Trip from Saint Ann, MO to Saint Joseph, MO

Drive Time

5h 33m

Distance

292.2 mi

470 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Saint Ann, MO

Sami Aksu

Saint Joseph, MO

Andrés Oliver Joya Zapata

Trip Overview

Spanning 292.2 miles across Missouri, this trek from Saint Ann to Saint Joseph is a straightforward journey through the heart of the Midwest. You can expect to spend about 5 hours and 33 minutes behind the wheel, making it a manageable, albeit long, day trip for most drivers. With a fuel budget of approximately $44, it is an economical way to traverse the state. The path primarily utilizes a combination of I-70, I-29, and I-435 to connect your starting point to your final destination. Since you are staying within the same region, the transition between these two Missouri hubs is seamless and practical.

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

146.1 miles from Saint Ann, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 93% of your time spent on major interstates. You will settle into a steady rhythm early on, as the route features a significant 217.3-mile stretch on I-70. While the high percentage of interstate driving ensures efficiency, you should be prepared for the consistent pace that comes with such long, uninterrupted segments. As you transition between the primary highways, the drive maintains a predictable character that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers. Expect a functional, high-speed experience that gets you from point A to point B with minimal deviation.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 217.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near MO 180 / Saint Charles Rock Road.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 292.2 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 0.1 miles (MO 180 / Saint Charles Rock Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | MO 180 / Saint Charles Rock Road

Turn left onto MO 180 / Saint Charles Rock Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

2.1 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward I 70 West

Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 70 West

2.4 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 70

Merge onto I 70

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

227.9 mi into trip | ~4h 20m 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

259 mi into trip | ~4h 56m 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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none lane. Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 70	217.3 mi	4h 6m
I 29	26 mi	27m
I 435	20.9 mi	22m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway	7.8 mi	9m
I 229	5.7 mi	6m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway	5.6 mi	6m
Saint Charles Rock Road	2 mi	3m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway	1.8 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 70 — 217.3 mi, about 4h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Ann, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.

Start on San Jose Lane

421 ft · 24 sec · San Jose Lane

Turn left onto MO 180

2.0 mi · 3 min · Saint Charles Rock Road

Use the none lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 19 sec

Toward I 70 West Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 70

217 mi · 4 hr 6 min · I 70

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 70

2.7 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 70

1.8 mi · 2 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 70

2.9 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 70

0.8 mi · 58 sec · George Brett Super Highway

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.

Merge onto I 435; US 24

7.8 mi · 9 min · Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I435 N

1.3 mi · 1 min · I435 N

Continue on I 435

21 mi · 22 min · I 435

Use the none lane.

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 Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 54 sec

Exit 43 Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph

Continue on I 229

5.7 mi · 6 min · I 229

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Exit 6A Toward Central Business District

Continue on Edmond Street

0.5 mi · 57 sec · Edmond Street

Turn left onto I 29 Business

0.2 mi · 20 sec · South 10th Street

Turn right onto I 29 Business

379 ft · 6 sec · Frederick Avenue

Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue

137 ft · 2 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue

Arrive at destination

Walter Welsh Avenue

Trip Plan

To keep your energy levels steady, plan for at least one meaningful stop during your 5-hour and 33-minute journey. Given the heavy reliance on I-70 and I-29, traffic patterns near major junctions can fluctuate, so checking for delays before you pull out of Saint Ann is a smart move. Because the longest stretch is over 200 miles, ensure your fuel tank is topped off before you commit to the primary interstate corridor to avoid unnecessary stress. While this trip is easily completed in a single day, the flexibility of the route allows you to adjust your departure time to avoid peak commute hours. Prioritize steady pacing to make the most of the highway-heavy infrastructure.

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 146.1 miles from Saint Ann, MO, or about 2h 47m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 217.3 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 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 146.1 miles or 2h 47m 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 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 Saint Ann, 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 Saint Ann, MO

This is one driving day of about 292.2 miles and 5h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Saint Ann, 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 I 70 for about 217.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 146.1 mi from Saint Ann, MO · 2h 47m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Quincy, IL

146 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

Quincy, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Quincy, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 146.1 miles from Saint Ann, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 217.3 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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.38 one way

$88.76 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 102 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$48.93	$97.85
premium	$4.80	$55.16	$110.32
diesel	$5.64	$64.92	$129.83

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 102.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	87.7	1	$30.68	$14.03
Efficient EV	73.1	0	$25.57	$11.69
EV Truck/SUV	116.9	1	$40.91	$18.70

Gas CO2

102 kg

EV CO2

34 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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 hours ago

Origin

Saint Ann, MO

Afternoon in Saint Ann on Sunday

Local time

2:27 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Saint Joseph, MO

Afternoon in Saint Joseph on Sunday

Local time

2:27 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

55°F

Quincy, IL

146 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

1 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

5h 33m 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 Saint Ann, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 292.2 miles and takes about 5h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 70, I 29, I 435. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 146.1 miles from Saint Ann, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.38 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.

The route from Saint Ann, MO to Saint Joseph, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Trip from Saint Ann, MO to Saint Joseph, MO

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Saint Joseph, MO

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Saint Ann, MO

Saint Joseph, MO

Same local time

1 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 33m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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