Trip from New Madrid, MO to Saint Joseph, MO

Drive Time

8h 33m

Distance

455.2 mi

733 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$69

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

8h 26m ★

6 AM

8h 34m

8 AM

8h 49m

10 AM

8h 39m

12 PM

8h 38m

3 PM

8h 40m

5 PM

8h 49m

8 PM

8h 29m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Saint Joseph, MO

Andrés Oliver Joya Zapata

Trip Overview

The drive from New Madrid, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 455.2 miles and takes about 8h 33m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on I 55, Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 145.3 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $69.14 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

227.6 miles from New Madrid, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 19m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from New Madrid, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 455.2 miles and takes about 8h 33m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 41 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 145.3 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 150.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 455.2 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 150.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 163.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 22 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

150.7 mi into trip | ~2h 45m 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...

150.9 mi into trip | ~2h 45m 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

163.2 mi into trip | ~3h 1m 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...

163.3 mi into trip | ~3h 1m 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...

189.3 mi into trip | ~3h 33m 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 New Madrid, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.

Chicago

150.7 mi in | ~2h 45m

Saint Louis

163.2 mi in | ~3h 1m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 55	145.3 mi	2h 36m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway	80.7 mi	1h 35m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway	54.4 mi	58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	54.3 mi	58m
I 29	26 mi	27m
Avenue of the Saints	25.4 mi	30m
I 435	20.9 mi	22m
I 270	11.5 mi	14m

Longest stretch: I 55 — 145.3 mi, about 2h 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New Madrid, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.

Start on this road

92 ft · 9 sec · this road

Turn right onto Mill Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Mill Street

Turn right onto Kings Highway

0.8 mi · 2 min · Kings Highway

Turn left onto MO U

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Dawson Road

Turn right onto I 55 Bus; US 61; US 62

2.6 mi · 3 min · I 55 Bus; US 61; US 62

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Toward I 55 North: Sikeston

Merge onto I 55

44 mi · 46 min · I 55

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55

102 mi · 1 hr 49 min · I 55

Continue on I 55

1.3 mi · 1 min · Rosa Parks Highway

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.

Keep slight left at fork

388 ft · 8 sec

Toward I 270 West: Kansas City Use the slight left lane.

Continue on this road

0.7 mi · 1 min · this road

Exit 196 Toward I 270 West

Merge onto I 270

11 mi · 14 min · I 270

Use the straight lane.

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.

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.

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 9 sec · this road

Exit 12 Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville

Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61

25 mi · 30 min · Avenue of the Saints

Use the straight lane.

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.

Merge onto I 70; US 40

81 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

2.0 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.6 mi · 1 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

54 mi · 58 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

52 mi · 56 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on I 70

2.7 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Continue on I 70

1.8 mi · 2 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 70

2.9 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Continue on I 70

0.8 mi · 58 sec · George Brett Super Highway

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.

Merge onto I 435; US 24

7.8 mi · 9 min · Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

Continue on I435 N

1.3 mi · 1 min · I435 N

Continue on I 435

21 mi · 22 min · I 435

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

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 54 sec

Exit 43 Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph

Continue on I 229

5.7 mi · 6 min · I 229

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Exit 6A Toward Central Business District

Continue on Edmond Street

0.5 mi · 57 sec · Edmond Street

Turn left onto I 29 Business

0.2 mi · 20 sec · South 10th Street

Turn right onto I 29 Business

379 ft · 6 sec · Frederick Avenue

Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue

137 ft · 2 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue

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 227.6 miles from New Madrid, MO, or about 4h 19m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.3 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 100 miles or 1h 50m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 227.6 miles or 4h 19m 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 227.6 miles or 4h 19m

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 7h 27m

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 New Madrid, 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 New Madrid, MO

Aim for roughly 228 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Saint Joseph, MO

Aim for roughly 228 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 100 miles from New Madrid, 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 I 55 for about 145.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 227.6 mi from New Madrid, MO · 4h 19m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Alton, IL

228 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Alton, IL

Overnight Options

Night 1

Alton, IL

228 mi · about 4.3h in

A practical overnight split lands near Alton, IL after about 228 miles or 4.3 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Cahokia, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 100 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Quincy, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 227.6 miles from New Madrid, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 145.3 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 228 miles or 4.3 hours on the road.

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.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Saint Joseph, MO with some flexibility left in the schedule.

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

$69.14 one way

$138.28 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 159 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$76.22	$152.44
premium	$4.80	$85.93	$171.86
diesel	$5.64	$101.13	$202.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$69

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$199–$309

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 159.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $48 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	136.6	1	$47.80	$21.85
Efficient EV	113.8	1	$39.83	$18.21
EV Truck/SUV	182.1	2	$63.73	$29.13

Gas CO2

159 kg

EV CO2

53 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

New Madrid, MO

Morning in New Madrid on Monday

Local time

11:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Saint Joseph, MO

Morning in Saint Joseph on Monday

Local time

11:01 AM

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.

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

35 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

8h 33m 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 New Madrid, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 455.2 miles and takes about 8h 33m 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.

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 228 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 227.6 miles from New Madrid, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $69.14 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.

Between New Madrid, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from New Madrid, MO or browse trips ending in Saint Joseph, MO.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.

Explore maps for New Madrid, MO or Saint Joseph, MO on MapSof.net.

Trip from New Madrid, MO to Saint Joseph, MO

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Saint Joseph, MO

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

New Madrid, MO

Saint Joseph, MO

Same local time

35 degrees cooler at arrival

8h 33m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Was this route helpful?

Explore More

Continue From Saint Joseph, MO

More from New Madrid, MO

More trips to Saint Joseph, MO