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Drive Time
2h 8m
Distance
108.4 mi
175 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Adrian, MO
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Saint Joseph, MO to Adrian, MO covers 108.4 miles and takes about 2h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Bruce R. Watkins Drive, I 29, US 169 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.3 miles on Bruce R. Watkins Drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.95 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
54.2 miles from Saint Joseph, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
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The drive from Saint Joseph, MO to Adrian, MO covers 108.4 miles and takes about 2h 8m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
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 1.8 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 108.4 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 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.2 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward I 229 South, US 59 South: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71 toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway toward I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East, US 71 South: Saint Louis, Joplin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71 / Bruce R. Watkins Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Saint Joseph, MO to Adrian, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Joplin along the way.
Joplin
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bruce R. Watkins Drive | 53.3 mi | 1h 1m |
| I 29 | 40.4 mi | 44m |
| US 169 | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| I 229 | 4.5 mi | 4m |
| North 9th Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| George Brett Super Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West 6th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph, MO and Adrian, MO.
Start on Walter Welsh Avenue
Turn right onto North 12th Street
Turn right onto Francis Street
Turn left onto I 29 Business
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 36
Take the exit
Merge onto I 229; US 59
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 29; US 71
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71
Take the exit
Merge onto US 169
Keep slight left at fork onto Broadway Boulevard
Turn left onto West 6th Street
Take the ramp
Continue on I 35; I 70; US 24; US 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70; US 24; US 40
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71
Take the exit
Turn right onto MO 18
Continue on MO 18
Turn left onto MO 18
Arrive at destination
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.
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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.2 miles or 1h 4m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Adrian, MO than in the middle of the route.
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 108.4 miles and 2h 8m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.2 mi from Saint Joseph, MO · 1h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 54.2 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Adrian, 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 Adrian, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$16.95 one way
$33.89 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.61 | $37.21 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.86 | $41.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.93 | $47.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.38 | $5.20 |
| Efficient EV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.49 | $4.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.4 | 0 | $15.18 | $6.94 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Saint Joseph on Tuesday
Local time
10:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Night in Adrian on Tuesday
Local time
10:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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