Drive Time
6h 44m
Distance
419.4 mi
675 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
Photo: Andrés Oliver Joya Zapata
The drive from Doniphan, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 419.4 miles and takes about 6h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Walnut Street, US 65 North, Schoolcraft Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $62.27 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
209.7 miles from Doniphan, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 22m into the drive .
Expect a 6h 44m drive with frequent turns across 419.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy — mostly straight driving
Navigation is easy, but the length (6h 44m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Doniphan, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walnut Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 65 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Schoolcraft Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 44 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Payne Stewart Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MO 13 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MO 13 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Kansas Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Doniphan, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
Start on Plum Street
Turn right onto Walnut Street
Turn right
Continue straight
Turn left
Continue straight
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward US 65 North: Sedalia
Merge slight left onto Schoolcraft Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 44 West: Joplin
Merge slight left onto Payne Stewart Highway
Take the exit slight right toward MO 13: Bolivar
Keep slight left to continue on MO 13: Bolivar
Keep slight right to continue on MO 13 North: Bolivar
Merge slight left onto North Kansas Expressway
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
Take the exit slight right toward 11th Street, Downtown
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
Turn right onto Charlotte Street
Turn left onto East 9th Street
Turn right onto Locust Street
Continue straight
Keep slight left to continue on MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
Take the exit slight right toward US 169 North: Smithville
Continue straight
Take the exit slight left toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
Merge slight right
Merge slight left
Keep slight left to continue on I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
Take the exit slight right toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward Central Business District
Continue on Edmond Street
Turn left onto South 10th Street
Turn right onto Frederick Avenue
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 92 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 209.7 miles or 3h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Joseph, MO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Doniphan, 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 Doniphan, MO
This is one driving day of about 419.4 miles and 6h 44m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 209.7 mi from Doniphan, MO · 3h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
210 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.
A short stop after about 92 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 209.7 miles from Doniphan, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$62.27 one way
$124.53 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $70.22 | $140.45 |
| premium | $4.65 | $76.85 | $153.69 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $87.58 | $175.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 146.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 125.8 | 1 | $44.04 | $20.13 |
| Efficient EV | 104.9 | 1 | $36.70 | $16.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 167.8 | 2 | $58.72 | $26.84 |
Gas CO2
147 kg
EV CO2
49 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Doniphan on Saturday
Local time
12:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Saint Joseph on Saturday
Local time
12:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
74°F
Bentonville, AR
210 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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