Origin
Potosi, MO
Evening in Potosi on Wednesday
Local time
6:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Potosi, MO to Saint Joseph, MO
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
5h 30m
Distance
325.8 mi
524 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 17m
★
6 AM
5h 30m
8 AM
5h 57m
10 AM
5h 39m
12 PM
5h 37m
3 PM
5h 41m
5 PM
5h 55m
8 PM
5h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Potosi, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 325.8 miles and takes about 5h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Commercial Avenue, North Main Street, I 70 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.94 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
162.9 miles from Potosi, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 45m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 30m drive with frequent turns across 325.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Commercial Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 30m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Potosi, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Commercial Avenue | — | — |
| North Main Street | — | — |
| I 70 West | — | — |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | — | — |
| Clifton J | — | — |
| George Brett Super Highway | — | — |
| I 435 North | — | — |
| Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Commercial Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Potosi, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on West High Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West High Street
2
Turn left
11 mi
·
15 min
3
Turn left
20 mi
·
34 min
4
At the end of the road, turn left
6.2 mi
·
9 min
5
Turn straight onto South Commercial Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Commercial Avenue
6
Turn left onto North Main Street
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
North Main Street
7
At the end of the road, turn left
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
8
Turn right
31 mi
·
47 min
9
Take the ramp left toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesburg
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesburg
10
Merge slight left
176 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
11
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
12
Continue on Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
13
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
14
Continue on George Brett Super Highway
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
George Brett Super Highway
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
16
Merge slight left onto Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
17
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I435 N
18
Continue straight
21 mi
·
22 min
19
Keep slight left to continue on I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
26 mi
·
27 min
·
I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
20
Take the exit slight right toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
21
Continue straight
5.7 mi
·
6 min
22
Take the exit slight right toward Central Business District
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Central Business District
23
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Edmond Street
24
Turn left onto South 10th Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
South 10th Street
25
Turn right onto Frederick Avenue
381 ft
·
6 sec
·
Frederick Avenue
26
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
138 ft
·
3 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
27
Arrive at your destination
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 162.9 miles from Potosi, MO, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
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 72 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162.9 miles or 2h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 30m
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 Potosi, 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 Potosi, MO
This is one driving day of about 325.8 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Potosi, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 162.9 mi from Potosi, MO · 2h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
163 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 72 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 162.9 miles from Potosi, 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
$50.94 one way
$101.87 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
114 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $55.92 | $111.85 |
| premium | $4.89 | $62.70 | $125.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $71.93 | $143.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 97.7 | 1 | $34.21 | $15.64 |
| Efficient EV | 81.5 | 0 | $28.51 | $13.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 130.3 | 1 | $45.61 | $20.85 |
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 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.
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Evening in Saint Joseph on Wednesday
Local time
6:09 PM
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
18 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
5h 30m 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 Potosi, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 325.8 miles and takes about 5h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Commercial Avenue, North Main Street, I 70 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 162.9 miles from Potosi, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $50.94 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 straightforward 5h 30m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Potosi, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Potosi, MO to Saint Joseph, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Saint Joseph, MO
More trips to Saint Joseph, MO
Explore more options from Potosi, MO or browse trips ending in Saint Joseph, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.
Explore maps for Potosi, MO or Saint Joseph, MO on MapSof.net.