Origin
Saint Joseph, MO
Afternoon in Saint Joseph on Friday
Local time
2:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 34m
Distance
76.3 mi
123 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Joseph, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Albany, MO
Valeria Boltneva
The drive from Saint Joseph, MO to Albany, MO covers 76.3 miles and takes about 1h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 29, MO 210, Alexander Doniphan Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34.1 miles on I 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.93 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.
Midpoint
38.2 miles from Saint Joseph, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 76.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 1h 34m highway drive covering 76.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 29 and MO 210. The longest continuous stretch is about 34.1 miles on I 29.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and MO 210. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Francis Street.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.3 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Francis Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Francis Street
Navigation decision point
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
Take the exit toward MO 152 East: Liberty
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Joseph, MO and Albany, MO, road signs point toward Liberty and Richmond.
Liberty
Richmond
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 34.1 mi | 36m |
| MO 210 | 17.1 mi | 21m |
| Alexander Doniphan Memorial Highway | 10.9 mi | 12m |
| MO 291 | 5.2 mi | 8m |
| I 229 | 4.5 mi | 4m |
| North 9th Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West Kansas Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Northeast Barry Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph, MO and Albany, 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 MO 152
Continue on MO 152
Continue on West Kansas Street
Turn right onto MO 291
Take the exit
Turn left onto MO 210
Turn left onto Brashears Road
Turn right onto West 73rd Street
Turn left onto Albany Road
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 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.2 miles or 42m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albany, MO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Saint Joseph, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Joseph, MO
This is one driving day of about 76.3 miles and 1h 34m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.2 mi from Saint Joseph, MO · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 38.2 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Albany, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$11.93 one way
$23.86 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.10 | $26.19 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.68 | $29.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.85 | $33.69 |
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: 26.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.01 | $3.66 |
| Efficient EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.68 | $4.88 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Saint Joseph on Friday
Local time
2:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Albany on Friday
Local time
2:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
57°F
Riverside, MO
38 mi in
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
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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