Trip from Scott City, MO to Saint Joseph, MO

Drive Time

7h 46m

Distance

412.4 mi

664 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$63

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Saint Joseph, MO

Andrés Oliver Joya Zapata

Trip Overview

Crossing Missouri from Scott City to Saint Joseph covers 412.4 miles, making for a substantial journey through the Midwest. You should anticipate roughly 7 hours and 46 minutes of drive time, which is manageable as a single-day push if you are prepared for a long stint behind the wheel. Budgeting approximately $63 for fuel will keep you moving along the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. Because this is a cross-state transit, you will spend your entire trip within Missouri, offering a consistent regional feel. While it can be tackled in one go, evaluate your stamina before committing to the full duration in a single day.

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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

206.2 miles from Scott City, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 57m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip features a mixed drive profile, blending fast-paced interstate travel with other regional road types. You will spend 42% of your journey on highways, requiring a steady focus as you navigate the transition between different road classifications. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 105.1-mile segment on I-55, which provides a significant opportunity to settle into a rhythm. Expect the personality of the road to shift as you move across the state, moving from the flow of major interstates to the varying conditions of the secondary highways. Keep your eyes on the road, as these changes in infrastructure will dictate your overall pace.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 105.1 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 107.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 412.4 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 107.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 120.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

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

107.8 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in

Take the exit toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 196 Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chi...

108.1 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 West: Kansas City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 270 West: Kansas City

120.4 mi into trip | ~2h 14m in

Take the exit toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 12 Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Lo...

120.5 mi into trip | ~2h 14m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Went...

146.4 mi into trip | ~2h 46m in | US 40

Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 1A Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City

Towns Along This Route

Between Scott City, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.

Chicago

107.8 mi in | ~1h 57m

Saint Louis

120.4 mi in | ~2h 14m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 55	105.1 mi	1h 53m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway	80.7 mi	1h 35m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway	54.4 mi	58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	54.3 mi	58m
I 29	26 mi	27m
Avenue of the Saints	25.4 mi	30m
I 435	20.9 mi	22m
I 270	11.5 mi	14m

Longest stretch: I 55 — 105.1 mi, about 1h 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on MO K

1.0 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Take the ramp onto US 61 Business

0.4 mi · 51 sec · US 61 Business

Toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Cape Girardeau

Merge onto I 55; US 61

3.6 mi · 3 min · I 55; US 61

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55

102 mi · 1 hr 49 min · I 55

Continue on I 55

1.3 mi · 1 min · Rosa Parks Highway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Exit 196 Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

388 ft · 8 sec

Toward I 270 West: Kansas City Use the slight left lane.

Continue on this road

0.7 mi · 1 min · this road

Exit 196 Toward I 270 West

Merge onto I 270

11 mi · 14 min · I 270

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec

Exit 12 Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 48 sec

Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville Use the slight left lane.

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 9 sec · this road

Exit 12 Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville

Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61

25 mi · 30 min · Avenue of the Saints

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit onto US 40

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 40

Exit 1A Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto I 70; US 40

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

Continue on I 70; US 40

2.0 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial 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

1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

54 mi · 58 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

52 mi · 56 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 70

2.7 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

2.9 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 70

0.8 mi · 58 sec · George Brett Super Highway

Take the exit

1.1 mi · 2 min

Exit 8B Toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 435; US 24

7.8 mi · 9 min · Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I435 N

1.3 mi · 1 min · I435 N

Continue on I 435

21 mi · 22 min · I 435

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71

26 mi · 27 min · I 29; US 71

Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 54 sec

Exit 43 Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph

Continue on I 229

5.7 mi · 6 min · I 229

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Exit 6A Toward Central Business District

Continue on Edmond Street

0.5 mi · 57 sec · Edmond Street

Turn left onto I 29 Business

0.2 mi · 20 sec · South 10th Street

Turn right onto I 29 Business

379 ft · 6 sec · Frederick Avenue

Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue

137 ft · 2 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue

Arrive at destination

Walter Welsh Avenue

Trip Plan

To tackle this 412.4-mile route efficiently, consider departing early in the morning to avoid fatigue during the final hours of the 7-hour and 46-minute drive. You have two scheduled stops built into the itinerary, so use these to stretch your legs and refuel before you hit the next long stretch. Since your fuel costs are estimated at $63, keep an eye on your gauge during that initial 105.1-mile stretch on I-55 to ensure you are not caught off guard by consumption rates. A smart strategy is to prioritize your first stop early to break up the initial monotony of the interstate. Staying flexible with your timing will help you navigate the mixed road conditions more comfortably.

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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 206.2 miles from Scott City, MO, or about 3h 57m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.1 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 91 miles or 1h 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 206.2 miles or 3h 57m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Joseph, MO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Scott City, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Scott City, MO

This is one driving day of about 412.4 miles and 7h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 91 miles from Scott City, MO.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 105.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 206.2 mi from Scott City, MO · 3h 57m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Alton, IL

206 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

Cahokia, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 91 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Quincy, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 206.2 miles from Scott City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105.1 miles.

Arriving in Saint Joseph, MO

The final approach into Saint Joseph, 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 Saint Joseph, 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

$62.64 one way

$125.28 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 144 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$69.05	$138.11
premium	$4.80	$77.85	$155.71
diesel	$5.64	$91.62	$183.24

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$63

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$88–$113

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 144.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	123.7	1	$43.30	$19.80
Efficient EV	103.1	1	$36.08	$16.50
EV Truck/SUV	165	2	$57.74	$26.39

Gas CO2

144 kg

EV CO2

48 kg (67% 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

Scott City, MO

Afternoon in Scott City on Sunday

Local time

2:27 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Saint Joseph, MO

Afternoon in Saint Joseph on Sunday

Local time

2:27 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°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

17 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

7h 46m 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 Scott City, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 412.4 miles and takes about 7h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 55, Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 206.2 miles from Scott City, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $62.64 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.

Between Scott City, MO and Saint Joseph, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.

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