Origin
Saint Joseph, MO
Night in Saint Joseph on Tuesday
Local time
9:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Joseph, MO to Bethany, MO
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
74.9 mi
121 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Bethany, MO
Lena Khrupina
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Joseph, MO to Bethany, MO covers 74.9 miles and takes about 1h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, US 36, North 22nd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.6 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.71 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
37.4 miles from Saint Joseph, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 27m highway drive covering 74.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and US 36. The longest continuous stretch is about 37.6 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 37.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 36. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near North 22nd Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 27m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (North 22nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 35.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North 22nd Street
Turn right onto North 22nd Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward US 36 East: Cameron
Navigation decision point
Toward US 36 East: Cameron
6
35.8 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Turn left toward I 35 North: Bethany, Des Moines
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 North: Bethany, Des Moines
5
74.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
MO W / Main Street
Turn left onto MO W / Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
74.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
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 Saint Joseph, MO to Bethany, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Des Moines along the way.
Des Moines
35.8 mi in
|
~44m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 37.6 mi | 40m |
| US 36 | 33.3 mi | 39m |
| North 22nd Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Miller Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Jules Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South 25th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Walter Welsh Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 37.6 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph, MO and Bethany, MO.
1
Start on Walter Welsh Avenue
417 ft
·
8 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
2
Turn slight left onto Jules Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Jules Street
3
Turn right onto North 22nd Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North 22nd Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 36 East: Cameron
5
Merge onto US 36
33 mi
·
39 min
·
US 36
6
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 35 North: Bethany, Des Moines
7
Merge onto I 35
38 mi
·
40 min
·
I 35
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
9
Turn left onto US 136
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Miller Street
10
Turn right onto US 69
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South 25th Street
11
Turn left onto MO W
139 ft
·
11 sec
·
Main Street
12
Turn sharp left
32 ft
·
1 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 37.4 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.6 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 74.9 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.4 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethany, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Joseph, 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 Joseph, MO
This is one driving day of about 74.9 miles and 1h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Saint Joseph, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 37.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.4 mi from Saint Joseph, MO · 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 74.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.4 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bethany, MO
The final approach into Bethany, 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 Bethany, 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
$11.71 one way
$23.42 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.86 | $25.71 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.41 | $28.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.54 | $33.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.86 | $3.60 |
| Efficient EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.55 | $3.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30 | 0 | $10.49 | $4.79 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Bethany, MO
Night in Bethany on Tuesday
Local time
9:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 27m 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 Saint Joseph, MO to Bethany, MO covers 74.9 miles and takes about 1h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 36, North 22nd Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.4 miles from Saint Joseph, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.71 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 27m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (North 22nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 35.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Saint Joseph, MO to Bethany, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Des Moines along the way.
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