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...
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 34m
Distance
126.4 mi
203 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jefferson City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Old Jamestown, MO
C. Spencer van Gulick
The drive from Jefferson City, MO to Old Jamestown, MO covers 126.4 miles and takes about 2h 34m 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, I 270 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 84 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.76 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
63.2 miles from Jefferson City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 34m. Total distance: 126.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Expect a 2h 34m drive with frequent turns across 126.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
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 114.7 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 126.4 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 114.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 67
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 67 / North Lindbergh Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Jefferson City, MO to Old Jamestown, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Memphis
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 84 mi | 1h 38m |
| US 54 | 29.6 mi | 32m |
| I 270 | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Patterson Road | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| North Lindbergh Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Vaile Ave | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| West McCarty Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Old Halls Ferry Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson City, MO and Old Jamestown, MO.
Start on East Wall Way
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
Turn right onto West McCarty Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 54; US 63
Take the exit
Merge onto I 70; US 40
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on this road
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 270
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 67
Turn left onto Patterson Road
Continue on Vaile Ave
Enter roundabout onto Old Halls Ferry Road
Continue on Old Halls Ferry Road
Turn left
Keep slight right at fork
Arrive at destination
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.
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 28 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.2 miles or 1h 13m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Old Jamestown, MO than in the middle of the route.
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 126.4 miles and 2h 34m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 63.2 mi from Jefferson City, MO · 1h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 63.2 miles from Jefferson City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84 miles.
The final approach into Old Jamestown, 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 Old Jamestown, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$19.76 one way
$39.52 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.70 | $43.39 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.32 | $48.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.91 | $55.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.9 | 0 | $13.27 | $6.07 |
| Efficient EV | 31.6 | 0 | $11.06 | $5.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.6 | 0 | $17.70 | $8.09 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Jefferson City on Thursday
Local time
5:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Old Jamestown on Thursday
Local time
5:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
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
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.
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Return Trip
Old Jamestown, MO to Jefferson City, MOPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from Jefferson City, MO or browse trips ending in Old Jamestown, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.
Explore maps for Jefferson City, MO or Old Jamestown, MO on MapSof.net.