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sullivan, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Columbia, Mo Pp: Kansas City and Saint Louis.
St. Louis Area is the region around St. Louis, Missouri. It borders St. Louis Metro East (Illinois) along the Mississippi River. Within Missouri, it borders Southeast Missouri, Central Missouri, and Northeast Missouri.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 51m. Total distance: 299.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.4 miles on US 50. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 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 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Hughes Ford Road): Navigation decision point; at 114.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 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.
