Origin
Caruthersville, MO
Afternoon in Caruthersville on Sunday
Local time
4:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Caruthersville, MO to Saint Joseph, MO
Drive Time
7h 14m
Distance
487.1 mi
784 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$74
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 3m
★
6 AM
7h 14m
8 AM
7h 36m
10 AM
7h 22m
12 PM
7h 19m
3 PM
7h 23m
5 PM
7h 35m
8 PM
7h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Caruthersville, MO
Renegade Lenz
Saint Joseph, MO
Andrés Oliver Joya Zapata
Trip Overview
The drive from Caruthersville, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 487.1 miles and takes about 7h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 3rd Street, I 55 North, Rosa Parks Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $73.99 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
243.6 miles from Caruthersville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 37m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 14m drive with frequent turns across 487.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 3rd Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 14m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Caruthersville, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 3rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 55 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Rosa Parks Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 270 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 64 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 64 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Avenue of the Saints | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 70 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
West 3rd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Caruthersville, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on the route
46 ft
·
9 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
West 3rd Street
3
Continue straight
2.0 mi
·
3 min
4
Take the ramp right toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Sikeston
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 55 North, US 61 North: Sikeston
5
Merge slight left
74 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
6
Keep slight left
102 mi
·
1 hr 49 min
7
Continue on Rosa Parks Highway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Rosa Parks Highway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 270 West: Kansas City
387 ft
·
8 sec
·
I 270 West: Kansas City
10
Continue on I 270 West
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 270 West
11
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
14 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
14
Continue on I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
15
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
25 mi
·
30 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
16
Take the exit slight left toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
17
Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
81 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
18
Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
19
Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
20
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
21
Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54 mi
·
58 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
22
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
52 mi
·
56 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
23
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
24
Continue on Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
25
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
26
Continue on George Brett Super Highway
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
George Brett Super Highway
27
Take the exit slight right toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
28
Merge slight left onto Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
29
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I435 N
30
Continue straight
21 mi
·
22 min
31
Keep slight left to continue on I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
26 mi
·
27 min
·
I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
32
Take the exit slight right toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
33
Continue straight
5.7 mi
·
6 min
34
Take the exit slight right toward Central Business District
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Central Business District
35
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Edmond Street
36
Turn left onto South 10th Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
South 10th Street
37
Turn right onto Frederick Avenue
381 ft
·
6 sec
·
Frederick Avenue
38
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
138 ft
·
3 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
39
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 243.6 miles from Caruthersville, MO, or about 3h 37m into the drive.
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 107 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 243.6 miles or 3h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 20m
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 Caruthersville, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Caruthersville, MO
This is one driving day of about 487.1 miles and 7h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 107 miles from Caruthersville, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 243.6 mi from Caruthersville, MO · 3h 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
244 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 107 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 243.6 miles from Caruthersville, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$73.99 one way
$147.97 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
170 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $81.56 | $163.12 |
| premium | $4.80 | $91.95 | $183.91 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $108.22 | $216.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$99–$124
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 170.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 146.1 | 1 | $51.15 | $23.38 |
| Efficient EV | 121.8 | 1 | $42.62 | $19.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 194.8 | 2 | $68.19 | $31.17 |
Gas CO2
170 kg
EV CO2
57 kg (66% 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
Afternoon in Saint Joseph on Sunday
Local time
4:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°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
35 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 14m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Caruthersville, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 487.1 miles and takes about 7h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 3rd Street, I 55 North, Rosa Parks Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 243.6 miles from Caruthersville, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $73.99 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 14m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Caruthersville, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Caruthersville, MO to Saint Joseph, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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Return Trip
Saint Joseph, MO to Caruthersville, MOPlan the drive back the other way.
486.6 mi
9h 6m
Continue From Saint Joseph, MO
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