Origin
Polk, MO
Morning in Polk on Monday
Local time
7:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Polk, MO to Saint Joseph, MO
Drive Time
4h 15m
Distance
198.1 mi
319 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
6 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 2m
★
6 AM
4h 16m
8 AM
4h 42m
10 AM
4h 25m
12 PM
4h 22m
3 PM
4h 26m
5 PM
4h 41m
8 PM
4h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Polk, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Saint Joseph, MO
Andrés Oliver Joya Zapata
Trip Overview
The drive from Polk, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 198.1 miles and takes about 4h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MO 7, I 29, MO 13 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.9 miles on MO 7. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.09 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
99 miles from Polk, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 4h 15m highway drive covering 198.1 miles, with most of the trip on MO 7 and I 29. The longest continuous stretch is about 73.9 miles on MO 7.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MO 7 is the longest continuous segment at about 73.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 7 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 106 miles in near MO 7.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 198.1 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 106 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.8 miles (MO 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
106 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
|
MO 7
Take the exit onto MO 7 toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: 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 right lanes.
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kan...
7
143.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m in
Take the exit toward 11th Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 11th Street, Downtown
6
147.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 17m in
|
MO 9
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 9 toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
7
150.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
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.
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport,...
6
164.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 38m 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
Towns Along This Route
Between Polk, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Downtown and Parkville.
Downtown
143.9 mi in
|
~3h 10m
Parkville
147.8 mi in
|
~3h 17m
|
via MO 9
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MO 7 | 73.9 mi | 1h 24m |
| I 29 | 40.2 mi | 44m |
| MO 13 | 30.8 mi | 37m |
| MO 64 | 12.6 mi | 22m |
| MO T | 11.9 mi | 21m |
| US 54 | 9 mi | 12m |
| I 229 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| MO 9 | 3.9 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
MO 7
— 73.9 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Polk, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on MO D
2.1 mi
·
5 min
·
MO D
2
Continue on MO 64
9.5 mi
·
16 min
·
MO 64
3
Turn sharp left onto MO 64
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
MO 64
4
Continue on MO 254
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
MO 254
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 54
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
US 54
6
Turn right onto MO 83
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
MO 83
7
Turn left onto MO T
12 mi
·
21 min
·
MO T
8
Turn right onto MO 13
31 mi
·
37 min
·
MO 13
9
Continue on MO 7
36 mi
·
39 min
·
MO 7
10
Take the exit onto MO 7
38 mi
·
45 min
·
MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Toward 11th Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto East 11th Street
425 ft
·
16 sec
·
East 11th Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Charlotte Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Charlotte Street
14
Turn left onto East 9th Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
East 9th Street
15
Turn right onto Locust Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Locust Street
16
Continue on MO 9
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
MO 9
17
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 9
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
MO 9
Toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Toward US 169 North: Smithville
19
Continue on US 169
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 169
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Merge onto I 29; US 71
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 29; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
I 29; I 435; US 71
23
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
24
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
25
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 229
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
27
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Edmond Street
28
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South 10th Street
29
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft
·
6 sec
·
Frederick Avenue
30
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft
·
2 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 99 miles from Polk, MO, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.9 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 80 miles or 1h 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99 miles or 2h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 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 Polk, 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 Polk, MO
This is one driving day of about 198.1 miles and 4h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Polk, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on MO 7 for about 73.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 99 mi from Polk, MO · 2h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
99 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 99 miles from Polk, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before MO 7 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.9 miles.
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
$30.09 one way
$60.18 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
69 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $33.17 | $66.34 |
| premium | $4.80 | $37.40 | $74.79 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $44.01 | $88.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
EV Charging Along Route
6 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Hy-Vee - Tesla Supercharger
Belton, MO
Tesla
12 DCFC
Port In The Storm
Osceola, MO
SYNERGEV
4 DCFC
Price Chopper - Harrisonville
Harrisonville, MO
FCN
4 DCFC
Flying J 672
Peculiar, MO
eVgo Network
4 DCFC
Rob Sight Ford
Kansas City, MO
FORD_CHARGE
4 DCFC
State Line Nissan
Kansas City, MO
Non-Networked
1 DCFC
SYNERGEV: 1
FCN: 1
eVgo Network: 1
Tesla: 1
FORD_CHARGE: 1
Non-Networked: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.4 | 0 | $20.80 | $9.51 |
| Efficient EV | 49.5 | 0 | $17.33 | $7.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.2 | 0 | $27.73 | $12.68 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Monday
Local time
7:39 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.
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
34 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
4h 15m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Polk, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 198.1 miles and takes about 4h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MO 7, I 29, MO 13. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 99 miles from Polk, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.09 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break 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 21 significant decision points across 198.1 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 106 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.8 miles (MO 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Polk, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Downtown and Parkville.
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