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Trip from Jefferson City, MO to Bonne Terre, MO

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

Drive Time

3h 8m

Distance

131.3 mi

211 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 57m ★
6 AM
3h 8m
8 AM
3h 31m
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.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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capital city of Missouri, United States and county seat of Cole County

Jefferson City, MO

Wikimedia Commons

city in St. Francois County, Missouri, United States

Bonne Terre, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Jefferson City, MO to Bonne Terre, MO covers 131.3 miles and takes about 3h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Main Street, MO 47, Rex M Whitton Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.6 miles on West Main Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.53 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

65.6 miles from Jefferson City, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 131.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (50%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Jefferson City, MO to Bonne Terre, MO covers 131.3 miles and takes about 3h 8m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Main Street is the longest continuous segment at about 56.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Jefferson Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 8m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles (US 50): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 17.4 miles (Wolf Ridge Trail): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 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
11.6 mi into trip | ~14m in | US 50

Keep slight left at fork onto US 50 toward US 50 East: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward US 50 East: Saint Louis
4
17.4 mi into trip | ~21m in | Wolf Ridge Trail

Turn left onto Wolf Ridge Trail

Navigation decision point

5
17.8 mi into trip | ~22m in | Loose Creek Highway

At end of road, turn right onto Loose Creek Highway

Navigation decision point

6
77.9 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West Main Street 56.6 mi 1h 6m
MO 47 41.1 mi 1h 9m
Rex M Whitton Expressway 11.3 mi 13m
East Gravois Avenue 6.2 mi 9m
US 50 5.9 mi 6m
MO 21 4.9 mi 6m
County Route 605 1.5 mi 5m
Commercial Avenue 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: West Main Street — 56.6 mi, about 1h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East Wall Way

155 ft · 13 sec · East Wall Way
2

Turn right onto Jefferson Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Jefferson Street
3

Turn left onto US 50; US 63

11 mi · 13 min · Rex M Whitton Expressway
4

Keep slight left at fork onto US 50

5.9 mi · 6 min · US 50
Toward US 50 East: Saint Louis
5

Turn left onto Wolf Ridge Trail

0.4 mi · 1 min · Wolf Ridge Trail
6

At end of road, turn right onto Loose Creek Highway

1.0 mi · 2 min · Loose Creek Highway
7

Continue on County Route 604

0.6 mi · 2 min · County Route 604
8

Turn left onto County Route 605

1.5 mi · 5 min · County Route 605
9

Turn left onto MO U

0.3 mi · 36 sec · MO U
10

Continue on US 50

57 mi · 1 hr 6 min · West Main Street
Use the straight lane.
11

Take the exit

136 ft · 5 sec
Use the right lane.
12

Turn right onto MO 47

6.2 mi · 8 min · MO 47
13

Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 47

1.0 mi · 1 min · Commercial Avenue
14

Continue on MO 30; MO 47

6.2 mi · 9 min · East Gravois Avenue
15

Turn right onto MO 47

20 mi · 34 min · MO 47
16

At end of road, turn right onto MO 21; MO 47

4.9 mi · 6 min · MO 21; MO 47
17

Turn left onto MO 47

15 mi · 25 min · MO 47
18

Turn left onto MO E

12 ft · 0 sec · North Division Street
19

Arrive at destination

MO E

Trip Plan

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 65.6 miles from Jefferson City, MO, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.6 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 29 miles or 43m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 65.6 miles or 1h 26m 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 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bonne Terre, 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 131.3 miles and 3h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Jefferson City, 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 West Main Street for about 56.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 65.6 mi from Jefferson City, MO · 1h 26m into the drive

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Union, MO

66 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

Owensville, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Union, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 65.6 miles from Jefferson City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bonne Terre, MO

The final approach into Bonne Terre, 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 Bonne Terre, MO.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park

Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the B...

28 mi from route ~70 min detour Free near mile 131.3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.53 one way

$41.05 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 46 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $22.54 $45.08
premium $4.89 $25.27 $50.53
diesel $5.61 $28.99 $57.98

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 45.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 39.4 0 $13.79 $6.30
Efficient EV 32.8 0 $11.49 $5.25
EV Truck/SUV 52.5 0 $18.38 $8.40

Gas CO2

46 kg

EV CO2

15 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Jefferson City, MO

Late night in Jefferson City on Saturday

Local time

1:39 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bonne Terre, MO

Late night in Bonne Terre on Saturday

Local time

1:39 AM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

77°F

Union, MO

66 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

8 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

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 Jefferson City, MO to Bonne Terre, MO covers 131.3 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 West Main Street, MO 47, Rex M Whitton Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 65.6 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 $20.53 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 straightforward 3h 8m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles (US 50): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 17.4 miles (Wolf Ridge Trail): Navigation decision point.

The route from Jefferson City, MO to Bonne Terre, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Bonne Terre, MO to Jefferson City, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

131.4 mi 3h 8m

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