Origin
Bourbon, MO
Evening in Bourbon on Thursday
Local time
6:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bourbon, MO to Saint Joseph, MO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 47m
Distance
300.5 mi
484 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 34m
★
6 AM
5h 47m
8 AM
6h 14m
10 AM
5h 57m
12 PM
5h 54m
3 PM
5h 58m
5 PM
6h 12m
8 PM
5h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bourbon, MO
Ray Suarez
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bourbon, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 300.5 miles and takes about 5h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 63, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.3 miles on US 63. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.98 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
150.3 miles from Bourbon, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 1m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 47m. Total distance: 300.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
The drive from Bourbon, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 300.5 miles and takes about 5h 47m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 63 is the longest continuous segment at about 78.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 300.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
23.3 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward MO 8, MO 68: Saint James
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 195
Toward MO 8, MO 68: Saint James
7
115.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m 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
116 mi into trip
|
~2h 23m 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
236.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 34m 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
267.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 9m 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 Bourbon, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Columbia, Mo Pp: Kansas City and Saint Louis.
Columbia
85.9 mi in
|
~1h 49m
|
via US 63
Mo Pp: Kansas City
115.4 mi in
|
~2h 22m
Saint Louis
115.4 mi in
|
~2h 22m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 63 | 78.3 mi | 1h 35m |
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 54.3 mi | 58m |
| I 29 | 26 mi | 27m |
| I 44 | 22.6 mi | 24m |
| I 435 | 20.9 mi | 22m |
| North Jefferson Street | 12.2 mi | 18m |
| Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 78.3 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bourbon, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on MO N
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Pine Street
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 44 West: Rolla
3
Merge onto I 44
23 mi
·
24 min
·
I 44
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 195
Toward MO 8, MO 68: Saint James
5
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 68
12 mi
·
18 min
·
North Jefferson Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 63
50 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
US 63
7
Take the exit onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 63
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
8
Merge onto US 54; US 63
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 54; US 63
9
Take the exit onto US 63
28 mi
·
30 min
·
US 63
Toward US 63 North: Columbia
10
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.
11
Continue on US 63 Conn
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 63 Conn
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Use the left lane.
13
Merge onto I 70; US 40
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
15
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi
·
58 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
17
Continue on I 70; US 40
52 mi
·
56 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
18
Continue on I 70
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
19
Continue on I 70
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 70
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
21
Continue on I 70
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
George Brett Super Highway
22
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.
23
Merge onto I 435; US 24
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
24
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I435 N
25
Continue on I 435
21 mi
·
22 min
·
I 435
26
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
27
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
28
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 229
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
30
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Edmond Street
31
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South 10th Street
32
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft
·
6 sec
·
Frederick Avenue
33
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft
·
2 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
34
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Trip Plan
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 150.3 miles from Bourbon, MO, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.3 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 66 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.3 miles or 3h 1m 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 47m
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 Bourbon, 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 Bourbon, MO
This is one driving day of about 300.5 miles and 5h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Bourbon, 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 US 63 for about 78.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 150.3 mi from Bourbon, MO · 3h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
150 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 66 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 150.3 miles from Bourbon, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 63 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.3 miles.
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
$46.98 one way
$93.96 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
105 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $51.58 | $103.16 |
| premium | $4.89 | $57.83 | $115.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $66.35 | $132.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 90.1 | 1 | $31.55 | $14.42 |
| Efficient EV | 75.1 | 0 | $26.29 | $12.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 120.2 | 1 | $42.07 | $19.23 |
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Evening in Saint Joseph on Thursday
Local time
6:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Columbia, MO
150 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
17 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 47m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bourbon, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 300.5 miles and takes about 5h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 63, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 150.3 miles from Bourbon, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.98 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 300.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Bourbon, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Columbia, Mo Pp: Kansas City and Saint Louis.
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