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Trip from Saint Joseph, MO to Jefferson City, MO

Data updated 1 second ago

Drive Time

3h 58m

Distance

214.6 mi

345 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 46m ★
6 AM
3h 59m
8 AM
4h 24m
10 AM
4h 8m
12 PM
4h 5m
3 PM
4h 9m
5 PM
4h 23m
8 PM
3h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Buchanan County, Missouri, United States

Saint Joseph, MO

Wikimedia Commons

capital city of Missouri, United States and county seat of Cole County

Jefferson City, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Joseph, MO to Jefferson City, MO covers 214.6 miles and takes about 3h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, US 63 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.55 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

107.3 miles from Saint Joseph, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 59m into the drive .

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Drive Character

The drive from Saint Joseph, MO to Jefferson City, MO covers 214.6 miles and takes about 3h 58m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 38 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 54.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 214.6 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.

8
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 straight / slight right lanes. Exit 14 Toward I 435 East: Saint Louis
7
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...
7
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
7
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
7
184.6 mi into trip | ~3h 23m in | US 63 Conn

Merge onto US 63 Conn

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

Use the slight right lane.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Saint Joseph, MO and Jefferson City, MO, road signs point toward Kansas City, Sports Complex and Moberly.

Kansas City

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

Sports Complex

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

Moberly

184.5 mi in | ~3h 23m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway 54.4 mi 58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 54.3 mi 58m
US 63 28.5 mi 31m
I 29 28.4 mi 30m
I 435 28 mi 30m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway 5.6 mi 6m
I 229 4.5 mi 4m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway 1.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway — 54.4 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Walter Welsh Avenue

417 ft · 8 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue
2

Turn right onto North 12th Street

297 ft · 10 sec · North 12th Street
3

Turn right onto Francis Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Francis Street
4

Turn left onto I 29 Business

1.2 mi · 2 min · North 9th Street
5

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 15 sec
6

Merge onto US 36

0.2 mi · 19 sec · US 36
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward I 229 South, US 59 South: Kansas City
8

Merge onto I 229; US 59

4.5 mi · 4 min · I 229; US 59
9

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 29 sec
Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
10

Merge onto I 29; US 71

26 mi · 27 min · I 29; US 71
11

Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71

2.2 mi · 2 min · I 29; I 435; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 435

28 mi · 30 min · I 435
Exit 14 Toward I 435 East: Saint Louis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

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
14

Keep slight left at fork

1.2 mi · 1 min
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork

469 ft · 11 sec
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16

Merge onto I 70

0.4 mi · 29 sec · George Brett Super Highway
17

Continue on I 70

2.9 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
18

Continue on I 70

1.8 mi · 2 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on I 70

2.6 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
20

Continue on I 70

53 mi · 56 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
21

Continue on I 70; US 40

32 mi · 34 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
22

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

22 mi · 24 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
23

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
24

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.6 mi · 1 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
25

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.5 mi · 1 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
26

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Exit 128A Toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
27

Turn slight right

192 ft · 4 sec
Toward US 63 South: Jefferson City
28

Merge onto US 63 Conn

521 ft · 11 sec · US 63 Conn
Use the slight right lane.
29

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward US 63 South: Jefferson City Use the straight lane.
30

Merge onto US 63

27 mi · 29 min · US 63
31

Take the exit onto US 63

1.3 mi · 1 min · US 63
Toward US 54 West, US 63 South: Jefferson City
32

Take the exit

388 ft · 18 sec
Toward State Capitol
33

Turn left onto West Main Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
34

Turn right onto Broadway Street

446 ft · 26 sec · Broadway Street
35

Turn left onto West High Street

0.2 mi · 38 sec · West High Street
36

Turn right

254 ft · 25 sec
37

At end of road, turn left onto East Wall Way

6 ft · 0 sec · East Wall Way
38

Arrive at destination

East Wall Way

Trip Plan

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 107.3 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 107.3 miles or 1h 59m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 13m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jefferson City, 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 214.6 miles and 3h 58m.

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 U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 107.3 mi from Saint Joseph, MO · 1h 59m into the drive

Downtown Lawson, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lawson, MO

107 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.

Lawson, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 107.3 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Jefferson City, MO

The final approach into Jefferson City, 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 Jefferson City, 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

$33.55 one way

$67.10 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 75 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $36.84 $73.67
premium $4.89 $41.30 $82.60
diesel $5.61 $47.38 $94.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 75.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 64.4 0 $22.53 $10.30
Efficient EV 53.7 0 $18.78 $8.58
EV Truck/SUV 85.8 1 $30.04 $13.73

Gas CO2

75 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Saint Joseph, MO

Morning in Saint Joseph on Wednesday

Local time

7:15 AM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Partly Cloudy

SSW 17 mph 7% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 13 at 10:12PM CDT until April 13 at 10:45PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hil...

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 13 at 10:11PM CDT until April 13 at 10:30PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hil...

Destination

Jefferson City, MO

Morning in Jefferson City on Wednesday

Local time

7:15 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°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

3h 58m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Jefferson City, MO covers 214.6 miles and takes about 3h 58m 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, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, US 63. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 107.3 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 $33.55 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 214.6 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.
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.
Between Saint Joseph, MO and Jefferson City, MO, road signs point toward Kansas City, Sports Complex and Moberly.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Jefferson City, MO to Saint Joseph, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

215.2 mi 3h 59m

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