Origin
Malden, MO
Afternoon in Malden on Sunday
Local time
2:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Malden, MO to Blue Springs, MO
Drive Time
7h 42m
Distance
402.4 mi
648 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$61
one way
Malden, MO
ShotPot
Blue Springs, MO
卓浩 虞
Trip Overview
Traveling from Malden to Blue Springs covers 402.4 miles across the heart of Missouri. You should budget approximately 7 hours and 42 minutes of drive time, making this a long but manageable single-day excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of $61, it is a relatively straightforward trip if you are prepared for a full day of travel. The journey stays entirely within the Midwest, transitioning from the bootheel area toward the Kansas City metropolitan region. While it is possible to complete this in one go, you might consider how the duration impacts your schedule. Planning for two strategic stops will keep you refreshed as you navigate the state from southeast to west.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
201.2 miles from Malden, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 53m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a mixed-drive route that balances interstate transit with more varied road conditions. You will spend roughly 37% of your travel time on highways, utilizing I-55, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. Be prepared for a significant push early on, as your longest uninterrupted stretch hits 129 miles along I-55. The personality of the drive shifts as you move between these major arteries, requiring you to remain alert through both high-speed segments and secondary roads. Expect a transition in road quality and traffic density as you progress through the 402.4-mile span.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 129 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 172.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 402.4 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 172.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 172.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 184.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
172.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 196
Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chi...
8
172.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 West: Kansas City
8
184.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12
Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Lo...
8
185 mi into trip
|
~3h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Went...
8
211 mi into trip
|
~4h 5m in
|
US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 70 West, US 40 West: 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 left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Towns Along This Route
Between Malden, MO and Blue Springs, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.
Chicago
172.4 mi in
|
~3h 16m
Saint Louis
184.9 mi in
|
~3h 32m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 129 mi | 2h 18m |
| Dwight D Eisenhower Highway | 80.7 mi | 1h 35m |
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 50.6 mi | 54m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 25.4 mi | 30m |
| North Douglas Street | 18.2 mi | 27m |
| I 270 | 11.5 mi | 14m |
| US 60 | 7.1 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 129 mi, about 2h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Malden, MO and Blue Springs, MO.
1
Start on West Laclede Street
63 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Laclede Street
2
Turn left onto MO 25 Business
442 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Madison Street
3
Turn left onto MO 25 Business
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
West Main Street
4
Turn right onto MO 25 Business
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North Douglas Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto MO 25
16 mi
·
23 min
·
North Douglas Street
6
Take the ramp
16 mi
·
18 min
7
Continue on US 60
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
US 60
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 1B
Toward I 55 North: Saint Louis
9
Merge onto I 55
27 mi
·
29 min
·
I 55
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
102 mi
·
1 hr 49 min
·
I 55
11
Continue on I 55
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Rosa Parks Highway
Use the none lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 196
Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
388 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 270 West: Kansas City
Use the slight left lane.
14
Continue on this road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 196
Toward I 270 West
15
Merge onto I 270
11 mi
·
14 min
·
I 270
Use the none lane.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 12
Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
Use the slight left lane.
18
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
this road
Exit 12
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
19
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
25 mi
·
30 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit onto US 40
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 40
Exit 1A
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
22
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
23
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
24
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
25
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi
·
58 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
26
Continue on I 70; US 40
49 mi
·
52 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 20
Toward MO 7: Blue Springs, Lake Lotawana
Use the slight right lane.
28
Turn left onto MO 7
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
MO 7
Use the left lane.
29
Turn right onto Northwest R D Mize Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest R D Mize Road
30
At end of road, turn left onto Northwest 15th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest 15th Street
31
Arrive at destination
Southwest 15th Street
Trip Plan
To tackle this 7 hour and 42 minute journey effectively, try to depart early in the morning to avoid late-day fatigue. Since you have two planned stops, use them to break up the monotony of the longer stretches like the 129-mile run on I-55. Keep your fuel budget of $61 in mind, as prices may fluctuate significantly between smaller towns and the more developed areas near Blue Springs. Because this route relies on major corridors like the Eisenhower Highway, monitor traffic reports for construction or congestion before you head out. A smart strategy is to time your final stop to occur just before you hit the busier, final leg of the trip into the Blue Springs area.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 201.2 miles from Malden, MO, or about 3h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129 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 89 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 201.2 miles or 3h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blue Springs, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Malden, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Malden, MO
This is one driving day of about 402.4 miles and 7h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Malden, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 129 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 201.2 mi from Malden, MO · 3h 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
201 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 89 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 201.2 miles from Malden, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 129 miles.
Arriving in Blue Springs, MO
The final approach into Blue Springs, 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 Blue Springs, 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
$61.12 one way
$122.24 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
141 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $67.38 | $134.76 |
| premium | $4.80 | $75.96 | $151.93 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $89.40 | $178.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 140.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 120.7 | 1 | $42.25 | $19.32 |
| Efficient EV | 100.6 | 1 | $35.21 | $16.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 161 | 2 | $56.34 | $25.75 |
Gas CO2
141 kg
EV CO2
47 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
Blue Springs, MO
Afternoon in Blue Springs on Sunday
Local time
2:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
14 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
7h 42m 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 Malden, MO to Blue Springs, MO covers 402.4 miles and takes about 7h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 201.2 miles from Malden, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $61.12 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 20 significant decision points across 402.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 172.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 172.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 184.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Malden, MO and Blue Springs, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.
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