Origin
Prairie Home, MO
Evening in Prairie Home on Wednesday
Local time
7:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Prairie Home, MO to Blackwater, MO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
40m
Distance
30.1 mi
48 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Prairie Home, MO
Soraya photogaphy
Blackwater, MO
Mathias Reding
Trip Overview
This quick 30.1-mile trip from Prairie Home to Blackwater in Missouri is easily manageable as a day trip, taking about 40 minutes. The route primarily utilizes U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway and MO 87, with a portion on MO K, offering a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of just $5, this short journey is budget-friendly. It's perfect for a spontaneous excursion or an easy leg of a larger Midwest adventure. You'll find this drive to be straightforward and efficient, ideal for a relaxed travel day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
15 miles from Prairie Home, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this 30.1-mile route through Missouri. About 35% of your journey will be on highway, interspersed with state routes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 16.1 miles along the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. This section likely offers a consistent pace before transitioning to the more localized feel of MO 87 and MO K. The road profile suggests a varied driving experience, moving from more open highway sections to potentially more winding or community-oriented roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 87.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Prairie Home, MO to Blackwater, MO is easy. At 40m with 35% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 87): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 10.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 26.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MO 87
Turn sharp right onto MO 87
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
10.5 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Navigation decision point
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
5
26.8 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward MO K: Blackwater
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 89
Toward MO K: Blackwater
4
27 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
MO K
Turn right onto MO K
Navigation decision point
4
27.2 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
MO K
Turn right onto MO K
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Prairie Home, MO to Blackwater, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Mo K: Blackwater along the way.
Mo K: Blackwater
26.8 mi in
|
~32m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 16.1 mi | 17m |
| MO 87 | 10.5 mi | 14m |
| MO K | 3.1 mi | 7m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 16.1 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prairie Home, MO and Blackwater, MO.
1
Start on MO EE
31 ft
·
7 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn sharp right onto MO 87
11 mi
·
14 min
·
MO 87
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
4
Merge onto I 70
16 mi
·
17 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 89
Toward MO K: Blackwater
6
Turn right onto MO K
158 ft
·
8 sec
·
MO K
7
Continue on MO K
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
MO K
8
Turn right onto MO K
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
MO K
9
Arrive at destination
MO K
Trip Plan
Given the short 40-minute duration and 30.1-mile distance, this trip offers great flexibility. You can depart at any time of day without needing to split the drive. With a minimal fuel cost of around $5, you won't need frequent fill-ups. The longest stretch without a turn is 16.1 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, so plan for a brief period of consistent driving there. Keep an eye out for the transitions between the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway and MO 87, as this is where the road character changes.
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 15 miles from Prairie Home, MO, or about 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.1 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 30 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15 miles or 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blackwater, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Prairie Home, MO.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Prairie Home, MO
This is one driving day of about 30.1 miles and 40m.
At 30.1 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 16.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15 mi from Prairie Home, MO · 19m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15 miles from Prairie Home, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Blackwater, MO
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Blackwater, MO if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.71 one way
$9.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.17 | $10.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.79 | $11.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.65 | $13.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.93 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Blackwater, MO
Evening in Blackwater on Wednesday
Local time
7:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
41 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
40m 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 Prairie Home, MO to Blackwater, MO covers 30.1 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, MO 87, MO K. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15 miles from Prairie Home, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.71 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.
The drive from Prairie Home, MO to Blackwater, MO is easy. At 40m with 35% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 87): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 10.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 26.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Prairie Home, MO to Blackwater, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Mo K: Blackwater along the way.
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