Origin
Ashland, MO
Night in Ashland on Tuesday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ashland, MO to Saint Joseph, MO
Data updated 50 minutes ago
Drive Time
3h 40m
Distance
198.8 mi
320 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 28m
★
6 AM
3h 41m
8 AM
4h 6m
10 AM
3h 50m
12 PM
3h 47m
3 PM
3h 51m
5 PM
4h 5m
8 PM
3h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ashland, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 198.8-mile drive from Ashland, MO to Saint Joseph, MO will take you approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes. It's a manageable 1-day trip, perfect for a single day's adventure without needing an overnight stop. You'll navigate a mix of highways, with about 34% of the journey on interstates. Budget around $31 for fuel, making it an economical option for exploring the Midwest. The route offers a straightforward journey through Missouri, connecting these two points efficiently.
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
99.4 miles from Ashland, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This trip features a mixed drive profile, blending interstate speeds with other highway types. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and I-29, but also encounter stretches on the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll experience is 54.4 miles on the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, offering a solid block of consistent travel. With 34% of the route on highways, expect a dynamic driving experience that shifts between faster-paced sections and potentially more varied road conditions.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 54.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near MO M; MO Y / East Broadway.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 198.8 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 0.2 miles (MO M; MO Y / East Broadway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 13.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MO M; MO Y / East Broadway
Enter roundabout onto MO M; MO Y / East Broadway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
13.7 mi into trip
|
~15m 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
14.3 mi into trip
|
~16m 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
134.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 27m 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
165.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 3m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ashland, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Mo Pp: Kansas City and Saint Louis.
Mo Pp: Kansas City
13.7 mi in
|
~15m
Saint Louis
13.7 mi in
|
~15m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 54.3 mi | 58m |
| I 29 | 26 mi | 27m |
| I 435 | 20.9 mi | 22m |
| US 63 | 13.1 mi | 14m |
| Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| I 229 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ashland, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on MO Y
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
East Broadway
2
Enter roundabout onto MO M; MO Y
173 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Broadway
3
Continue on MO M; MO Y
484 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Broadway
4
Enter roundabout
283 ft
·
5 sec
5
Continue
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
6
Merge onto US 63
13 mi
·
14 min
·
US 63
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint Louis
Use the left / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 63 Conn
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 63 Conn
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Use the left lane.
10
Merge onto I 70; US 40
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi
·
58 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
52 mi
·
56 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
15
Continue on I 70
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
16
Continue on I 70
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 70
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
18
Continue on I 70
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
George Brett Super Highway
19
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 8B
Toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 435; US 24
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
21
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I435 N
22
Continue on I 435
21 mi
·
22 min
·
I 435
23
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
24
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
25
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 229
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
27
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Edmond Street
28
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South 10th Street
29
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft
·
6 sec
·
Frederick Avenue
30
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft
·
2 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 40 minute duration, starting your drive in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. You'll have one recommended stop, so plan for that to break up the 198.8 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $31 estimated cost suggests efficient travel, but it's always wise to be aware. A specific tip for this route: since you'll be on the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for a notable stretch, ensure you're comfortable with its typical driving conditions before you set out.
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 99.4 miles from Ashland, MO, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.4 miles or 1h 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 3h
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 Ashland, 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 Ashland, MO
This is one driving day of about 198.8 miles and 3h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ashland, 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 U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 99.4 mi from Ashland, MO · 1h 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
99 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 99.4 miles from Ashland, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Saint Joseph, MO
The final approach into Saint Joseph, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Saint Joseph, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.08 one way
$62.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
70 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $34.12 | $68.25 |
| premium | $4.89 | $38.26 | $76.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.89 | $87.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.6 | 0 | $20.87 | $9.54 |
| Efficient EV | 49.7 | 0 | $17.40 | $7.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.5 | 0 | $27.83 | $12.72 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Night in Saint Joseph on Tuesday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°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
6 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
3h 40m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ashland, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 198.8 miles and takes about 3h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, I 29. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 99.4 miles from Ashland, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.08 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 198.8 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (MO M; MO Y / East Broadway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 13.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Ashland, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Mo Pp: Kansas City and Saint Louis.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Saint Joseph, MO
More trips to Saint Joseph, MO
Explore more options from Ashland, MO or browse trips ending in Saint Joseph, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.
Explore maps for Ashland, MO or Saint Joseph, MO on MapSof.net.