Thailand Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Blue Springs, Missouri
Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm
+18162293292
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 12m
Distance
216.1 mi
348 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
31 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blue Springs, MO
卓浩 虞
Ballwin, MO
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Blue Springs, MO to Ballwin, MO covers 216.1 miles and takes about 4h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 131.6 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.78 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
108.1 miles from Blue Springs, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 12m. Total distance: 216.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Expect a 4h 12m drive with frequent turns across 216.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Northwest R D Mize Road.
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 216.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.5 miles (Northwest R D Mize Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 191.1 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Northwest R D Mize Road
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 East: Columbia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MO 340: Olive Boulevard, Clarkson Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 131.6 mi | 2h 29m |
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 19.1 mi | 23m |
| Baxter Road | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| Holloway Road | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Clarkson Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Blue Springs, MO and Ballwin, MO.
Start on Southwest 15th Street
Turn right onto Northwest R D Mize Road
Turn left onto MO 7
Turn slight right onto MO 7
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 70
Continue on I 70; US 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Take the exit onto US 40
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
Take the exit
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto MO 340
Turn left onto Baxter Road
Turn straight onto Holloway Road
Turn right
Turn right
Arrive at destination
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.
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 48 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.1 miles or 1h 58m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ballwin, MO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Blue 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 Blue Springs, MO
This is one driving day of about 216.1 miles and 4h 12m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 108.1 mi from Blue Springs, MO · 1h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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.
A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 108.1 miles from Blue Springs, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 131.6 miles.
The final approach into Ballwin, 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 Ballwin, MO.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Blue Springs, Missouri
Near the start, right off the route
Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm
+18162293292
Cajun Crab House Seafood Restaurant
Columbia, Missouri
Near the start, right off the route
Blue Springs, Missouri
Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm
+18162293292
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbia, Missouri
Hours: 3–8 pm
+15732346277
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Warrenton, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
+16364562001
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Higginsville, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
+16602071324
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
O'Fallon, Missouri
+18554382474
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Columbia, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbia, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbia, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbia, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18337484267
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbia, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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.
Regular Gas
$33.78 one way
$67.57 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $37.09 | $74.19 |
| premium | $4.89 | $41.59 | $83.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.71 | $95.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
31 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
ChargePoint Charging Station
St Peters, Missouri
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Columbia, Missouri
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Columbia, Missouri
1 DCFC
Rivian Adventure Network
Columbia, Missouri
1 DCFC
Flying J EV Charging Station
Warrenton, Missouri
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Columbia, Missouri
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Columbia, Missouri
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Columbia, Missouri
1 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.8 | 0 | $22.69 | $10.37 |
| Efficient EV | 54 | 0 | $18.91 | $8.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.4 | 1 | $30.25 | $13.83 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Blue Springs on Friday
Local time
10:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Ballwin on Friday
Local time
10:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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