Origin
Leadwood, MO
Evening in Leadwood on Thursday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Leadwood, MO to Saint Joseph, MO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
6h 53m
Distance
336.9 mi
542 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 42m
★
6 AM
6h 53m
8 AM
7h 16m
10 AM
7h 1m
12 PM
6h 59m
3 PM
7h 2m
5 PM
7h 15m
8 PM
6h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leadwood, MO
Kelly
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Leadwood, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 336.9 miles and takes about 6h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 70, MO 47, I 29 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 176.4 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $52.67 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
168.5 miles from Leadwood, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 45m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 53m. Total distance: 336.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 53m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 53m highway drive covering 336.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and MO 47. The longest continuous stretch is about 176.4 miles on I 70.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 176.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and MO 47. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 56.3 miles in near US 50; MO 47.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 336.9 miles you will encounter 17 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: at 56.3 miles (US 50; MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 56.7 miles (MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 87.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
56.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
US 50; MO 47
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; MO 47
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
56.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
MO 47
Turn right onto MO 47
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
87.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesburg
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesbu...
8
272.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 40m in
Take the exit toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
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.
Exit 8B
Toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
6
303.7 mi into trip
|
~6h 15m in
|
I 29; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71 toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Leadwood, MO to Saint Joseph, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Jonesburg along the way.
Jonesburg
87.8 mi in
|
~2h 16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 176.4 mi | 3h 14m |
| MO 47 | 51.5 mi | 1h 22m |
| I 29 | 26 mi | 27m |
| I 435 | 20.9 mi | 22m |
| MO 21 | 11.1 mi | 15m |
| MO 8 | 10.6 mi | 15m |
| Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| MO 30 | 6.2 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 176.4 mi, about 3h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leadwood, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on West Warner Drive
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
West Warner Drive
2
Continue on West North Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West North Street
3
Turn right onto MO M
245 ft
·
13 sec
·
MO M
4
Turn left onto MO 8
11 mi
·
15 min
·
MO 8
5
Turn right onto MO 21
11 mi
·
15 min
·
MO 21
6
Turn left onto MO 47
20 mi
·
34 min
·
MO 47
7
At end of road, turn left onto MO 30; MO 47
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
MO 30; MO 47
8
Turn straight onto US Historic 66; MO 47
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Commercial Avenue
9
Turn left onto MO 47
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
North Main Street
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; MO 47
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
US 50; MO 47
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto MO 47
31 mi
·
47 min
·
MO 47
Use the right lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesburg
13
Merge onto I 70; US 40
176 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
·
I 70; US 40
14
Continue on I 70
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
15
Continue on I 70
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 70
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
17
Continue on I 70
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
George Brett Super Highway
18
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 8B
Toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 435; US 24
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
20
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I435 N
21
Continue on I 435
21 mi
·
22 min
·
I 435
22
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
23
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
24
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 229
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
26
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Edmond Street
27
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South 10th Street
28
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft
·
6 sec
·
Frederick Avenue
29
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft
·
2 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
30
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 168.5 miles from Leadwood, MO, or about 3h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.4 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 74 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 168.5 miles or 3h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 46m
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 Leadwood, 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 Leadwood, MO
This is one driving day of about 336.9 miles and 6h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Leadwood, 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 I 70 for about 176.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 168.5 mi from Leadwood, MO · 3h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
168 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 74 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 168.5 miles from Leadwood, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 176.4 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.67 one way
$105.34 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
118 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $57.83 | $115.66 |
| premium | $4.89 | $64.83 | $129.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $74.38 | $148.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 117.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 101.1 | 1 | $35.37 | $16.17 |
| Efficient EV | 84.2 | 0 | $29.48 | $13.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 134.8 | 1 | $47.17 | $21.56 |
Gas CO2
118 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Evening in Saint Joseph on Thursday
Local time
8:10 PM
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.
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
18 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
6h 53m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Leadwood, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 336.9 miles and takes about 6h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, MO 47, I 29. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 168.5 miles from Leadwood, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $52.67 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 336.9 miles you will encounter 17 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: at 56.3 miles (US 50; MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 56.7 miles (MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 87.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Leadwood, MO to Saint Joseph, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Jonesburg along the way.
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