How far is Cottleville, MO from Saint Joseph, MO?

The driving distance from Cottleville, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is about 277.9 miles (447.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 235.1 miles (378.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 22m 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
277.92 mi
04h 11m
Flight
235.14 mi
378.42 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cottleville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
235.14 mi
Kilometers
378.42 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
277.92 mi
Kilometers
447.27 km
Drive Time
04h 11m

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 04h 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Saint Joseph
Wed, Apr 29, 2:35 PM CDT
Return by in Cottleville
Wed, Apr 29, 6:47 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cottleville
2026-04-29T10:24
Arrive Saint Joseph
Wed, Apr 29, 2:35 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:11 AM to 12:11 PM CDT

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

Leave by
8:38 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cottleville
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
Nelson
MO

City in Saline County, Missouri, United States

From Cottleville
138.8 mi
02h 05m
To Saint Joseph
139.1 mi
02h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
48°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 3:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 mph N
Destination
42°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cottleville and Saint Joseph.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    27 m · 6 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Oak Street

    57 m · 9 sec · Oak Street

  3. 3

    Turn right

    130 m · 14 sec

  4. 4

    Continue on Motherhead Road

    1308 ft · 50 sec · Motherhead Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Gutermuth Road

    1.3 km · 2 min · Gutermuth Road

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    47 m · 9 sec

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout

    49 m · 7 sec

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right toward MO 364 West

    1227 ft · 30 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    6.2 mi · 8 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville

    3064 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Avenue of the Saints

  12. 12

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

    3047 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

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

  14. 14

    Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

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

  15. 15

    Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

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

  18. 18

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    52.5 mi · 57 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  22. 22

    Continue on George Brett Super Highway

    1.4 km · 58 sec · George Brett Super Highway

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  24. 24

    Merge slight left onto Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

    7.8 mi · 9 min · Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

  25. 25

    Continue on I435 N

    1.3 mi · 1 min · I435 N

  26. 26

    Continue straight

    20.9 mi · 22 min

  27. 27

    Keep slight left to continue on I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph

    26 mi · 28 min

  28. 28

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

    2673 ft · 54 sec

  29. 29

    Continue straight

    5.7 mi · 7 min

  30. 30

    Take the exit slight right toward Central Business District

    1382 ft · 34 sec

  31. 31

    Continue on Edmond Street

    2408 ft · 58 sec · Edmond Street

  32. 32

    Turn left onto South 10th Street

    841 ft · 21 sec · South 10th Street

  33. 33

    Turn right onto Frederick Avenue

    116 m · 6 sec · Frederick Avenue

  34. 34

    Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue

    42 m · 3 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue

  35. 35

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
35 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
4 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi · 29%
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi · 20%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi · 20%
I 29 North
26 mi · 9%
I435 N
22.1 mi · 8%
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
7.84 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

80.7 mi · 01h 35m

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
04h 11m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+42.8 mi
235.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Nelson
02h 05m from Cottleville
Leave By
8:38 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Cottleville and Mostly Clear near Saint Joseph.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cottleville to Saint Joseph?

The road trip is about 277.9 miles (447.3 km) and usually takes 04h 11m 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?

Nelson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 138.8 miles from Cottleville and 139.1 miles from Saint Joseph.

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

The direct path is about 235.1 miles (378.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.8 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 8:38 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.99 one way or $73.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Cottleville and Mostly Clear near Saint Joseph.

Stop Ideas Near Nelson

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Nelson, 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 Nelson.

RAIL

Sedalia

36 mi away
100 block of Main Street, through parking lot
RAIL

Warrensburg

66 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Jefferson City

88 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Lee's Summit

117 mi away
217 SW Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cottleville and Saint Joseph. Straight-line distance: 235.14 mi (378.42 km).

Cottleville

#1 Cottleville

City in Saint Charles County, Missouri, United States

Population5,925
Coordinates38.7461600, -90.6540100
Altitude151
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: (-90.653805, 38.746137)
End: Walter Welsh Avenue (-94.846632, 39.768853)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 447 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 58m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.81 gal
37.12 L · about $36.99
Round trip
$73.99
19.62 gal · 74.24 L
Estimated CO2
87.2 kg one way
Round trip: 174.4 kg / 384 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $36.99 $73.99
Mid-grade $4.25 $41.72 $83.44
Premium $4.65 $45.66 $91.31
Diesel $5.30 $52.03 $104.06

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 29, 2026

There is no time difference between Cottleville and Saint Joseph. The current time is 10:24:38.

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.