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

The driving distance from Saint Joseph, MO to Kirksville, MO is about 148.2 miles (238.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 123.4 miles (198.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 30m 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
148.2 mi
03h 15m
Flight
123.39 mi
198.58 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
123.39 mi
Kilometers
198.58 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
148.2 mi
Kilometers
238.5 km
Drive Time
03h 15m

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 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kirksville
Sun, Apr 19, 5:31 AM CDT
Return by in Saint Joseph
Sun, Apr 19, 8:46 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Saint Joseph
2026-04-19T02:15
Arrive Kirksville
Sun, Apr 19, 5:31 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:15 AM to 11:15 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
10:30 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
Chillicothe
MO

City in Missouri

From Saint Joseph
74 mi
01h 37m
To Kirksville
74.2 mi
01h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph WNW
Destination
58°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Walter Welsh Avenue

    127 m · 9 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn slight left onto Jules Street

    3176 ft · 1 min · Jules Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North 22nd Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · North 22nd Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right toward US 36 East: Cameron

    1470 ft · 23 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    94.2 mi · 1 hr 50 min

  6. 6

    Turn slight left onto West Helm Street

    1.8 mi · 4 min · West Helm Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    2198 ft · 1 min · South Main Street

  8. 8

    Turn sharp right onto East Park Street

    1494 ft · 28 sec · East Park Street

  9. 9

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North Monroe Street

    45.1 mi · 1 hr 7 min · North Monroe Street

  10. 10

    Turn left

    2.3 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Turn right onto West Laharpe Street

    1014 ft · 33 sec · West Laharpe Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto South Osteopathy

    1.2 km · 2 min · South Osteopathy

  13. 13

    Turn right onto West Normal Street

    1339 ft · 41 sec · West Normal Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto South 1st Street

    1078 ft · 33 sec · South 1st Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto West Jefferson Street

    827 ft · 47 sec · West Jefferson Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto South Franklin Street

    623 ft · 26 sec · South Franklin Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Franklin Street

Car Route Details

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

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
17 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 36 East
94.4 mi · 64%
North Monroe Street
45.1 mi · 30%
West Helm Street
1.77 mi · 1%
North 22nd Street
1.54 mi · 1%
South Osteopathy
0.76 mi · 1%
Jules Street
0.6 mi
Longest Stretch

US 36 East

Merge slight left

94.2 mi · 01h 50m

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 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.8 mi
123.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chillicothe
01h 37m from Saint Joseph
Leave By
10:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Saint Joseph and Sunny near Kirksville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 148.2 miles (238.5 km) and usually takes 03h 15m 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?

Chillicothe is a useful midpoint, sitting about 74 miles from Saint Joseph and 74.2 miles from Kirksville.

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

The direct path is about 123.4 miles (198.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.8 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 10:30 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.72 one way or $39.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 46.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Saint Joseph and Sunny near Kirksville.

Stop Ideas Near Chillicothe

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

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

RAIL

La Plata

95 mi away
535 N. Owensby St.
RAIL

Independence

109 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.
RAIL

Warrensburg

116 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Union Station

119 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Saint Joseph and Kirksville. Straight-line distance: 123.39 mi (198.58 km).

Saint Joseph

#1 Saint Joseph

The most populous city in Buchanan County, Missouri.

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

#2 Kirksville

City in Adair County, Missouri, United States

Population17,653
Coordinates40.1947500, -92.5832500
Altitude299
CountryUnited States
Start: Saint Joseph (-94.84663, 39.76861)
End: Kirksville (-92.58325, 40.19475)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 239 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.23 gal
19.8 L · about $19.72
Round trip
$39.44
10.46 gal · 39.6 L
Estimated CO2
46.5 kg one way
Round trip: 93 kg / 205 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $19.72 $39.44
Mid-grade $4.25 $22.24 $44.49
Premium $4.65 $24.34 $48.68
Diesel $5.30 $27.74 $55.48

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Saint Joseph and Kirksville. The current time is 02:15:56.

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.