Origin
Mound City, MO
Evening in Mound City on Sunday
Local time
5:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mound City, MO to Saint Joseph, MO
Drive Time
42m
Distance
37.1 mi
60 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mound City, MO
David Kanigan
Saint Joseph, MO
Andrés Oliver Joya Zapata
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick connection in the Missouri Midwest, the 37.1-mile journey from Mound City to Saint Joseph is a straightforward choice. Expect to spend about 42 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stops. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $6, it is an incredibly economical route to manage. You will primarily utilize I-29 and I-229 before transitioning onto Francis Street to reach your destination. Because the entire drive takes place within the state of Missouri, you can anticipate a consistent regional feel throughout the transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
18.5 miles from Mound City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 21m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is defined by a high-speed, highway-focused personality, with 96% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will settle into a steady rhythm on I-29, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 26.9 miles. Because the route is so heavily dominated by interstate travel, you should prepare for a consistent, efficient pace rather than a winding backroads experience. As you transition from the highway onto Francis Street, the environment shifts from open interstate to the more controlled flow of local city infrastructure. It is a no-nonsense drive designed for getting you from point A to point B as directly as possible.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 29 is the longest continuous segment at about 26.9 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,068 ft
1,004 ft
Total Climb
37 ft
Total Descent
64 ft
Highest Point
1,068 ft
~10.8 mi in
Elevation Range
64 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and I 229. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 59 / State Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 37.1 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (US 59 / State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 27.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 59 / State Street
Turn right onto US 59 / State Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 29 South: Saint Joseph
Navigation decision point
Toward I 29 South: Saint Joseph
5
27.6 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward I 229 South: Downtown Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 56B
Toward I 229 South: Downtown Saint Joseph
5
36.2 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward Central Business District
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
5
36.5 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
North 4th Street
Turn left onto North 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 26.9 mi | 28m |
| I 229 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Francis Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| MO 118 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| State Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Felix Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Frederick Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 4th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 26.9 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mound City, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on this road
97 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto US 59
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
State Street
3
Turn left onto MO 118
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
MO 118
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 29 South: Saint Joseph
5
Merge onto I 29
27 mi
·
28 min
·
I 29
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 56B
Toward I 229 South: Downtown Saint Joseph
7
Merge onto I 229
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 229
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
9
Turn straight onto Felix Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Felix Street
10
Turn left onto North 4th Street
283 ft
·
7 sec
·
North 4th Street
11
Turn right onto Francis Street
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Francis Street
12
Turn left onto I 29 Business
254 ft
·
7 sec
·
North 10th Street
13
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft
·
6 sec
·
Frederick Avenue
14
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft
·
2 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 42-minute excursion, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, as there is no need to worry about long-distance fatigue or complex pacing. You can easily complete the entire 37.1-mile distance without scheduling any dedicated stops, allowing you to maximize your time in Saint Joseph. Keep in mind that since the majority of the route is on the interstate, you should ensure your vehicle is ready for sustained highway speeds before you leave Mound City. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to monitor local traffic reports for the Francis Street exit, as that transition will be your primary point of deceleration after the long highway stretch.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 18.5 miles from Mound City, MO, or about 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.9 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 37.1 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 18.5 miles or 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 35m
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 Mound 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 Mound City, MO
This is one driving day of about 37.1 miles and 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mound City, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 26.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.5 mi from Mound City, MO · 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.5 miles from Mound City, 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
$5.64 one way
$11.27 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $6.21 | $12.42 |
| premium | $4.80 | $7.00 | $14.01 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $8.24 | $16.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.90 | $1.78 |
| Efficient EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.25 | $1.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.19 | $2.37 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Evening in Saint Joseph on Sunday
Local time
5:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
50°F
Savannah, MO
19 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
23 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
42m 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 Mound City, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 37.1 miles and takes about 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 29, I 229, Francis Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.5 miles from Mound City, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.64 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 37.1 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (US 59 / State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 27.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Mound City, MO to Saint Joseph, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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