Origin
Washington, MO
Evening in Washington on Wednesday
Local time
5:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Washington, MO to Jefferson City, MO
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
82.5 mi
133 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 45m
★
6 AM
1h 53m
8 AM
2h 9m
10 AM
1h 59m
12 PM
1h 57m
3 PM
2h 0m
5 PM
2h 9m
8 PM
1h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Washington, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Jefferson City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 82.5-mile journey from Washington, MO, to Jefferson City, MO, is a straightforward, single-day adventure. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 52 minutes on the road, making it an easy day trip. The route primarily utilizes US 50, with some segments on MO A and MO BB, keeping you on highway-style driving for 86% of the trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $13, it's an economical option for exploring the Midwest. This drive offers a focused road experience without the need for an overnight stay, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
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
41.2 miles from Washington, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Drive Character
You'll find this route to be predominantly highway-focused, designed for efficient travel. With 86% of the drive on highways, it offers a consistent pace for most of the 82.5 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 69 miles on US 50, providing a solid period of cruising without frequent turns. While primarily highway, the inclusion of MO A and MO BB introduces slight variations in the road's character, though the overall feel remains geared towards straightforward driving. This profile means less time navigating complex local roads and more time enjoying the open road.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 69 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and MO A. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Jefferson Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 52m drive. You will face about 10 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 (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.3 miles (US 50): Navigation decision point; at 64.6 miles (Wolf Ridge Trail): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 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
|
Jefferson Street
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
4
9.3 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
US 50
At end of road, turn right onto US 50
Navigation decision point
4
64.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
Wolf Ridge Trail
Turn left onto Wolf Ridge Trail
Navigation decision point
5
82.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
|
Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
82.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
|
East Wall Way
Turn right onto East Wall Way
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 50 | 69 mi | 1h 19m |
| MO A | 5 mi | 8m |
| MO BB | 3.1 mi | 7m |
| County Route 605 | 1.5 mi | 5m |
| Jefferson Street | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Loose Creek Highway | 1 mi | 2m |
| County Route 604 | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| Wolf Ridge Trail | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 69 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington, MO and Jefferson City, MO.
1
Start on West 3rd Street
96 ft
·
8 sec
·
West 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Jefferson Street
3
Continue on MO A
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
MO A
4
Turn slight right onto MO BB
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
MO BB
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 50
52 mi
·
58 min
·
US 50
6
Continue on MO U
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
MO U
7
Turn right onto County Route 605
1.5 mi
·
5 min
·
County Route 605
8
Turn right onto County Route 604
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
County Route 604
9
Continue on Loose Creek Highway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Loose Creek Highway
10
Turn left onto Wolf Ridge Trail
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Wolf Ridge Trail
11
Turn right onto US 50
17 mi
·
20 min
·
US 50
12
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Jefferson Street
13
Turn left onto West McCarty Street
495 ft
·
16 sec
·
West McCarty Street
14
Turn right onto Washington Street
250 ft
·
12 sec
·
Washington Street
15
Turn right onto East Wall Way
341 ft
·
25 sec
·
East Wall Way
16
Arrive at destination
East Wall Way
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under two hours, this trip offers great flexibility; you can depart Washington, MO, at your leisure. The longest stretch of 69 miles on US 50 means you can plan for a single fuel or rest stop if needed, though it's unlikely to be essential. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Jefferson City, especially if you plan to explore upon arrival. The efficient highway-focused nature of this route makes it ideal for a spontaneous day trip, so pack light and hit the road when you're ready.
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 41.2 miles from Washington, MO, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69 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 18 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.2 miles or 55m 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 37m
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, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Washington, MO
This is one driving day of about 82.5 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Washington, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 50 for about 69 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.2 mi from Washington, MO · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.2 miles from Washington, 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 69 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.90 one way
$25.80 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.16 | $28.32 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.88 | $31.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.21 | $36.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.66 | $3.96 |
| Efficient EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.22 | $3.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33 | 0 | $11.55 | $5.28 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Evening in Jefferson City on Wednesday
Local time
5:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 52m 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, MO to Jefferson City, MO covers 82.5 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 50, MO A, MO BB. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.2 miles from Washington, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.90 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 52m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.3 miles (US 50): Navigation decision point; at 64.6 miles (Wolf Ridge Trail): Navigation decision point.
The route from Washington, MO to Jefferson City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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