Trip from Gladstone, MO to Jefferson City, MO

Drive Time

3h 8m

Distance

163.3 mi

263 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 57m ★
6 AM
3h 8m
8 AM
3h 32m
10 AM
3h 16m
12 PM
3h 14m
3 PM
3h 18m
5 PM
3h 30m
8 PM
3h 1m

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

Downtown Jefferson City, MO, MO

Jefferson City, MO

life vibes

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Gladstone to Jefferson City, expect a straightforward journey covering 163.3 miles. You will spend about 3 hours and 8 minutes on the road, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. Budget approximately $25 for fuel to complete the transit between these two Missouri locations. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, the transition between them feels like a consistent regional experience. While you could easily make the trip in one go, planning for one scheduled stop will help keep you refreshed for the duration of the drive.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

81.7 miles from Gladstone, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will traverse a mix of thoroughfares, including the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and US 63. With only 19% of the trip spent on highways, the route relies heavily on local roads that shift the pace of your travel. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 54.4 miles spent on the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires more frequent navigation than a standard highway trek.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 54.4 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

938 ft 632 ft

Total Climb

378 ft

Total Descent

683 ft

Highest Point

938 ft

Elevation Range

306 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near MO 1 / North Antioch Road.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 163.3 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 0.4 miles (MO 1 / North Antioch Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 miles (US 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 23 key points

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

6
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | MO 1 / North Antioch Road

Turn right onto MO 1 / North Antioch Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
7
11.9 mi into trip | ~20m in | US 24

Keep slight right at fork onto US 24 toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 63 Toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Ka...
7
12.2 mi into trip | ~20m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 East: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
7
13.4 mi into trip | ~22m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 East: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
7
133.4 mi into trip | ~2h 33m in | US 63 Conn

Merge onto US 63 Conn

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.

Towns Along This Route

Between Gladstone, MO and Jefferson City, MO, road signs point toward Kansas City, Sports Complex and Moberly.

Kansas City

11.9 mi in | ~20m | via US 24

Sports Complex

11.9 mi in | ~20m | via US 24

Moberly

133.2 mi in | ~2h 32m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway 54.4 mi 58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 54.3 mi 58m
US 63 28.5 mi 31m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway 5.6 mi 6m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway 4.4 mi 5m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway 1.8 mi 2m
Northeast Chouteau Trafficway 1.7 mi 3m
North Chouteau Trafficway 1.7 mi 2m
Longest stretch: U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway — 54.4 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Garfield Avenue

413 ft · 20 sec · North Garfield Avenue
2

Turn right onto Northeast 61st Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Northeast 61st Street
3

Turn right onto MO 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Antioch Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Turn left onto Northeast Chouteau Trafficway

1.7 mi · 3 min · Northeast Chouteau Trafficway
Use the left lane.
5

Continue on MO 269

1.6 mi · 2 min · Northeast Chouteau Parkway
Use the none lane.
6

Continue on MO 269

1.7 mi · 2 min · North Chouteau Trafficway
Use the none lane.
7

Turn left onto East Front Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · East Front Street
8

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 435 South: Grandview
9

Merge onto I 435

4.4 mi · 5 min · Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto US 24

0.3 mi · 23 sec · US 24
Exit 63 Toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex
11

Keep slight left at fork

1.2 mi · 1 min
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork

469 ft · 11 sec
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis Use the slight left / straight lanes.
13

Merge onto I 70

0.4 mi · 29 sec · George Brett Super Highway
14

Continue on I 70

2.9 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the none lane.
15

Continue on I 70

1.8 mi · 2 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on I 70

2.6 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the none lane.
17

Continue on I 70

53 mi · 56 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the none lane.
18

Continue on I 70; US 40

32 mi · 34 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
19

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

22 mi · 24 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
20

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
21

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.6 mi · 1 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
22

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.5 mi · 1 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
23

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Exit 128A Toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
24

Turn slight right

192 ft · 4 sec
Toward US 63 South: Jefferson City
25

Merge onto US 63 Conn

521 ft · 11 sec · US 63 Conn
Use the slight right lane.
26

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward US 63 South: Jefferson City Use the straight lane.
27

Merge onto US 63

27 mi · 29 min · US 63
28

Take the exit onto US 63

1.3 mi · 1 min · US 63
Toward US 54 West, US 63 South: Jefferson City
29

Take the exit

388 ft · 18 sec
Toward State Capitol
30

Turn left onto West Main Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
31

Turn right onto Broadway Street

446 ft · 26 sec · Broadway Street
32

Turn left onto West High Street

0.2 mi · 38 sec · West High Street
33

Turn right

254 ft · 25 sec
34

At end of road, turn left onto East Wall Way

6 ft · 0 sec · East Wall Way
35

Arrive at destination

East Wall Way

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 3-hour journey, consider departing early in the morning to avoid local traffic congestion. Since the route involves significant local road mileage, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersection turns. One well-timed stop is all you need to maintain your energy levels across the 163.3-mile distance. Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule. A concrete tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation system active, as the transition between the three main highways and local roads can be easy to miss if you aren't watching your exits.

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 81.7 miles from Gladstone, MO, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 81.7 miles or 1h 36m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 34m

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 Gladstone, 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 Gladstone, MO

This is one driving day of about 163.3 miles and 3h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Gladstone, 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 U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 81.7 mi from Gladstone, MO · 1h 36m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lawson, MO

82 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

Kansas City, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kansas City, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 81.7 miles from Gladstone, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

$24.80 one way

$49.61 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 57 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $27.34 $54.69
premium $4.80 $30.83 $61.66
diesel $5.64 $36.28 $72.56

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 57.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 49 0 $17.15 $7.84
Efficient EV 40.8 0 $14.29 $6.53
EV Truck/SUV 65.3 0 $22.86 $10.45

Gas CO2

57 kg

EV CO2

19 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Gladstone, MO

Afternoon in Gladstone on Sunday

Local time

3:57 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Jefferson City, MO

Afternoon in Jefferson City on Sunday

Local time

3:57 PM

CDT

Current temp

51°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

3 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

3h 8m 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 Gladstone, MO to Jefferson City, MO covers 163.3 miles and takes about 3h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, US 63. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 81.7 miles from Gladstone, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.80 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 163.3 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 0.4 miles (MO 1 / North Antioch Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 miles (US 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Gladstone, MO and Jefferson City, MO, road signs point toward Kansas City, Sports Complex and Moberly.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Gladstone, MO or browse trips ending in Jefferson City, MO.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.

Explore maps for Gladstone, MO or Jefferson City, MO on MapSof.net.