Origin
Union, MO
Evening in Union on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union, MO to Jefferson City, MO
Drive Time
1h 41m
Distance
77.7 mi
125 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, MO
Tien Nguyen
Jefferson City, MO
life vibes
Trip Overview
Traveling from Union to Jefferson City covers 76.7 miles, making it an ideal candidate for a straightforward day trip. Expect to spend approximately 1 hour and 27 minutes behind the wheel as you navigate through the heart of the Midwest. With a modest fuel budget of $12, this journey is both time and cost-efficient for a quick getaway. You won't need to plan for overnight stays, as the duration is well-suited for a single day of travel. Since there are no designated stops programmed into this route, you have the flexibility to manage your own pace throughout the drive. This trip offers a practical way to connect these two Missouri locations without the complexity of a multi-day itinerary.
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
38.8 miles from Union, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Because the highway share is 0%, you will spend the entire 76.7-mile journey navigating local roads instead of high-speed expressways. Your route relies on East Park Avenue, North Christina Avenue, and West Springfield Avenue to carry you toward your destination. This setup requires more active attention to the road compared to a standard highway haul. By avoiding major thoroughfares, you get a consistent, steady driving experience that stays off the typical fast-paced transit corridors.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 50 is the longest continuous segment at about 72.5 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
957 ft
530 ft
Total Climb
840 ft
Total Descent
737 ft
Highest Point
957 ft
~55 mi in
Elevation Range
427 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and County Route 605. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Park Avenue.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 41m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North Christina Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 50): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Park Avenue
Turn left onto East Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Christina Avenue
Turn left onto North Christina Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 50
Turn right onto US 50
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
77.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
77.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
East Wall Way
Turn right onto East Wall Way
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 50 | 72.5 mi | 1h 24m |
| County Route 605 | 1.5 mi | 5m |
| Loose Creek Highway | 1 mi | 2m |
| County Route 604 | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| North Christina Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Wolf Ridge Trail | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| MO U | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Hoover Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 72.5 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, MO and Jefferson City, MO.
1
Start on this road
62 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto East Park Avenue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Park Avenue
3
Turn left onto North Christina Avenue
448 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Christina Avenue
4
Continue on North Christina Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Christina Avenue
5
At end of road, turn right onto West Springfield Avenue
417 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Springfield Avenue
6
Turn left onto Hoover Avenue
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Hoover Avenue
7
Turn right onto US 50
55 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on MO U
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
MO U
9
Turn right onto County Route 605
1.5 mi
·
5 min
·
County Route 605
10
Turn right onto County Route 604
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
County Route 604
11
Continue on Loose Creek Highway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Loose Creek Highway
12
Turn left onto Wolf Ridge Trail
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Wolf Ridge Trail
13
Turn right onto US 50
17 mi
·
20 min
·
US 50
14
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Jefferson Street
15
Turn left onto West McCarty Street
495 ft
·
16 sec
·
West McCarty Street
16
Turn right onto Washington Street
250 ft
·
12 sec
·
Washington Street
17
Turn right onto East Wall Way
341 ft
·
25 sec
·
East Wall Way
18
Arrive at destination
East Wall Way
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the freedom to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Keep in mind that because the route consists entirely of local roads, travel times can fluctuate based on local traffic patterns and turn-heavy segments. Budgeting roughly $12 for fuel should comfortably cover your needs, but it is always wise to ensure your tank is ready before heading out. Given the lack of formal stops, consider identifying your own breaks along the local stretches if you prefer to stretch your legs. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to familiarize yourself with the transition points between East Park, North Christina, and West Springfield Avenues before you leave to ensure smooth navigation.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.8 miles from Union, MO, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.5 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 77.7 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.8 miles or 46m 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 26m
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 Union, 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 Union, MO
This is one driving day of about 77.7 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Union, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 50 for about 72.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.8 mi from Union, MO · 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 77.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.8 miles from Union, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 50 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.5 miles.
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
$11.80 one way
$23.60 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $13.01 | $26.02 |
| premium | $4.80 | $14.67 | $29.34 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $17.26 | $34.52 |
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: 27.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.3 | 0 | $8.16 | $3.73 |
| Efficient EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.80 | $3.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.1 | 0 | $10.88 | $4.97 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Jefferson City, MO
Evening in Jefferson City on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
5 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
1h 41m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Union, MO to Jefferson City, MO covers 77.7 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 50, County Route 605, Loose Creek Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.8 miles from Union, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.80 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 41m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North Christina Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 50): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Union, MO to Jefferson City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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