Origin
Buffalo, MO
Night in Buffalo on Thursday
Local time
10:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buffalo, MO to Saint Joseph, MO
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
4h 13m
Distance
208.5 mi
336 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 0m
★
6 AM
4h 14m
8 AM
4h 40m
10 AM
4h 23m
12 PM
4h 20m
3 PM
4h 24m
5 PM
4h 39m
8 PM
4h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buffalo, MO
Emre Akyol
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Buffalo, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 208.5 miles and takes about 4h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MO 7, MO 13, I 29 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.9 miles on MO 7. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.60 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
104.3 miles from Buffalo, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 13m. Total distance: 208.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 13m highway drive covering 208.5 miles, with most of the trip on MO 7 and MO 13. The longest continuous stretch is about 73.9 miles on MO 7.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MO 7 is the longest continuous segment at about 73.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 7 and MO 13. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 116.4 miles in near MO 7.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 208.5 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 116.4 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 154.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 158.3 miles (MO 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
7
116.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
|
MO 7
Take the exit onto MO 7 toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
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.
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kan...
7
154.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward 11th Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 11th Street, Downtown
6
158.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 15m in
|
MO 9
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 9 toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
7
160.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport,...
6
175.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 36m 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 Buffalo, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Downtown and Parkville.
Downtown
154.3 mi in
|
~3h 7m
Parkville
158.3 mi in
|
~3h 15m
|
via MO 9
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MO 7 | 73.9 mi | 1h 24m |
| MO 13 | 59.7 mi | 1h 10m |
| I 29 | 40.2 mi | 44m |
| West Dallas Street | 20.3 mi | 31m |
| I 229 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| MO 9 | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| US 169 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Edmond Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MO 7
— 73.9 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on South Maple Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
South Maple Street
2
Turn right onto MO 32
20 mi
·
31 min
·
West Dallas Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward MO 13 North: Humansville
4
Merge onto MO 13
60 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
MO 13
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on MO 7
36 mi
·
39 min
·
MO 7
6
Take the exit onto MO 7
38 mi
·
45 min
·
MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Toward 11th Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
425 ft
·
16 sec
·
East 11th Street
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto Charlotte Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Charlotte Street
10
Turn left onto East 9th Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
East 9th Street
11
Turn right onto Locust Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Locust Street
12
Continue on MO 9
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
MO 9
13
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 9
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
MO 9
Toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Toward US 169 North: Smithville
15
Continue on US 169
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 169
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Merge onto I 29; US 71
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 29; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
I 29; I 435; US 71
19
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
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
21
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 229
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
23
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Edmond Street
24
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South 10th Street
25
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft
·
6 sec
·
Frederick Avenue
26
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft
·
2 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
27
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 104.3 miles from Buffalo, MO, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.9 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 46 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.3 miles or 2h 9m 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 31m
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 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 208.5 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 MO 7 for about 73.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 104.3 mi from Buffalo, MO · 2h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 104.3 miles from Buffalo, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before MO 7 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.9 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
$32.60 one way
$65.19 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $35.79 | $71.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $40.12 | $80.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.03 | $92.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.6 | 0 | $21.89 | $10.01 |
| Efficient EV | 52.1 | 0 | $18.24 | $8.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.4 | 1 | $29.19 | $13.34 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Thursday
Local time
10:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Garden City, MO
104 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 13m 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 Buffalo, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 208.5 miles and takes about 4h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MO 7, MO 13, I 29. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 104.3 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 $32.60 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. 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 208.5 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 116.4 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 154.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 158.3 miles (MO 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Buffalo, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Downtown and Parkville.
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