How far is Saint Joseph, MO from Lake Saint Louis, MO?

The driving distance from Saint Joseph, MO to Lake Saint Louis, MO is about 269.2 miles (433.3 km), with a travel time of about 05h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 227.3 miles (365.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 09m 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
269.25 mi
05h 04m
Flight
227.29 mi
365.78 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
227.29 mi
Kilometers
365.78 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
269.25 mi
Kilometers
433.31 km
Drive Time
05h 04m

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 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lake Saint Louis
Mon, Apr 20, 2:55 AM CDT
Return by in Saint Joseph
Mon, Apr 20, 8:00 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Saint Joseph
2026-04-19T21:50
Arrive Lake Saint Louis
Mon, Apr 20, 2:55 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:05 AM to 1:05 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
6:50 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
Nelson
MO

City in Saline County, Missouri, United States

From Saint Joseph
134.4 mi
02h 32m
To Lake Saint Louis
134.8 mi
02h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
40°F
Tonight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 8:00 PM CDT
Wind
7 mph ENE
Destination
63°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph and Lake Saint Louis.

  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 right to continue on I 435 East: Saint Louis

    28 mi · 31 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex

    1500 ft · 23 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 70 East: Saint Louis

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 70 East: Saint Louis

    143 m · 12 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto George Brett Super Highway

    2213 ft · 29 sec · George Brett Super Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

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

  19. 19

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    2.6 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    52.5 mi · 57 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

    32 mi · 34 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

    22.4 mi · 24 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

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

  25. 25

    Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

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

  26. 26

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    82.6 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward MO A

    1162 ft · 25 sec

  28. 28

    Turn right

    99 m · 14 sec

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Veterans Memorial Parkway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Veterans Memorial Parkway

  30. 30

    Turn right onto De Loire Drive

    1461 ft · 54 sec · De Loire Drive

  31. 31

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Savoy Drive

    2289 ft · 1 min · Savoy Drive

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Savoy Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
32 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
5 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
137 mi · 51%
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi · 20%
I 29 South
28.7 mi · 11%
I 435 East
28 mi · 10%
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.56 mi · 2%
I 229 South
4.72 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

82.6 mi · 01h 37m

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 04m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.9 mi
227.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Nelson
02h 32m from Saint Joseph
Leave By
6:50 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving Saint Joseph and Sunny near Lake Saint Louis.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Saint Joseph to Lake Saint Louis?

The road trip is about 269.2 miles (433.3 km) and usually takes 05h 04m 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 134.4 miles from Saint Joseph and 134.8 miles from Lake Saint Louis.

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

The direct path is about 227.3 miles (365.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.9 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 6:50 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.82 one way or $71.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 84.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Saint Joseph and Sunny near Lake Saint Louis.

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 Saint Joseph and Lake Saint Louis. Straight-line distance: 227.29 mi (365.78 km).

Saint Joseph

#1 Saint Joseph

The most populous city in Buchanan County, Missouri.

Population74,074
Coordinates39.7686100, -94.8466300
Altitude270
CountryUnited States
Lake Saint Louis

#2 Lake Saint Louis

City in Saint Charles County, Missouri, United States

Population17,186
Coordinates38.7975500, -90.7856800
Altitude172
CountryUnited States
Start: Saint Joseph (-94.84663, 39.76861)
End: Lake Saint Louis (-90.78568, 38.79755)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 433 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.5 gal
35.96 L · about $35.82
Round trip
$71.65
19 gal · 71.92 L
Estimated CO2
84.4 kg one way
Round trip: 168.9 kg / 372 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $35.82 $71.65
Mid-grade $4.25 $40.40 $80.81
Premium $4.65 $44.21 $88.43
Diesel $5.30 $50.39 $100.78

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 20, 2026

There is no time difference between Saint Joseph and Lake Saint Louis. The current time is 21:50:43.

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.