Valley Park, MO to Blue Springs, MO is 221 miles and takes about 4h 16m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, connecting two points in the Midwest region. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate experience. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is well-suited 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
110.5 miles from Valley Park, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi
1h 35m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.6 mi
54m
Avenue of the Saints
22.1 mi
26m
MO 141
7 mi
10m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
US 40
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,993 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,486
Quietest
1 AM
~217 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.2×
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 Valley Park, MO and Blue Springs, MO.
1
Start on this road
86 ft·8 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Marshall Road
378 ft·10 sec·Marshall Road
3
Turn right onto MO 141
7.0 mi·10 min·MO 141
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
133 ft·7 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
5
Turn left
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
6
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
22 mi·26 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 40
0.6 mi·1 min·US 40
Exit 1AToward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
49 mi·52 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 20Toward MO 7: Blue Springs, Lake LotawanaUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto MO 7
0.5 mi·1 min·MO 7
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto Northwest R D Mize Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Northwest R D Mize Road
17
At end of road, turn left onto Northwest 15th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Northwest 15th Street
18
Arrive at destination
Southwest 15th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 16m duration, starting in the morning is recommended to allow ample time for your single stop and to arrive in Blue Springs with daylight to spare. The fuel cost is estimated at $34, so plan your budget accordingly. Since this is a one-day drive, you have flexibility with your departure time, but avoid peak rush hours in the St. Louis area if possible. Pay attention to speed limit changes as you move from highway segments to surface roads, particularly during the 80.7-mile stretch on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
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 110.5 miles from Valley Park, MO, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.7 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 49 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.5 miles or 2h 14m 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 31m
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 Valley Park, 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 Valley Park, MO
This is one driving day of about 221 miles and 4h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Valley Park, 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 80.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 219.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Marshall Road
At end of road, turn right onto Marshall Road
Navigation decision point
5
7.1 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Went...
5
7.1 mi into trip|~11m in
Turn left toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Went...
8
29.6 mi into trip|~38m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 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 straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
8
219.4 mi into trip|~4h 12m 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
$32.64 one way
$65.27 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$36.03
$72.06
premium
$4.72
$41.03
$82.07
diesel
$4.80
$41.73
$83.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.3
0
$23.21
$10.61
Efficient EV
55.3
0
$19.34
$8.84
EV Truck/SUV
88.4
1
$30.94
$14.14
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Valley Park, MO
Late night
in Valley Park on Sunday
Local time
1:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
W 8 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:52PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:42PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Blue Springs, MO
Late night
in Blue Springs on Sunday
Local time
1:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:52PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:42PM 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
2 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 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with 4% of the drive on highways. You'll encounter the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for a longest stretch of 80.7 miles. After this highway segment, expect to transition to surface roads, which often means more intersections and varying speed limits as you pass through towns. The prevalence of surface roads suggests a drive with frequent local traffic and less consistent high-speed cruising.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.7 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Marshall Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 221 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (Marshall Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 16m. Total distance: 221 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (4%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.7 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Marshall Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Blue Springs, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
