How far is Jefferson City, MO from Festus, MO?

The driving distance from Jefferson City, MO to Festus, MO is about 130.7 miles (210.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 99.4 miles (159.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 44m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
130.75 mi
02h 52m
Flight
99.34 mi
159.88 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jefferson City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
99.34 mi
Kilometers
159.88 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
130.75 mi
Kilometers
210.42 km
Drive Time
02h 52m

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 02h 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Festus
Thu, Apr 23, 12:43 PM CDT
Return by in Jefferson City
Thu, Apr 23, 3:35 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jefferson City
2026-04-23T09:50
Arrive Festus
Thu, Apr 23, 12:43 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:52 AM to 12:52 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:46 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jefferson City
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Leslie
MO

Village in Missouri, USA

From Jefferson City
65.3 mi
01h 26m
To Festus
65.4 mi
01h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 15 mph S
Destination
81°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 12 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Jefferson City and Festus.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson City and Festus.

  1. 1

    Start on East Wall Way

    47 m · 13 sec · East Wall Way

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Jefferson Street

    1130 ft · 40 sec · Jefferson Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Rex M Whitton Expressway

    11.3 mi · 14 min · Rex M Whitton Expressway

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on US 50 East: Saint Louis

    5.9 mi · 7 min

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Wolf Ridge Trail

    1995 ft · 2 min · Wolf Ridge Trail

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Loose Creek Highway

    1 mi · 2 min · Loose Creek Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on County Route 604

    1 km · 3 min · County Route 604

  8. 8

    Turn left onto County Route 605

    1.5 mi · 6 min · County Route 605

  9. 9

    Turn left

    1817 ft · 36 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on West Main Street

    58.6 mi · 1 hr 10 min · West Main Street

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    2.5 mi · 3 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 44 East, US 50 East: Saint Louis

    17.3 mi · 19 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 109: Eureka, Wildwood

    1115 ft · 27 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right

    2.1 mi · 4 min

  15. 15

    Turn left

    6.4 mi · 11 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    11.6 mi · 17 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right

    55 m · 5 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Metropolitan Boulevard

    641 ft · 15 sec · Metropolitan Boulevard

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward I 55 South: Cape Girardeau

    66 m · 10 sec

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto I 55 South: Cape Girardeau

    832 ft · 10 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Jeff McBride Memorial Highway

    8.9 mi · 10 min · Jeff McBride Memorial Highway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward MO A: Hillsboro, Festus

    908 ft · 19 sec

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on MO A: Hillsboro, Festus

    558 ft · 14 sec

  24. 24

    Turn straight onto Veterans Memorial Boulevard

    2671 ft · 1 min · Veterans Memorial Boulevard

  25. 25

    Turn left onto South Mill Street

    3107 ft · 1 min · South Mill Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    672 ft · 16 sec · West Main Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Walnut Street

    103 m · 20 sec · Walnut Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto North 2nd Street

    24 m · 3 sec · North 2nd Street

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 2nd Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Jefferson City and Festus.

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
29 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Main Street
61.2 mi · 47%
I 44 East
17.3 mi · 13%
MO 109
11.8 mi · 9%
Rex M Whitton Expressway
11.3 mi · 9%
Jeff McBride Memorial Highway
8.88 mi · 7%
US 50 East
5.89 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

West Main Street

Continue on West Main Street

58.6 mi · 01h 10m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 52m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.3 mi
99.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Leslie
01h 26m from Jefferson City
Leave By
12:46 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Jefferson City and Mostly Sunny near Festus.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Jefferson City to Festus?

The road trip is about 130.7 miles (210.4 km) and usually takes 02h 52m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Leslie is a useful midpoint, sitting about 65.3 miles from Jefferson City and 65.4 miles from Festus.

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

The direct path is about 99.4 miles (159.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:46 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $17.38 one way or $34.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 41 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Jefferson City and Mostly Sunny near Festus.

Stop Ideas Near Leslie

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

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

RAIL

Washington

25 mi away
301 West Front St.
RAIL

Hermann

37 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.
RAIL

Kirkwood

74 mi away
110 West Argonne Dr.
RAIL

Jefferson City

84 mi away
101 Jefferson Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jefferson City and Festus. Straight-line distance: 99.34 mi (159.88 km).

Jefferson City

#1 Jefferson City

The capital of Missouri.

Population42,708
Coordinates38.5767000, -92.1735200
Altitude192
CountryUnited States
Festus

#2 Festus

City in Missouri

Population12,114
Coordinates38.2206100, -90.3959500
Altitude132
CountryUnited States
Start: Jefferson City (-92.17352, 38.5767)
End: Festus (-90.39595, 38.22061)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 210 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.61 gal
17.46 L · about $17.38
Round trip
$34.77
9.22 gal · 34.92 L
Estimated CO2
41 kg one way
Round trip: 81.9 kg / 181 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $17.38 $34.77
Mid-grade $4.25 $19.61 $39.21
Premium $4.65 $21.45 $42.91
Diesel $5.30 $24.45 $48.90

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Jefferson City and Festus. The current time is 09:50:46.

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.