Thank you all. I am leaving early tomorrow morning
I will head south to St. Louis, bypass it on I255, and take 44 the rest of the way.
On the way back I will take US 69 north to my stopover in KC, then I35 up to US 20, then to US 151 all the way home.
12 to 13 hours each way, if I drive it straight, which would kill me so I won’t.