Origin
Saint Joseph, MO
Afternoon in Saint Joseph on Sunday
Local time
1:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Joseph, MO to Caruthersville, MO
Drive Time
9h 6m
Distance
486.6 mi
783 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$74
one way
Photo: Renegade Lenz
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Joseph, MO to Caruthersville, MO covers 486.6 miles and takes about 9h 6m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on North 12th Street, Francis Street, North 9th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $73.91 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
243.3 miles from Saint Joseph, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 9h 6m drive with frequent turns across 486.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 40 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North 12th Street 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
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 9h 6m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Saint Joseph, MO to Caruthersville, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North 12th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Francis Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North 9th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 229 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 29 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 435 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 70 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 70 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North 12th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph, MO and Caruthersville, MO.
1
Start on Walter Welsh Avenue
417 ft
·
9 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
2
Turn right onto North 12th Street
299 ft
·
10 sec
·
North 12th Street
3
Turn right onto Francis Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Francis Street
4
Turn left onto North 9th Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North 9th Street
5
Take the ramp slight right
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
6
Merge slight left
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
7
Take the exit slight left toward I 229 South, US 59 South: Kansas City
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 229 South, US 59 South: Kansas City
8
Merge slight left
4.5 mi
·
4 min
9
Keep slight right to continue on I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
10
Merge slight left
26 mi
·
27 min
11
Merge slight right
2.2 mi
·
2 min
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 435 East: Saint Louis
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 435 East: Saint Louis
13
Keep slight right to continue on I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex
14
Keep slight left to continue on I 70 East: Saint Louis
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 70 East: Saint Louis
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 70 East: Saint Louis
469 ft
·
12 sec
·
I 70 East: Saint Louis
16
Merge slight left onto George Brett Super Highway
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
George Brett Super Highway
17
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
18
Continue on Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
19
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
20
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
53 mi
·
56 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
21
Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
32 mi
·
34 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
22
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
22 mi
·
24 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
23
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
24
Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
25
Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
26
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
81 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27
Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
28
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
25 mi
·
30 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
29
Take the exit slight right toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 270: Chicago, Memphis
30
Keep slight right to continue on I 270 South: Memphis
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
I 270 South: Memphis
31
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
14 min
32
Take the exit slight right toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road
33
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Memphis
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 55 South: Memphis
34
Merge slight left onto Rosa Parks Highway
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Rosa Parks Highway
35
Continue on Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
36
Continue on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
174 mi
·
3 hr 6 min
·
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
37
Take the exit slight right toward MO 84: Hayti, Caruthersville
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
MO 84: Hayti, Caruthersville
38
Turn left
5.0 mi
·
9 min
39
Turn right
46 ft
·
3 sec
40
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 243.3 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, or about 4h 33m into the drive.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 107 miles or 2h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 243.3 miles or 4h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 243.3 miles or 4h 33m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Caruthersville, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Joseph, MO
Aim for roughly 243 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Caruthersville, MO
Aim for roughly 243 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 107 miles from Saint Joseph, MO.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 243.3 mi from Saint Joseph, MO · 4h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
243 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Alton, ILOvernight Options
Night 1
243 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Alton, IL after about 243 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 107 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 243.3 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 243 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.
Arriving in Caruthersville, MO
The final approach into Caruthersville, 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 Caruthersville, MO.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Caruthersville, MO with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$73.91 one way
$147.82 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
170 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $81.48 | $162.95 |
| premium | $4.80 | $91.86 | $183.72 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $108.11 | $216.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$204–$314
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 170.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 146 | 1 | $51.09 | $23.36 |
| Efficient EV | 121.7 | 1 | $42.58 | $19.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 194.6 | 2 | $68.12 | $31.14 |
Gas CO2
170 kg
EV CO2
57 kg (66% 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
Caruthersville, MO
Afternoon in Caruthersville on Sunday
Local time
1:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
35 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
9h 6m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 Caruthersville, MO covers 486.6 miles and takes about 9h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North 12th Street, Francis Street, North 9th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 243 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 243.3 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 $73.91 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 9h 6m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Saint Joseph, MO to Caruthersville, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Saint Joseph, MO to Caruthersville, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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