Origin
Lamar, MO
Afternoon in Lamar on Monday
Local time
3:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lamar, MO to Saint Joseph, MO
Drive Time
2h 50m
Distance
181.5 mi
292 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 39m
★
6 AM
2h 50m
8 AM
3h 12m
10 AM
2h 58m
12 PM
2h 56m
3 PM
2h 59m
5 PM
3h 11m
8 PM
2h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lamar, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Saint Joseph, MO
Andrés Oliver Joya Zapata
Trip Overview
The drive from Lamar, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 181.5 miles and takes about 2h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 11th Street West, Gulf Street, 12th Street West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.57 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
90.8 miles from Lamar, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 50m drive with frequent turns across 181.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
11th Street West is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Lamar, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is easy. At 2h 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lamar, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 11th Street West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gulf Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 12th Street West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 49 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 11th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 11th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Charlotte Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 9th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
11th Street West
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lamar, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on the route
135 ft
·
12 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto 11th Street West
253 ft
·
7 sec
·
11th Street West
3
Turn left onto Gulf Street
472 ft
·
29 sec
·
Gulf Street
4
Turn right onto 12th Street West
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
12th Street West
5
Take the ramp slight right toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
·
I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
6
Merge slight left
118 mi
·
2 hr 10 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward 11th Street, Downtown
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
11th Street, Downtown
8
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
427 ft
·
16 sec
·
East 11th Street
9
Turn right onto Charlotte Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Charlotte Street
10
Turn left onto East 9th Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
East 9th Street
11
Turn right onto Locust Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Locust Street
12
Continue straight
3.0 mi
·
5 min
13
Keep slight left to continue on MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
14
Take the exit slight right toward US 169 North: Smithville
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 169 North: Smithville
15
Continue straight
1.2 mi
·
1 min
16
Take the exit slight left toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
17
Merge slight right
12 mi
·
13 min
18
Merge slight left
2.7 mi
·
2 min
19
Keep slight left to continue on I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
26 mi
·
27 min
·
I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
20
Take the exit slight right toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
21
Continue straight
5.7 mi
·
6 min
22
Take the exit slight right toward Central Business District
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Central Business District
23
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Edmond Street
24
Turn left onto South 10th Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
South 10th Street
25
Turn right onto Frederick Avenue
381 ft
·
6 sec
·
Frederick Avenue
26
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
138 ft
·
3 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
27
Arrive at your 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 90.8 miles from Lamar, MO, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
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 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.8 miles or 1h 25m 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 19m
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 Lamar, 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 Lamar, MO
This is one driving day of about 181.5 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lamar, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 90.8 mi from Lamar, MO · 1h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
91 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 90.8 miles from Lamar, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Saint Joseph, MO
The final approach into Saint Joseph, 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 Saint Joseph, 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
$27.57 one way
$55.14 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $30.39 | $60.78 |
| premium | $4.80 | $34.26 | $68.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $40.32 | $80.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.4 | 0 | $19.06 | $8.71 |
| Efficient EV | 45.4 | 0 | $15.88 | $7.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.6 | 0 | $25.41 | $11.62 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Afternoon in Saint Joseph on Monday
Local time
3:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°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
10 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 50m 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 Lamar, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 181.5 miles and takes about 2h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 11th Street West, Gulf Street, 12th Street West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 90.8 miles from Lamar, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.57 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Lamar, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is easy. At 2h 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lamar, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lamar, MO to Saint Joseph, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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