What is the best way around the city? (St. Louis, St. Joseph: live, county)

[Qtipper]

So, if someone was traveling from say Joplin, Mo to St. Joseph, Mo - would you send them on I 435W or I 435E?

Also, what if it was reversed? Same thing? (St. Joseph TO Joplin)

I have several friends who insist that if you are coming from St. Joe you should take exit 14 toward St. Louis and yet other who say NO WAY take exit 17 toward Topeka.

Still another says 635 which I think is a mistake, especially during heavy traffic times.

All dump into US 71. So...HELP!?

[kcmo]

"I" would take I-29 to US-71 myself. It's shorter and more interesting.

But if you really want to avoid the city and take 435, It's probably a toss up. If you hit the evening rush, southbound 435 backs up north of 70 and EB 435 backs up west of 71.

I'm a "drive right through the middle of town" person though...

For example, I have never taken 435 to KCI. Why would you when you can take 29 and go right there? Even if I want to avoid downtown, I might take 435 to 152 or something.

I'm not sure why anybody uses 435 north of 152, there is always a better route and you won't be in the middle of nowhere if you break down or something.

[northbound74]

435 is such an enormous loop that it is just as quick, even with traffic, to go straight through. Like KCMO said, it's a much more scenic and interesting drive.
Taking the Topeka exit sends you through the southern leg of 435 that goes through Johnson County, by far the busiest part of 435.
Going the other way on 435 is usually only busy between I-70 and 210 hwy... but it's still a very long way around.
635 would just be an awkward detour, and you'd risk ending up on Metcalf if you're not careful.

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by kcmo

"I" would take I-29 to US-71 myself. It's shorter and more interesting.

But if you really want to avoid the city and take 435, It's probably a toss up. If you hit the evening rush, southbound 435 backs up north of 70 and EB 435 backs up west of 71.

I'm a "drive right through the middle of town" person though...

For example, I have never taken 435 to KCI. Why would you when you can take 29 and go right there? Even if I want to avoid downtown, I might take 435 to 152 or something.

I'm not sure why anybody uses 435 north of 152, there is always a better route and you won't be in the middle of nowhere if you break down or something.

We always take I-29 to the aiport too. It never occurred to me to take 435. Like you said - why would I? From where we live we hop on 635 to I-29 and we're there. And from Joplin, I was thinking the same thing - 71 to I-29.

[joetownmom]

When I go "home", coming from the south of KC, I always get on the 435 east loop from 71, then veer back to 29 before I hit KCI.

[dpgtfc]

Personally I would just follow google maps default path, I-69 to I-29 to St. Joe