Origin
Washington County, MO
Late night in Washington County on Friday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Washington County, MO to Jefferson City, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 49m
Distance
117.6 mi
189 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 38m
★
6 AM
2h 49m
8 AM
3h 11m
10 AM
2h 57m
12 PM
2h 55m
3 PM
2h 58m
5 PM
3h 10m
8 PM
2h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Washington County, MO
Townsend Walton
Jefferson City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Washington County, MO to Jefferson City, MO covers 117.6 miles and takes about 2h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 63, MO 8, I 44 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.6 miles on US 63. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.39 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
58.8 miles from Washington County, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 49m. Total distance: 117.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 49m highway drive covering 117.6 miles, with most of the trip on US 63 and MO 8. The longest continuous stretch is about 49.6 miles on US 63.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 63 is the longest continuous segment at about 49.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 63 and MO 8. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 8.2 miles in near MO 8.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Washington County, MO to Jefferson City, MO is easy. At 2h 49m with 82% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.2 miles (MO 8): Navigation decision point; at 42.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 55.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
8.2 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
MO 8
Turn right onto MO 8
Navigation decision point
5
42.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West: Rolla
Navigation decision point
Toward I 44 West: Rolla
6
55.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward MO 8, MO 68: Saint James
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 195
Toward MO 8, MO 68: Saint James
5
117.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
|
Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
117.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
|
East Wall Way
Turn right onto East Wall Way
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 63 | 49.6 mi | 1h 3m |
| MO 8 | 27.9 mi | 41m |
| I 44 | 12.3 mi | 13m |
| North Jefferson Street | 12.2 mi | 18m |
| MO AA | 7.7 mi | 18m |
| MO 19 | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| Jefferson Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West McCarty Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 49.6 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington County, MO and Jefferson City, MO.
1
Start on this road
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
this road
2
Turn left onto MO AA
7.7 mi
·
18 min
·
MO AA
3
Turn right onto MO 8
28 mi
·
41 min
·
MO 8
4
Continue on MO 19
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
MO 19
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 44 West: Rolla
6
Merge onto I 44
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 44
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 195
Toward MO 8, MO 68: Saint James
8
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 68
12 mi
·
18 min
·
North Jefferson Street
9
At end of road, turn right onto US 63
50 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
US 63
10
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Jefferson Street
11
Turn left onto West McCarty Street
495 ft
·
16 sec
·
West McCarty Street
12
Turn right onto Washington Street
250 ft
·
12 sec
·
Washington Street
13
Turn right onto East Wall Way
341 ft
·
25 sec
·
East Wall Way
14
Arrive at destination
East Wall Way
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.8 miles from Washington County, MO, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.6 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 26 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.8 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
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 Washington County, 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 Washington County, MO
This is one driving day of about 117.6 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Washington County, 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 US 63 for about 49.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58.8 mi from Washington County, MO · 1h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58.8 miles from Washington County, 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
$18.39 one way
$36.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.19 | $40.37 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.63 | $45.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.96 | $51.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.3 | 0 | $12.35 | $5.64 |
| Efficient EV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.29 | $4.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47 | 0 | $16.46 | $7.53 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Jefferson City, MO
Late night in Jefferson City on Friday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Saint James, MO
59 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 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
2h 49m 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 Washington County, MO to Jefferson City, MO covers 117.6 miles and takes about 2h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 63, MO 8, I 44. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.8 miles from Washington County, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.39 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Washington County, MO to Jefferson City, MO is easy. At 2h 49m with 82% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.2 miles (MO 8): Navigation decision point; at 42.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 55.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Washington County, MO to Jefferson City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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