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

The driving distance from Saint Joseph, MO to Buffalo, MO is about 208.9 miles (336.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 174.6 miles (281 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 24m 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
208.88 mi
04h 12m
Flight
174.62 mi
281.03 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Saint Joseph.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
174.62 mi
Kilometers
281.03 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
208.88 mi
Kilometers
336.16 km
Drive Time
04h 12m

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 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Buffalo
Wed, Apr 15, 2:37 AM CDT
Return by in Saint Joseph
Wed, Apr 15, 6:49 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Saint Joseph
2026-04-14T22:25
Arrive Buffalo
Wed, Apr 15, 2:37 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:12 AM to 12:12 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
8:36 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Saint Joseph
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
Garden City
MO

City in Cass County, Missouri, United States

From Saint Joseph
104.5 mi
02h 06m
To Buffalo
104.4 mi
02h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 20 mph SSW
Destination
81°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 to 18 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Walter Welsh Avenue

    127 m · 9 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North 12th Street

    91 m · 10 sec · North 12th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Francis Street

    1130 ft · 38 sec · Francis Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto North 9th Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North 9th Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right

    741 ft · 16 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    929 ft · 20 sec

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight left toward I 229 South, US 59 South: Kansas City

    992 ft · 21 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    4.5 mi · 5 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City

    1705 ft · 29 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    26.1 mi · 28 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight right

    2.2 mi · 2 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City

    12 mi · 14 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 169 South: Kansas City Downtown

    1724 ft · 29 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    5.2 mi · 7 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Broadway Boulevard

    536 ft · 18 sec · Broadway Boulevard

  16. 16

    Turn left onto West 6th Street

    1438 ft · 26 sec · West 6th Street

  17. 17

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 35 North, I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East

    721 ft · 16 sec

  18. 18

    Continue on George Brett Super Highway

    2089 ft · 39 sec · George Brett Super Highway

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on George Brett Super Highway

    2797 ft · 58 sec · George Brett Super Highway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Bruce R. Watkins Drive

    37.8 mi · 45 min · Bruce R. Watkins Drive

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 7 South: Clinton

    924 ft · 20 sec

  22. 22

    Turn slight left onto MO 7 South: Clinton

    55.5 mi · 1 hr 4 min

  23. 23

    Continue straight

    40.5 mi · 47 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 13 Business, MO 32: Bolivar, Fair Play

    1085 ft · 31 sec

  25. 25

    Turn left onto West Broadway Street

    20.4 mi · 31 min · West Broadway Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto South Maple Street

    1350 ft · 27 sec · South Maple Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Maple Street

Car Route Details

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

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
27 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
5 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
MO 7 South
96.1 mi · 46%
I 29 South
40.7 mi · 19%
Bruce R. Watkins Drive
37.8 mi · 18%
West Broadway Street
20.4 mi · 10%
US 169 South
5.51 mi · 3%
I 229 South
4.72 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

MO 7 South

Turn slight left onto MO 7 South: Clinton

55.5 mi · 01h 04m

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 12m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.3 mi
174.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Garden City
02h 06m from Saint Joseph
Leave By
8:36 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Saint Joseph and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Buffalo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 208.9 miles (336.2 km) and usually takes 04h 12m 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?

Garden City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 104.5 miles from Saint Joseph and 104.4 miles from Buffalo.

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

The direct path is about 174.6 miles (281 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.3 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 8:36 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.79 one way or $55.58 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Garden City

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

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

RAIL

Lee's Summit

42 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Warrensburg

45 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Independence

62 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.
RAIL

Union Station

68 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Saint Joseph and Buffalo. Straight-line distance: 174.62 mi (281.03 km).

Saint Joseph

#1 Saint Joseph

The most populous city in Buchanan County, Missouri.

Population74,074
Coordinates39.7686100, -94.8466300
Altitude270
CountryUnited States
Buffalo

#2 Buffalo

City in Dallas County, Missouri, United States

Population3,202
Coordinates37.6439300, -93.0924100
Altitude366
CountryUnited States
Start: Saint Joseph (-94.84663, 39.76861)
End: Buffalo (-93.09241, 37.64393)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 336 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.37 gal
27.9 L · about $27.79
Round trip
$55.58
14.74 gal · 55.8 L
Estimated CO2
65.5 kg one way
Round trip: 131 kg / 289 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.79 $55.58
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.34 $62.69
Premium $4.65 $34.30 $68.60
Diesel $5.30 $39.09 $78.18

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Saint Joseph and Buffalo. The current time is 22:25:04.

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.