Ashland, MO to Castle Point, MO is 129.9 miles and takes about 2h 38m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and US 63, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Missouri, offering a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day duration, you'll find this route is primarily made up of surface roads, making it a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate experience. Consider this option if you prefer a less hurried drive between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.9 miles from Ashland, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
103.1 mi
2h 2m
US 63
13.1 mi
14m
I 270
9 mi
11m
New Halls Ferry Road
0.6 mi
<1m
Halls Ferry Road
0.3 mi
<1m
East Broadway
0.3 mi
<1m
Pershall Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Edgefield Drive
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 103.1 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ashland, MO and Castle Point, MO.
1
Start on MO Y
0.2 mi·29 sec·East Broadway
2
Enter roundabout onto MO M; MO Y
173 ft·3 sec·East Broadway
3
Continue on MO M; MO Y
484 ft·10 sec·East Broadway
4
Enter roundabout
283 ft·5 sec
5
Continue
0.2 mi·27 sec
6
Merge onto US 63
13 mi·14 min·US 63
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint LouisUse the left / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 63 Conn
521 ft·10 sec·US 63 Conn
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint LouisUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
103 mi·2 hr 2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·12 sec
Exit 232Toward I 270: Chicago, MemphisUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·36 sec
Toward I 270 North: ChicagoUse the slight left lane.
13
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·18 sec·this road
Exit 232Toward I 270 North: Chicago
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 270 North: ChicagoUse the straight lane.
15
Merge onto I 270
9.0 mi·11 min·I 270
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 30Toward AC: New Halls Ferry Road, Old Halls Ferry Road
17
Turn straight onto Pershall Road
0.3 mi·48 sec·Pershall Road
18
Turn right onto MO AC
0.6 mi·57 sec·New Halls Ferry Road
19
Continue on MO AC
0.3 mi·35 sec·Halls Ferry Road
20
Turn left onto Hudson Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Hudson Drive
21
Turn right onto Edgefield Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Edgefield Drive
22
Turn left onto Duchess Drive
0.2 mi·56 sec·Duchess Drive
23
Turn left onto Lord Drive
284 ft·12 sec·Lord Drive
24
Arrive at destination
Lord Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day trip of just under 3 hours, you have plenty of flexibility for departure time. Leaving mid-morning should allow you to arrive with ample daylight to spare. With only one stop recommended and a fuel cost estimated at $20, planning for a single fuel fill-up is likely sufficient. Pay attention to the transition from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway to US 63, as this is where the driving environment changes most significantly. Keep an eye on local speed limits once you are on the surface roads.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.9 miles from Ashland, MO, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 29 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.9 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Castle Point, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ashland, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ashland, MO
This is one driving day of about 129.9 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Ashland, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 103.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.7 and 118.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
13.7 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint L...
9
14.2 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
8
117.5 mi into trip|~2h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 232
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
7
117.7 mi into trip|~2h 19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 North: Chicago
8
118.4 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 270 North: Chicago
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.31 one way
$40.62 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.30
$44.60
premium
$4.89
$25.00
$50.00
diesel
$5.61
$28.68
$57.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39
0
$13.64
$6.24
Efficient EV
32.5
0
$11.37
$5.20
EV Truck/SUV
52
0
$18.19
$8.31
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Ashland, MO
Late night
in Ashland on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Castle Point, MO
Late night
in Castle Point on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Warrenton, MO
65 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 38m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
$19
near mile 129.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 17% highway travel, meaning most of your time will be spent on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a major highway is 103.1 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. As you transition off the highway and onto US 63, expect more frequent intersections and a change in pace. The prevalence of surface roads suggests a more local driving experience with varied speed limits.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.1 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.7 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 129.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 13.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ashland, MO and Castle Point, MO, road signs point toward Mo Pp: Kansas City, Saint Louis and Memphis.
Mo Pp: Kansas City
13.7 mi in|~15m
Saint Louis
13.7 mi in|~15m
Memphis
117.5 mi in|~2h 19m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 129.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.1 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Castle Point, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Castle Point, MO before heading back.
