Origin
Carl Junction, MO
Afternoon in Carl Junction on Monday
Local time
1:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carl Junction, MO to St. Louis, MO
Drive Time
5h 27m
Distance
291.7 mi
469 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 15m
★
6 AM
5h 28m
8 AM
5h 55m
10 AM
5h 37m
12 PM
5h 35m
3 PM
5h 39m
5 PM
5h 53m
8 PM
5h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carl Junction, MO
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Carl Junction, MO to St. Louis, MO covers 291.7 miles and takes about 5h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway, Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 261.5 miles on Congressman Gene Taylor Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.31 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
145.9 miles from Carl Junction, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 27m drive with frequent turns across 291.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 261.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.4 miles in near MO 171 / Demott Drive.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 291.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.4 miles (MO 171 / Demott Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.3 miles (I 49 Business; MO 171): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
4.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
MO 171 / Demott Drive
Enter roundabout onto MO 171 / Demott Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
7.3 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 49 Business; MO 171
Enter roundabout onto I 49 Business; MO 171
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
11.9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward MO 66, I 44 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 66, I 44 Business
5
15.7 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 44; I 49; US 71 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
Merge onto I 44; I 49; US 71 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
289.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 22m in
Take the exit toward Jefferson Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 289
Toward Jefferson Avenue
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Carl Junction, MO to St. Louis, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Kansas City along the way.
Kansas City
15.1 mi in
|
~21m
|
via I 44 Business
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Congressman Gene Taylor Highway | 261.5 mi | 4h 44m |
| Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Governor Warren E Hearnes Memorial Highway | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| MO 171 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Demott Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
— 261.5 mi, about 4h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carl Junction, MO and St. Louis, MO.
1
Start on MO Z
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Pennell Street
2
Turn right onto MO 171
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
MO 171
3
Enter roundabout onto MO 171
131 ft
·
2 sec
·
Demott Drive
4
Continue on MO 171
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Demott Drive
5
Continue on I 49 Business; MO 171
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West MacArthur Drive
6
Enter roundabout onto I 49 Business; MO 171
234 ft
·
3 sec
·
I 49 Business; MO 171
7
Continue on I 49 Business; MO 171
0.6 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 49 Business; MO 171
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
Toward MO 249 South: Joplin
9
Merge onto MO 249
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Governor Warren E Hearnes Memorial Highway
Toward MO 249 South: Joplin
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward MO 66, I 44 Business
11
Turn left onto I 44 Business; MO 66
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East 7th Street
12
Continue on I 44 Business; MO 66
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Cimarron Road
13
Take the ramp onto I 44 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 44 Business
Toward I 44 East, I 49 North, US 71 North: Springfield, Kansas City
14
Merge onto I 44; I 49; US 71
262 mi
·
4 hr 44 min
·
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 44; US 50
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 44
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
17
Continue on I 44
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway
18
Continue on I 44
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 289
Toward Jefferson Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
20
Turn left onto South Jefferson Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Jefferson Avenue
21
Turn right onto Market Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Market Street
22
Arrive at destination
Market Street
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 145.9 miles from Carl Junction, MO, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 261.5 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 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.9 miles or 2h 44m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near St. Louis, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carl Junction, 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 Carl Junction, MO
This is one driving day of about 291.7 miles and 5h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Carl Junction, 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 Congressman Gene Taylor Highway for about 261.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 145.9 mi from Carl Junction, MO · 2h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
146 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 145.9 miles from Carl Junction, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Congressman Gene Taylor Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 261.5 miles.
Arriving in St. Louis, MO
The final approach into St. Louis, 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 St. Louis, 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
$44.31 one way
$88.61 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
102 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $48.84 | $97.69 |
| premium | $4.80 | $55.07 | $110.13 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $64.81 | $129.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.5 | 1 | $30.63 | $14.00 |
| Efficient EV | 72.9 | 0 | $25.52 | $11.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 116.7 | 1 | $40.84 | $18.67 |
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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
St. Louis, MO
Afternoon in St. Louis on Monday
Local time
1:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
2 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 27m 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 Carl Junction, MO to St. Louis, MO covers 291.7 miles and takes about 5h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway, Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 145.9 miles from Carl Junction, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.31 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 291.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.4 miles (MO 171 / Demott Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.3 miles (I 49 Business; MO 171): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Carl Junction, MO to St. Louis, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Kansas City along the way.
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