The drive from Jefferson City, MO to Ballwin, MO covers 117.6 miles and takes about 2h 22m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, US 54, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.9 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.39 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
58.8 miles from Jefferson City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 22m. Total distance: 117.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 22m drive with frequent turns across 117.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 61.9 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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Jefferson Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 117.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Jefferson Street
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbi...
5
30.4 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
6
92.6 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 210A
Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Ches...
8
112 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Take the exit toward MO 340: Olive Boulevard, Clarkson Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 19B
Toward MO 340: Olive Boulevard, Clarkson Road
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
61.9 mi
1h 11m
US 54
29.6 mi
32m
Avenue of the Saints
19.1 mi
23m
Baxter Road
2.9 mi
5m
Holloway Road
1.2 mi
3m
Clarkson Road
0.9 mi
1m
West McCarty Street
0.6 mi
1m
US 40
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 61.9 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson City, MO and Ballwin, MO.
1
Start on East Wall Way
155 ft·13 sec·East Wall Way
2
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
251 ft·14 sec·Jefferson Street
3
Turn right onto West McCarty Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West McCarty Street
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
5
Merge onto US 54; US 63
30 mi·32 min·US 54; US 63
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
7
Merge onto I 70; US 40
62 mi·1 hr 11 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Take the exit onto US 40
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 40
Exit 210AToward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
9
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
19 mi·23 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
Exit 19BToward MO 340: Olive Boulevard, Clarkson RoadUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn slight right
183 ft·6 sec
Toward MO 340
12
Turn straight onto MO 340
0.9 mi·1 min·Clarkson Road
13
Turn left onto Baxter Road
2.9 mi·5 min·Baxter Road
14
Turn straight onto Holloway Road
1.2 mi·3 min·Holloway Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn right
220 ft·18 sec
16
Turn right
219 ft·16 sec
17
Arrive at destination
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 58.8 miles from Jefferson City, MO, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.9 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 26 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.8 miles or 1h 7m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ballwin, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jefferson City, 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 Jefferson City, MO
This is one driving day of about 117.6 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Jefferson City, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 61.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58.8 mi from Jefferson City, MO
· 1h 7m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
$19
near mile 117.6
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.3
0
$12.35
$5.64
Efficient EV
29.4
0
$10.29
$4.70
EV Truck/SUV
47
0
$16.46
$7.53
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Jefferson City, MO
Late night
in Jefferson City on Saturday
Local time
1:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ballwin, MO
Late night
in Ballwin on Saturday
Local time
1:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Warrenton, MO
59 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
12 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
2h 22m 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 Jefferson City, MO to Ballwin, MO covers 117.6 miles and takes about 2h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, US 54, Avenue of the Saints. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.8 miles from Jefferson City, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.39 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 117.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Jefferson City, MO to Ballwin, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
