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Trip from Buffalo, MO to Castle Point, MO

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

3h 54m

Distance

195.7 mi

315 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 42m ★
6 AM
3h 55m
8 AM
4h 20m
10 AM
4h 4m
12 PM
4h 1m
3 PM
4h 5m
5 PM
4h 19m
8 PM
3h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Buffalo, MO, MO

Buffalo, MO

Emre Akyol

Downtown Castle Point, MO, MO

Castle Point, MO

Gergely Meszárcsek

Trip Overview

This 195.7-mile drive from Buffalo, MO, to Castle Point, MO, is planned to take around 3 hours and 54 minutes, making it a feasible day trip. The route primarily utilizes I-44, accounting for 77% of the journey, with segments on East Dallas Street and Jennings Station Road. With an estimated fuel cost of $31, this highway-focused trip is budget-friendly for a single day's travel. Given its manageable length and predominantly interstate profile, you can comfortably complete this journey in one go. Both your starting point in Buffalo and your destination in Castle Point are situated within the Midwest region of the US, offering a consistent regional feel throughout your travels.

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

97.8 miles from Buffalo, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 195.7-mile route, with 77% of your travel occurring on interstates. The bulk of your journey will be on I-44, including a significant uninterrupted stretch of 151.3 miles. While I-44 provides efficient travel, you will transition onto local roads like East Dallas Street and Jennings Station Road, offering a change of pace from the interstate. This mix means you'll experience both high-speed transit and more localized driving as you approach your destination.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 44 is the longest continuous segment at about 151.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and East Dallas Street. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 28.3 miles in.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 195.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 28.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 28.5 miles (I 44): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 183.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
28.3 mi into trip | ~40m in

Take the exit toward I 44 East: Rolla

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 44 East: Rolla
5
28.5 mi into trip | ~40m in | I 44

Merge onto I 44

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
183.2 mi into trip | ~3h 30m in

Take the exit toward Jamieson Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 284 Toward Jamieson Avenue
6
183.4 mi into trip | ~3h 31m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Jamieson Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward Jamieson Avenue
5
183.4 mi into trip | ~3h 31m in | Jamieson Avenue

Turn left onto Jamieson Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 44 151.3 mi 2h 45m
East Dallas Street 26.9 mi 37m
Jennings Station Road 3.3 mi 6m
South Skinker Boulevard 2.8 mi 5m
Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway 2.7 mi 3m
Halls Ferry Road 1.6 mi 2m
McCausland Avenue 1.6 mi 2m
Kienlen Avenue 1.6 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 44 — 151.3 mi, about 2h 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, MO and Castle Point, MO.

1

Start on South Maple Street

0.3 mi · 34 sec · South Maple Street
2

Turn left onto MO 32

27 mi · 37 min · East Dallas Street
3

Turn right onto MO 5; MO 64

1.1 mi · 1 min · South Jefferson Avenue
4

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Toward I 44 East: Rolla
5

Merge onto I 44

151 mi · 2 hr 45 min · I 44
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on I 44

2.7 mi · 3 min · Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
7

Continue on I 44

0.6 mi · 47 sec · Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway
8

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 13 sec
Exit 284 Toward Jamieson Avenue Use the slight right lane.
9

Keep slight left at fork

227 ft · 6 sec
Toward Jamieson Avenue
10

Turn left onto Jamieson Avenue

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Jamieson Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
11

At end of road, turn left onto Arsenal Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Arsenal Street
12

Turn right onto McCausland Avenue

1.6 mi · 2 min · McCausland Avenue
13

Continue on South Skinker Boulevard

2.8 mi · 5 min · South Skinker Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14

Continue on Kienlen Avenue

1.6 mi · 2 min · Kienlen Avenue
15

Continue on Jennings Station Road

3.3 mi · 6 min · Jennings Station Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
16

Turn left onto Halls Ferry Road

1.6 mi · 2 min · Halls Ferry Road
Use the left lane.
17

Turn right onto Chambers Road

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Chambers Road
18

Turn left onto Lord Drive

0.5 mi · 1 min · Lord Drive
19

Arrive at destination

Lord Drive

Trip Plan

For this 3-hour and 54-minute drive, starting early in the morning will allow you to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. The longest stretch without exiting is over 150 miles on I-44, so plan for a fuel and rest break before or during that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the latter half of the drive, to ensure you have enough to reach Castle Point comfortably. Given the $31 fuel estimate, budgeting for gas is straightforward.

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 97.8 miles from Buffalo, MO, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.3 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 97.8 miles or 1h 56m 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 5m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Castle Point, MO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Buffalo, 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 Buffalo, MO

This is one driving day of about 195.7 miles and 3h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Buffalo, 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 I 44 for about 151.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 97.8 mi from Buffalo, MO · 1h 56m into the drive

archaeological site near East St. Louis, Illinois, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cahokia, IL

98 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

Cahokia, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cahokia, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 97.8 miles from Buffalo, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 44 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 151.3 miles.

Arriving in Castle Point, MO

The final approach into Castle Point, 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 Castle Point, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.60 one way

$61.19 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 69 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $33.59 $67.19
premium $4.89 $37.66 $75.32
diesel $5.61 $43.21 $86.42

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: 68.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 58.7 0 $20.55 $9.39
Efficient EV 48.9 0 $17.12 $7.83
EV Truck/SUV 78.3 0 $27.40 $12.52

Gas CO2

68 kg

EV CO2

23 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Buffalo, MO

Late night in Buffalo on Wednesday

Local time

12:31 AM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Castle Point, MO

Late night in Castle Point on Wednesday

Local time

12:31 AM

CDT

Current temp

56°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

3h 54m 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 Buffalo, MO to Castle Point, MO covers 195.7 miles and takes about 3h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 44, East Dallas Street, Jennings Station Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 97.8 miles from Buffalo, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.60 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 195.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 28.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 28.5 miles (I 44): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 183.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Buffalo, MO to Castle Point, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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