This 178.6-mile drive from Sweet Springs, MO to Castle Point, MO will take you approximately 3 hours and 31 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, and I-270, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion. With a fuel cost estimated at $27, it's an economical option for exploring the Midwest. Expect a route with a good share of highway driving, but also some more intricate local road sections. This journey is well-suited for a relaxed day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
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
89.3 miles from Sweet Springs, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
107.1 mi
2h 7m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
I 270
9 mi
11m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
South Locust Street
0.9 mi
2m
New Halls Ferry Road
0.6 mi
<1m
Halls Ferry Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 107.1 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sweet Springs, MO and Castle Point, MO.
1
Start on MO 127
0.9 mi·2 min·South Locust Street
2
Turn right onto County Road 328
510 ft·14 sec·County Road 328
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
4
Merge onto I 70; US 40
2.3 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi·34 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
7
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
103 mi·2 hr 2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·12 sec
Exit 232Toward I 270: Chicago, MemphisUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·36 sec
Toward I 270 North: ChicagoUse the slight left lane.
13
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·18 sec·this road
Exit 232Toward I 270 North: Chicago
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 270 North: ChicagoUse the straight lane.
15
Merge onto I 270
9.0 mi·11 min·I 270
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 30Toward AC: New Halls Ferry Road, Old Halls Ferry Road
17
Turn straight onto Pershall Road
0.3 mi·48 sec·Pershall Road
18
Turn right onto MO AC
0.6 mi·57 sec·New Halls Ferry Road
19
Continue on MO AC
0.3 mi·35 sec·Halls Ferry Road
20
Turn left onto Hudson Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Hudson Drive
21
Turn right onto Edgefield Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Edgefield Drive
22
Turn left onto Duchess Drive
0.2 mi·56 sec·Duchess Drive
23
Turn left onto Lord Drive
284 ft·12 sec·Lord Drive
24
Arrive at destination
Lord Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 31 minute duration, you can comfortably complete this 178.6-mile journey in one day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight hours and allow for one planned stop. The fuel cost is estimated at $27, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Sweet Springs. Keep an eye on your navigation, as the 'turn-heavy' nature of the route means paying attention to upcoming junctions is key. The longest stretch is over 100 miles, so plan your break accordingly.
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 89.3 miles from Sweet Springs, MO, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.1 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 39 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.3 miles or 1h 41m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Castle Point, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sweet Springs, 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 Sweet Springs, MO
This is one driving day of about 178.6 miles and 3h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Sweet Springs, 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 107.1 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 176.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
8
166.3 mi into trip|~3h 12m in
Take the exit toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
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 232
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
7
166.4 mi into trip|~3h 12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 North: Chicago
8
167.1 mi into trip|~3h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 270 North: Chicago
6
176.3 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Take the exit toward AC: New Halls Ferry Road, Old Halls Ferry Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 30
Toward AC: New Halls Ferry Road, Old Halls Ferr...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.92 one way
$55.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.66
$61.31
premium
$4.89
$34.37
$68.74
diesel
$5.61
$39.43
$78.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.6
0
$18.75
$8.57
Efficient EV
44.7
0
$15.63
$7.14
EV Truck/SUV
71.4
0
$25.00
$11.43
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Sweet Springs, MO
Late night
in Sweet Springs on Sunday
Local time
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Castle Point, MO
Late night
in Castle Point on Sunday
Local time
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
W 6 to 9 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 2:36PM CDT until April 16 at 3:15PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 2:33PM CDT until April 16 at 3:15PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
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
30 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 31m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
$19
near mile 178.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is best described as a 'turn-heavy local drive', despite having a 5% highway share. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 107.1 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, offering a period of steady progress. However, the overall profile suggests a route that incorporates more frequent changes in direction and road type as you transition between major highways and local roads. This blend means you'll experience both open highway cruising and more engaging, potentially slower-paced segments.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.1 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
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 14 significant decision points across 178.6 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 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
901 ft468 ft
Total Climb
569 ft
Total Descent
789 ft
Highest Point
901 ft
~76.6 mi in
Elevation Range
432 ft
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 Sweet Springs, MO to Castle Point, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Memphis
166.3 mi in|~3h 12m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 31m. Total distance: 178.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.1 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Castle Point, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Castle Point, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
