How far is Carl Junction, MO from Saint Joseph, MO?

The driving distance from Carl Junction, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is about 199 miles (320.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 179.7 miles (289.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
198.98 mi
03h 08m
Flight
179.73 mi
289.24 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Carl Junction.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
179.73 mi
Kilometers
289.24 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
198.98 mi
Kilometers
320.22 km
Drive Time
03h 08m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Saint Joseph
Sun, Apr 26, 11:40 AM CDT
Return by in Carl Junction
Sun, Apr 26, 2:49 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Carl Junction
2026-04-26T08:31
Arrive Saint Joseph
Sun, Apr 26, 11:40 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:09 AM to 11:09 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:42 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Carl Junction
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Drexel
MO

City in Cass County, Missouri, United States

From Carl Junction
99.4 mi
01h 34m
To Saint Joseph
99.6 mi
01h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 15 mph SE
Destination
75°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 16 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Carl Junction and Saint Joseph.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Carl Junction and Saint Joseph.

  1. 1

    Start on West Pennell Street

    1.3 mi · 3 min · West Pennell Street

  2. 2

    Turn left

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    53 m · 2 sec

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout

    9.9 mi · 14 min

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    4.9 mi · 6 min

  6. 6

    Turn right

    7.7 mi · 11 min

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Parkview Drive

    57.5 mi · 1 hr 5 min · Parkview Drive

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    48.2 mi · 50 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 435 West, US 50 West

    1391 ft · 43 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    1.1 km · 2 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 435 West, US 50 West

    149 m · 12 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    32.7 mi · 35 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight left toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph

    1.3 km · 50 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    25.1 mi · 27 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph

    2673 ft · 54 sec

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    5.7 mi · 7 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward Central Business District

    1382 ft · 34 sec

  18. 18

    Continue on Edmond Street

    2408 ft · 58 sec · Edmond Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto South 10th Street

    841 ft · 21 sec · South 10th Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Frederick Avenue

    116 m · 6 sec · Frederick Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue

    42 m · 3 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Carl Junction and Saint Joseph.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
22 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Parkview Drive
106 mi · 53%
I 435 West
33.8 mi · 17%
I 29 North
25.9 mi · 13%
West Pennell Street
16.1 mi · 8%
I 229 North
6.2 mi · 3%
Edmond Street
0.46 mi
Longest Stretch

Parkview Drive

Turn left onto Parkview Drive

57.5 mi · 01h 05m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 08m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.3 mi
179.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Drexel
01h 34m from Carl Junction
Leave By
10:42 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Carl Junction and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Saint Joseph.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Carl Junction to Saint Joseph?

The road trip is about 199 miles (320.2 km) and usually takes 03h 08m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Drexel is a useful midpoint, sitting about 99.4 miles from Carl Junction and 99.6 miles from Saint Joseph.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 179.7 miles (289.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:42 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.47 one way or $52.94 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 62.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Carl Junction and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Saint Joseph.

Stop Ideas Near Drexel

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Drexel, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Drexel.

RAIL

Lee's Summit

52 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Union Station

67 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.
RAIL

Independence

69 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.
RAIL

Lawrence

77 mi away
413 East 7th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Carl Junction and Saint Joseph. Straight-line distance: 179.73 mi (289.24 km).

Carl Junction

#1 Carl Junction

City in Jasper County, Missouri, United States

Population8,430
Coordinates37.1767200, -94.5655100
Altitude273
CountryUnited States
Saint Joseph

#2 Saint Joseph

The most populous city in Buchanan County, Missouri.

Population74,074
Coordinates39.7686100, -94.8466300
Altitude270
CountryUnited States
Start: West Pennell Street (-94.565506, 37.176818)
End: Walter Welsh Avenue (-94.846632, 39.768853)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 320 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.02 gal
26.58 L · about $26.47
Round trip
$52.94
14.04 gal · 53.16 L
Estimated CO2
62.4 kg one way
Round trip: 124.8 kg / 275 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $26.47 $52.94
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.86 $59.71
Premium $4.65 $32.67 $65.34
Diesel $5.30 $37.23 $74.47

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Missouri · Apr 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Carl Junction and Saint Joseph. The current time is 08:31:30.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.