Connecting Waynesville to Jefferson City, this 67.9-mile journey is a straightforward trek across the Missouri Midwest. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 34 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $10, it is an economical route that requires minimal planning. Since the entire drive stays within the state of Missouri, you will find the transition between these two Midwestern locales to be seamless. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, the route’s efficiency allows for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.9 miles from Waynesville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MO 17
48.1 mi
1h 8m
US 54
18.7 mi
21m
West McCarty Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Missouri Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
East Wall Way
<0.1 mi
<1m
I 44 Business
<0.1 mi
<1m
Washington Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
MO 17
— 48.1 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waynesville, MO and Jefferson City, MO.
1
Start on I 44 Business; US Historic 66; MO 17
304 ft·19 sec·I 44 Business; US Historic 66; MO 17
2
Turn left onto MO 17
36 mi·52 min·MO 17
3
At end of road, turn right onto MO 17
12 mi·16 min·MO 17
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward US 54 East: Jefferson City
5
Merge onto US 54
19 mi·21 min·US 54
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 50 Business
7
Keep slight right at fork
158 ft·4 sec
8
Turn right onto US 50 Business
0.2 mi·29 sec·Missouri Boulevard
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto West McCarty Street
0.3 mi·50 sec·West McCarty Street
10
Turn left onto Washington Street
250 ft·12 sec·Washington Street
11
Turn right onto East Wall Way
341 ft·25 sec·East Wall Way
12
Arrive at destination
East Wall Way
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever fits your schedule best without needing an overnight stop. Because there are no scheduled stops along the route, ensure your tank is ready for the 67.9-mile haul before you leave Waynesville to keep your $10 fuel estimate accurate. Pay close attention to your speed as you transition from the open highway onto West McCarty Street when entering Jefferson City. If you prefer a relaxed pace, treat the lack of mandatory stops as an opportunity to enjoy a steady, uninterrupted flow of driving. Flexibility is your greatest asset here, so feel free to time your departure to avoid peak traffic hours near the state capital.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 33.9 miles from Waynesville, MO, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.1 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 15 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.9 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jefferson City, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waynesville, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waynesville, MO
This is one driving day of about 67.9 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Waynesville, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on MO 17 for about 48.1 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 67.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|MO 17
Turn left onto MO 17
Navigation decision point
5
67.3 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
67.3 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|US 50 Business / Missouri Boulevard
Turn right onto US 50 Business / Missouri Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
67.8 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|Washington Street
Turn left onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
67.8 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|East Wall Way
Turn right onto East Wall Way
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.62 one way
$21.23 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$11.66
$23.31
premium
$4.89
$13.07
$26.13
diesel
$5.61
$14.99
$29.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.4
0
$7.13
$3.26
Efficient EV
17
0
$5.94
$2.72
EV Truck/SUV
27.2
0
$9.51
$4.35
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Waynesville, MO
Morning
in Waynesville on Sunday
Local time
6:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jefferson City, MO
Morning
in Jefferson City on Sunday
Local time
6:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 34m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 highway-focused drive relies heavily on MO 17 and US 54 to get you to your destination efficiently. Approximately 98% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a consistent pace for the duration of the 67.9-mile trip. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch early on, covering 48.1 miles on MO 17. Because the road conditions remain steady, you won't have to worry about complex navigation or frequent lane changes. Expect a predictable, linear experience that transitions smoothly from the start in Waynesville into the final approach on West McCarty Street.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.1 mi on MO 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 17 and US 54. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near MO 17.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 34m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (MO 17): Navigation decision point; at 67.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 67.3 miles (US 50 Business / Missouri Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,143 ft563 ft
Total Climb
784 ft
Total Descent
965 ft
Highest Point
1,143 ft
~14.5 mi in
Elevation Range
580 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 67.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 48.1 miles on MO 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (MO 17): Navigation decision point; at 67.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 67.3 miles (US 50 Business / Missouri Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jefferson City, MO before heading back.
