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Trip from Crestwood, MO to Jefferson City, MO

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 27m

Distance

114.5 mi

184 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 18m ★
6 AM
2h 28m
8 AM
2h 48m
10 AM
2h 35m
12 PM
2h 33m
3 PM
2h 36m
5 PM
2h 47m
8 PM
2h 22m

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

Downtown Crestwood, MO, MO

Crestwood, MO

Theodore Nguyen

capital city of Missouri, United States and county seat of Cole County

Jefferson City, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Crestwood, MO to Jefferson City, MO covers 114.5 miles and takes about 2h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 50, Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, Watson Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.4 miles on US 50. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.90 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

57.3 miles from Crestwood, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 114.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 27m highway drive covering 114.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 50 and Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. The longest continuous stretch is about 78.4 miles on US 50.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 50 is the longest continuous segment at about 78.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Driving Effort 6/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 114.5 miles you will encounter 16 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: near the start: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles (MO 366 / Watson Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

7
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn left

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn sharp left

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

7
0.1 mi into trip | ~1m in | MO 366 / Watson Road

Turn sharp right onto MO 366 / Watson Road

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
2.4 mi into trip | ~5m in | US Historic 66

Keep slight left at fork onto US Historic 66 toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Tulsa

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Tulsa
6
31.9 mi into trip | ~39m in | US 50

Take the exit onto US 50 toward US 50 West: Union, Jefferson City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 247 Toward US 50 West: Union, Jefferson City

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 50 78.4 mi 1h 34m
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor 29.3 mi 33m
Watson Road 1.9 mi 3m
County Route 605 1.5 mi 5m
Loose Creek Highway 1 mi 2m
County Route 604 0.6 mi 2m
US Historic 66 0.6 mi <1m
Wolf Ridge Trail 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 50 — 78.4 mi, about 1h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Crestwood, MO and Jefferson City, MO.

1

Start on MO 366

63 ft · 7 sec · Watson Road
2

Turn left

378 ft · 33 sec
Use the left lane.
3

Turn sharp left

330 ft · 27 sec
4

Turn sharp right onto MO 366

1.9 mi · 3 min · Watson Road
Use the left lane.
5

Take the ramp onto US Historic 66

0.4 mi · 40 sec · US Historic 66
Toward I 44 West, I 270, US 50 West: Tulsa, Chicago, Memphis
6

Keep slight left at fork onto US Historic 66

0.2 mi · 14 sec · US Historic 66
Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Tulsa Use the slight left lane.
7

Merge onto I 44; US 50

29 mi · 33 min · Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit onto US 50

0.2 mi · 27 sec · US 50
Exit 247 Toward US 50 West: Union, Jefferson City
9

Merge onto US 50

61 mi · 1 hr 13 min · US 50
Use the straight lane.
10

Continue on MO U

0.3 mi · 38 sec · MO U
11

Turn right onto County Route 605

1.5 mi · 5 min · County Route 605
12

Turn right onto County Route 604

0.6 mi · 2 min · County Route 604
13

Continue on Loose Creek Highway

1.0 mi · 2 min · Loose Creek Highway
14

Turn left onto Wolf Ridge Trail

0.4 mi · 1 min · Wolf Ridge Trail
15

Turn right onto US 50

17 mi · 20 min · US 50
16

Turn right onto Jefferson Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Jefferson Street
17

Turn left onto West McCarty Street

495 ft · 16 sec · West McCarty Street
18

Turn right onto Washington Street

250 ft · 12 sec · Washington Street
19

Turn right onto East Wall Way

341 ft · 25 sec · East Wall Way
20

Arrive at destination

East Wall Way

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.3 miles from Crestwood, MO, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.4 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 25 miles or 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 57.3 miles or 1h 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 1h 54m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Crestwood, 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 Crestwood, MO

This is one driving day of about 114.5 miles and 2h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Crestwood, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 50 for about 78.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 57.3 mi from Crestwood, MO · 1h 9m into the drive

city in and county seat of Franklin County, Missouri, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Union, MO

57 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.

Popular next leg

Union, MO to Jefferson City, MO

77.7 mi · 1h 41m

Pacing Suggestions

Wildwood, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Owensville, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57.3 miles from Crestwood, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 50 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.4 miles.

Arriving in Jefferson City, MO

The final approach into Jefferson City, 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 Jefferson City, 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

$17.90 one way

$35.80 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $19.65 $39.31
premium $4.89 $22.03 $44.07
diesel $5.61 $25.28 $50.56

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.4 0 $12.02 $5.50
Efficient EV 28.6 0 $10.02 $4.58
EV Truck/SUV 45.8 0 $16.03 $7.33

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (68% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Crestwood, MO

Morning in Crestwood on Saturday

Local time

6:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Jefferson City, MO

Morning in Jefferson City on Saturday

Local time

6:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

77°F

Union, MO

57 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

19 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

2h 27m 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 Crestwood, MO to Jefferson City, MO covers 114.5 miles and takes about 2h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 50, Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, Watson 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 57.3 miles from Crestwood, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.90 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 114.5 miles you will encounter 16 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: near the start: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles (MO 366 / Watson Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Crestwood, MO to Jefferson City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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