Origin
Piedmont, MO
Morning in Piedmont on Friday
Local time
11:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 48m
Distance
391.6 mi
630 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$61
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Piedmont, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Piedmont, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 391.6 miles and takes about 6h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Main Street, US 65 North, Schoolcraft Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $61.22 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
195.8 miles from Piedmont, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 24m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 48m. Total distance: 391.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 48m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 6h 48m drive with frequent turns across 391.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 48m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Piedmont, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Main Street | — | — |
| US 65 North | — | — |
| Schoolcraft Freeway | — | — |
| I 44 West | — | — |
| Payne Stewart Highway | — | — |
| MO 13 | — | — |
| MO 13 North | — | — |
| North Kansas Expressway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between Piedmont, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
Start on East Fir Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Turn right
Take the exit slight right toward US 65 North: Sedalia
Merge slight left onto Schoolcraft Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 44 West: Joplin
Merge slight left onto Payne Stewart Highway
Take the exit slight right toward MO 13: Bolivar
Keep slight left to continue on MO 13: Bolivar
Keep slight right to continue on MO 13 North: Bolivar
Merge slight left onto North Kansas Expressway
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
Take the exit slight right toward 11th Street, Downtown
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
Turn right onto Charlotte Street
Turn left onto East 9th Street
Turn right onto Locust Street
Continue straight
Keep slight left to continue on MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
Take the exit slight right toward US 169 North: Smithville
Continue straight
Take the exit slight left toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
Merge slight right
Merge slight left
Keep slight left to continue on I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
Take the exit slight right toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward Central Business District
Continue on Edmond Street
Turn left onto South 10th Street
Turn right onto Frederick Avenue
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
Arrive at your destination
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 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 86 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 195.8 miles or 3h 24m 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.
Open the route before leaving Piedmont, 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 Piedmont, MO
This is one driving day of about 391.6 miles and 6h 48m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 195.8 mi from Piedmont, MO · 3h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
196 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.
A short stop after about 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 195.8 miles from Piedmont, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$61.22 one way
$122.44 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $67.22 | $134.44 |
| premium | $4.89 | $75.36 | $150.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $86.46 | $172.92 |
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: 137 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 117.5 | 1 | $41.12 | $18.80 |
| Efficient EV | 97.9 | 1 | $34.27 | $15.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 156.6 | 1 | $54.82 | $25.06 |
Gas CO2
137 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Piedmont on Friday
Local time
11:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Saint Joseph on Friday
Local time
11:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
73°F
Billings, MO
196 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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