The drive from Kennett, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 457.3 miles and takes about 9h 17m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on US 60, North Kansas Expressway, MO 7 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 176.6 miles on US 60.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $71.49 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
228.7 miles from Kennett, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 46m into the drive
.
Drive Character
This is a 9h 17m highway drive covering 457.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 60 and North Kansas Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 176.6 miles on US 60.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 60 is the longest continuous segment at about 176.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and North Kansas Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 242 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 28 significant decision points across 457.3 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 242 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 242 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 365.2 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 28 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
242 mi into trip|~5h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 13: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
7
242 mi into trip|~5h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
7
365.2 mi into trip|~7h 26m in|MO 7
Take the exit onto MO 7 toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kan...
7
403.1 mi into trip|~8h 11m in
Take the exit toward 11th Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 11th Street, Downtown
7
409.4 mi into trip|~8h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport,...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kennett, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Downtown and Parkville.
Downtown
403.1 mi in|~8h 11m
Parkville
407 mi in|~8h 19m|via MO 9
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 60
176.6 mi
3h 28m
North Kansas Expressway
87.2 mi
1h 42m
MO 7
73.9 mi
1h 24m
I 29
40.2 mi
44m
MO 53
34.6 mi
51m
Independence Street
11.6 mi
17m
Schoolcraft Freeway
8.1 mi
10m
I 229
5.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 176.6 mi, about 3h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kennett, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on Kennett Street
134 ft·7 sec·Kennett Street
2
Turn right onto MO 84
1.2 mi·2 min·1st Street
3
Turn left onto MO 25
12 mi·17 min·Independence Street
4
Turn left onto MO 53
35 mi·51 min·MO 53
5
Turn right onto US 67 Business
2.4 mi·3 min·South Westwood Boulevard
6
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·State Street
7
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·North Westwood Boulevard
8
Continue on US 67; US 60 Business
0.4 mi·37 sec·US 67; US 60 Business
9
Continue on US 60; US 67
4.0 mi·4 min·US 60; US 67
10
Take the exit onto US 60
173 mi·3 hr 23 min·US 60
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 65 North: Sedalia
12
Merge onto US 65
8.1 mi·10 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
14
Merge onto I 44
4.1 mi·5 min·Payne Stewart Highway
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
16
Keep slight left at fork
150 ft·3 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
17
Keep slight right at fork
209 ft·7 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
18
Merge onto MO 13
87 mi·1 hr 42 min·North Kansas Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Continue on MO 7
36 mi·39 min·MO 7
20
Take the exit onto MO 7
38 mi·45 min·MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Toward 11th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
22
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
425 ft·16 sec·East 11th Street
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto Charlotte Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Charlotte Street
24
Turn left onto East 9th Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·East 9th Street
25
Turn right onto Locust Street
0.1 mi·17 sec·Locust Street
26
Continue on MO 9
3.0 mi·5 min·MO 9
27
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 9
0.9 mi·1 min·MO 9
Toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward US 169 North: Smithville
29
Continue on US 169
1.2 mi·1 min·US 169
30
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint JosephUse the straight / slight left lanes.
31
Merge onto I 29; US 71
12 mi·13 min·I 29; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
2.7 mi·2 min·I 29; I 435; US 71
33
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71
26 mi·27 min·I 29; US 71
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
34
Take the exit
0.5 mi·54 sec
Exit 43Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
35
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi·6 min·I 229
36
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 6AToward Central Business District
37
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·Edmond Street
38
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi·20 sec·South 10th Street
39
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft·6 sec·Frederick Avenue
40
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft·2 sec·Walter Welsh Avenue
41
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Trip Plan
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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 228.7 miles from Kennett, MO, or about 4h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.6 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 101 miles or 2h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 228.7 miles or 4h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 228.7 miles or 4h 46m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Joseph, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kennett, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kennett, MO
Aim for roughly 229 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Saint Joseph, MO
Aim for roughly 229 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 101 miles from Kennett, MO.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 60 for about 176.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 228.7 mi from Kennett, MO
· 4h 46m 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.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 236.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$71.49 one way
$142.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg160 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$78.50
$156.99
premium
$4.89
$88.00
$176.01
diesel
$5.61
$100.97
$201.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$71
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$201–$311
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 160 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $48 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
137.2
1
$48.02
$21.95
Efficient EV
114.3
1
$40.01
$18.29
EV Truck/SUV
182.9
2
$64.02
$29.27
Gas CO2
160 kg
EV CO2
54 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Kennett, MO
Late night
in Kennett on Friday
Local time
1:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Late night
in Saint Joseph on Friday
Local time
1:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
19 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
9h 17m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Kennett, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 457.3 miles and takes about 9h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 60, North Kansas Expressway, MO 7. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 229 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 228.7 miles from Kennett, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $71.49 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 457.3 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 242 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 242 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 365.2 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Kennett, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Downtown and Parkville.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Wilson's Creek National Battlefield.
