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

The driving distance from Hillsboro, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is about 322.6 miles (519.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 253.3 miles (407.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 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
322.6 mi
05h 08m
Flight
253.29 mi
407.63 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hillsboro.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
253.29 mi
Kilometers
407.63 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
322.6 mi
Kilometers
519.18 km
Drive Time
05h 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 05h 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Saint Joseph
Sun, May 31, 9:57 AM CDT
Return by in Hillsboro
Sun, May 31, 3:06 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hillsboro
2026-05-31T04:49
Arrive Saint Joseph
Sun, May 31, 9:57 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:09 AM to 1:09 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
6:42 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Hillsboro
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
Boonville
MO

City in Cooper County, Missouri, USA

From Hillsboro
161.1 mi
02h 34m
To Saint Joseph
161.5 mi
02h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 mph SE
Destination
87°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Old State Highway 21

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Old State Highway 21

  2. 2

    Turn left

    53 m · 3 sec

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right toward MO 21 North: Saint Louis

    1797 ft · 24 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Highway

    17.1 mi · 20 min · Veterans Memorial Highway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 141: Arnold, Fenton

    1384 ft · 24 sec

  6. 6

    Turn left

    4 mi · 6 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on MO 141

    11.3 mi · 18 min · MO 141

  8. 8

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

    41 m · 7 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left onto I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville

    1812 ft · 44 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    22.1 mi · 27 min · Avenue of the Saints

  11. 11

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

    3047 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

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

  13. 13

    Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

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

  14. 14

    Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

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

  15. 15

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

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

  17. 17

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    52.5 mi · 57 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

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

  20. 20

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on George Brett Super Highway

    1.4 km · 58 sec · George Brett Super Highway

  22. 22

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

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

    7.8 mi · 9 min · Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on I435 N

    1.3 mi · 1 min · I435 N

  25. 25

    Continue straight

    20.9 mi · 22 min

  26. 26

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

    26 mi · 28 min

  27. 27

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

    2673 ft · 54 sec

  28. 28

    Continue straight

    5.7 mi · 7 min

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward Central Business District

    1382 ft · 34 sec

  30. 30

    Continue on Edmond Street

    2408 ft · 58 sec · Edmond Street

  31. 31

    Turn left onto South 10th Street

    841 ft · 21 sec · South 10th Street

  32. 32

    Turn right onto Frederick Avenue

    116 m · 6 sec · Frederick Avenue

  33. 33

    Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue

    42 m · 3 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
34 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
4 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi · 25%
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi · 17%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi · 17%
I 29 North
26 mi · 8%
I435 N
22.1 mi · 7%
Avenue of the Saints
22.1 mi · 7%
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
05h 08m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+69.3 mi
253.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Boonville
02h 34m from Hillsboro
Leave By
6:42 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro to Saint Joseph?

The road trip is about 322.6 miles (519.2 km) and usually takes 05h 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?

Boonville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 161.1 miles from Hillsboro and 161.5 miles from Saint Joseph.

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

The direct path is about 253.3 miles (407.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 69.3 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 6:42 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.91 one way or $85.83 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Hillsboro and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Saint Joseph.

Stop Ideas Near Boonville

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

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

RAIL

Sedalia

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

Jefferson City

66 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Warrensburg

89 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Hermann

117 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hillsboro and Saint Joseph. Straight-line distance: 253.29 mi (407.63 km).

Hillsboro

#1 Hillsboro

City in Missouri, United States

Population3,355
Coordinates38.2322800, -90.5629000
Altitude242
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: Old State Highway 21 (-90.562747, 38.232276)
End: Walter Welsh Avenue (-94.846632, 39.768853)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 519 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.38 gal
43.09 L · about $42.91
Round trip
$85.83
22.76 gal · 86.18 L
Estimated CO2
101.1 kg one way
Round trip: 202.3 kg / 446 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $42.91 $85.83
Mid-grade $4.25 $48.40 $96.80
Premium $4.65 $52.96 $105.93
Diesel $5.30 $60.36 $120.72

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Hillsboro and Saint Joseph. The current time is 04:49:02.

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.