Origin
Odessa, MO
Morning in Odessa on Friday
Local time
6:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Odessa, MO to Saint Joseph, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 47m
Distance
93.8 mi
151 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 40m
★
6 AM
1h 48m
8 AM
2h 4m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 52m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 3m
8 PM
1h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Odessa, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Odessa, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 93.8 miles and takes about 1h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 29, I 435, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 26 miles on I 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.66 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.
Midpoint
46.9 miles from Odessa, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 93.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Odessa, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 93.8 miles and takes about 1h 47m, 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 23 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 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
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 93.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 1.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.6 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
8
29.5 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
60.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
5
86.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
5
92.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
Take the exit toward Central Business District
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 26 mi | 27m |
| I 435 | 20.9 mi | 22m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 19.9 mi | 21m |
| Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| I 229 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| I435 N | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 26 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Odessa, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on West Mason Street
31 ft
·
5 sec
·
West Mason Street
2
Turn right onto MO 131
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 2nd Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto MO 131
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Old U.S. 40
4
Turn right onto MO 131
391 ft
·
13 sec
·
MO 131
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
6
Merge onto I 70; US 40
20 mi
·
21 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7
Continue on I 70
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
8
Continue on I 70
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 70
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
10
Continue on I 70
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
George Brett Super Highway
11
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.
12
Merge onto I 435; US 24
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
13
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I435 N
14
Continue on I 435
21 mi
·
22 min
·
I 435
15
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
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
17
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 229
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
19
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Edmond Street
20
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South 10th Street
21
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft
·
6 sec
·
Frederick Avenue
22
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft
·
2 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.9 miles from Odessa, MO, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26 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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.9 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 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 Odessa, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Odessa, MO
This is one driving day of about 93.8 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Odessa, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 26 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 46.9 mi from Odessa, MO · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 46.9 miles from Odessa, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.66 one way
$29.33 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.10 | $32.20 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.05 | $36.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.71 | $41.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.85 | $4.50 |
| Efficient EV | 23.5 | 0 | $8.21 | $3.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.13 | $6.00 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Morning in Saint Joseph on Friday
Local time
6:44 AM
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
2 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
1h 47m 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 Odessa, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 93.8 miles and takes about 1h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 29, I 435, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.9 miles from Odessa, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.66 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 93.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 1.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.6 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Odessa, MO to Saint Joseph, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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