Spanning 264.2 miles across the heart of Missouri, this trek from Winfield to Saint Joseph is a straightforward journey typically taking about 5 hours and 14 minutes. Because the route is highway-focused, you can comfortably complete the entire trip in a single day, making it an efficient choice for those looking to traverse the Midwest efficiently. Budgeting approximately $40 for fuel should cover your needs, provided your vehicle maintains standard efficiency. Navigating via the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, the Avenue of the Saints, and US 36 keeps the drive moving steadily. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, the trip is manageable without the need for an overnight stay, offering a practical way to connect these two Missouri 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
132.1 miles from Winfield, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
156.3 mi
3h 1m
Avenue of the Saints
52.4 mi
1h 1m
US 36
26.5 mi
31m
MO Y
7.5 mi
10m
MO KK
6.4 mi
8m
V.F.W. Memorial Highway
5.8 mi
6m
MO 79
2.8 mi
3m
Veterans Road
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 156.3 mi, about 3h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winfield, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on West Cherry Street
21 ft·3 sec·West Cherry Street
2
Turn right onto MO 79
2.8 mi·3 min·MO 79
3
Turn left onto MO Y
7.5 mi·10 min·MO Y
4
At end of road, turn right onto MO W
1.1 mi·1 min·MO W
5
Turn left onto MO KK
6.4 mi·8 min·MO KK
6
At end of road, turn right onto Old US Highway 61
0.9 mi·1 min·Old US Highway 61
7
Turn right onto US 61
52 mi·1 hr 1 min·Avenue of the Saints
8
Take the exit
249 ft·14 sec
9
Turn left onto Paris Gravel Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Paris Gravel Road
10
Keep slight right at fork onto County Road 422
279 ft·8 sec·County Road 422
11
Turn right onto Veterans Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Veterans Road
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Monroe City
13
Merge onto US 36; MO 110
5.8 mi·6 min·V.F.W. Memorial Highway
14
Continue on US 24; US 36; MO 110
156 mi·3 hr 1 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
15
Continue on US 36; MO 33
13 mi·15 min·US 36; MO 33
16
Continue on US 36; MO 31
13 mi·15 min·US 36; MO 31
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward I 29 Business
18
Turn slight left onto I 29 Business
1.2 mi·2 min·South 10th Street
19
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft·6 sec·Frederick Avenue
20
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft·2 sec·Walter Welsh Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 14-minute drive, plan for at least one strategic stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since you have a single planned stop, try to time it halfway through your journey to break up the longest stretches of the expressway. Given the reliance on major highways like the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, check for any active maintenance or traffic reports before you pull out of Winfield to ensure a smooth transit. Keep your fuel budget of $40 in mind when choosing where to refill, as highway-side prices can fluctuate compared to local stations. Staying flexible with your departure time will help you avoid peak traffic periods on the busier segments of the route.
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 132.1 miles from Winfield, MO, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.3 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 58 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.1 miles or 2h 39m 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 17m
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 Winfield, 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 Winfield, MO
This is one driving day of about 264.2 miles and 5h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Winfield, 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 Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for about 156.3 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 0 and 73.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MO 79
Turn right onto MO 79
Navigation decision point
4
2.8 mi into trip|~3m in|MO Y
Turn left onto MO Y
Navigation decision point
4
10.3 mi into trip|~14m in|MO W
At end of road, turn right onto MO W
Navigation decision point
4
11.4 mi into trip|~15m in|MO KK
Turn left onto MO KK
Navigation decision point
6
73.9 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the ramp toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Monroe City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Monroe City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.02 one way
$78.03 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$43.07
$86.15
premium
$4.72
$49.05
$98.11
diesel
$4.80
$49.89
$99.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.3
0
$27.74
$12.68
Efficient EV
66.1
0
$23.12
$10.57
EV Truck/SUV
105.7
1
$36.99
$16.91
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 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
Winfield, MO
Morning
in Winfield on Sunday
Local time
9:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Clear
SW 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Morning
in Saint Joseph on Sunday
Local time
9:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Clear
SSW 6 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
91°F
Quincy, IL
132 mi in
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
1 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
5h 14m 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?
Expect a focused, highway-heavy experience, as 71% of your journey is spent on major thoroughfares. The road’s personality is defined by its efficiency, highlighted by a significant 156.3-mile stretch on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway that allows for consistent cruising. While you will encounter a mix of road types, the overall character remains largely interstate-oriented rather than technical or winding. This setup minimizes local traffic interference, allowing you to settle into a steady rhythm for the majority of your time behind the wheel. Prepare for a drive that prioritizes speed and directness over frequent stops or varied terrain.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 156.3 mi on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and Avenue of the Saints. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 79.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 14m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 79): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (MO Y): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles (MO W): Navigation decision point.
The longest stretch is about 156.3 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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.
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 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 79): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (MO Y): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles (MO W): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 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.
