Trip from Saint Joseph, MO to De Soto, MO

Drive Time

6h 23m

Distance

330.6 mi

532 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$50

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Photo: Tien Nguyen

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Joseph, MO to De Soto, MO covers 330.6 miles and takes about 6h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, I 29 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 135.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.21 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

165.3 miles from Saint Joseph, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 1m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 6h 23m drive with frequent turns across 330.6 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.

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 135.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.2 miles in near I 435.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 330.6 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 35.2 miles (I 435): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.2 miles (US 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 27 key points

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

35.2 mi into trip | ~39m in | I 435

Keep slight right at fork onto I 435 toward I 435 East: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane. Exit 14 Toward I 435 East: Saint Louis

63.2 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in | US 24

Keep slight right at fork onto US 24 toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 63 Toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Ka...

63.5 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 East: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis

64.7 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 East: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis

288.1 mi into trip | ~5h 26m in

Take the exit toward MO 141

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 22 Toward MO 141

Towns Along This Route

Between Saint Joseph, MO and De Soto, MO, road signs point toward Kansas City and Sports Complex.

Kansas City

63.2 mi in | ~1h 10m | via US 24

Sports Complex

63.2 mi in | ~1h 10m | via US 24

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	135.3 mi	2h 34m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway	54.4 mi	58m
I 29	28.4 mi	30m
I 435	28 mi	30m
Avenue of the Saints	22 mi	26m
Veterans Memorial Highway	19.8 mi	23m
MO 141	14.9 mi	23m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway	5.6 mi	6m

Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 135.3 mi, about 2h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Walter Welsh Avenue

417 ft · 8 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue

Turn right onto North 12th Street

297 ft · 10 sec · North 12th Street

Turn right onto Francis Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Francis Street

Turn left onto I 29 Business

1.2 mi · 2 min · North 9th Street

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 15 sec

Merge onto US 36

0.2 mi · 19 sec · US 36

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Toward I 229 South, US 59 South: Kansas City

Merge onto I 229; US 59

4.5 mi · 4 min · I 229; US 59

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 29 sec

Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City

Merge onto I 29; US 71

26 mi · 27 min · I 29; US 71

Use the none lane.

Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71

2.2 mi · 2 min · I 29; I 435; US 71

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 435

28 mi · 30 min · I 435

Exit 14 Toward I 435 East: Saint Louis Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto US 24

0.3 mi · 23 sec · US 24

Exit 63 Toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex

Keep slight left at fork

1.2 mi · 1 min

Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

469 ft · 11 sec

Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Merge onto I 70

0.4 mi · 29 sec · George Brett Super Highway

Continue on I 70

2.9 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

2.6 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 70

53 mi · 56 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 70; US 40

32 mi · 34 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

22 mi · 24 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.6 mi · 1 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.9 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

81 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Take the exit onto US 40

0.3 mi · 33 sec · US 40

Exit 210A Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield

Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61

22 mi · 26 min · Avenue of the Saints

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Exit 22 Toward MO 141 Use the slight right lane.

Turn right

185 ft · 5 sec

Toward MO 141: Manchester

Merge onto MO 141

11 mi · 17 min · MO 141

Use the right lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto MO 141

4.0 mi · 5 min · MO 141

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 13 sec

Toward MO 21 South: Hillsboro

Merge onto MO 21

20 mi · 23 min · Veterans Memorial Highway

At end of road, turn left onto MO 21; MO B

0.5 mi · 49 sec · MO 21; MO B

Continue on MO 21

3.9 mi · 5 min · MO 21

Turn left onto MO 110

1.5 mi · 1 min · MO 110

Turn right onto North Main Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

Turn right onto Easton Street

435 ft · 19 sec · Easton Street

Arrive at destination

Easton Street

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 165.3 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, or about 3h 1m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135.3 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 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 165.3 miles or 3h 1m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 5m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near De Soto, 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 330.6 miles and 6h 23m.

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.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 135.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 165.3 mi from Saint Joseph, MO · 3h 1m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Alton, IL

165 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

Lawson, MO

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 165.3 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 135.3 miles.

Arriving in De Soto, MO

The final approach into De Soto, 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 De Soto, 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

$50.21 one way

$100.43 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 116 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$55.36	$110.71
premium	$4.80	$62.41	$124.82
diesel	$5.64	$73.45	$146.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$50

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$75–$100

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 115.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	99.2	1	$34.71	$15.87
Efficient EV	82.7	0	$28.93	$13.22
EV Truck/SUV	132.2	1	$46.28	$21.16

Gas CO2

116 kg

EV CO2

39 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Saint Joseph, MO

Afternoon in Saint Joseph on Sunday

Local time

1:25 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

De Soto, MO

Afternoon in De Soto on Sunday

Local time

1:25 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°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

8 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

6h 23m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 De Soto, MO covers 330.6 miles and takes about 6h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, I 29. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 165.3 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 $50.21 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Saint Joseph, MO and De Soto, MO, road signs point toward Kansas City and Sports Complex.

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Trip from Saint Joseph, MO to De Soto, MO

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in De Soto, MO

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Saint Joseph, MO

De Soto, MO

Same local time

8 degrees warmer at arrival

6h 23m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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