Ava, MO to Castle Point, MO is 219.2 miles and takes about 4h 30m via I 44 and US 63, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, specifically Missouri, making it a straightforward trip. It's a primarily highway-focused journey, so expect consistent travel speeds for most of the 219.2 miles. With a duration of around 4.5 hours, it’s well-suited for a single-day excursion. The estimated fuel cost of $34 also makes it an economical option for a quick getaway or transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
109.6 miles from Ava, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
94.8 mi
1h 44m
US 63
64.3 mi
1h 20m
US 60
26 mi
30m
MO 5
14.8 mi
20m
Jennings Station Road
3.3 mi
6m
South Skinker Boulevard
2.8 mi
5m
Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
2.7 mi
3m
Halls Ferry Road
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 94.8 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ava, MO and Castle Point, MO.
1
Start on MO 5 Business
171 ft·5 sec·South Jefferson Street
2
Turn right onto West Lincoln Avenue
254 ft·13 sec·West Lincoln Avenue
3
Turn right onto South Lister Street
238 ft·12 sec·South Lister Street
4
Turn right onto West Washington Avenue
263 ft·14 sec·West Washington Avenue
5
Turn left onto MO 14; MO 5 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·North Jefferson Street
6
Enter roundabout onto Springfield Road
75 ft·1 sec·Springfield Road
7
Continue on Springfield Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Springfield Road
8
Turn right onto MO 5; MO 76
12 mi·17 min·MO 5; MO 76
9
Take the ramp onto MO 5
2.5 mi·3 min·MO 5
Toward US 60 East, MO 5 North: Mountain Grove
10
Continue on US 60
26 mi·30 min·US 60
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward MO 181: Cabool
12
Turn left onto MO 181
0.4 mi·44 sec·Peabody Avenue
13
Continue on MO 181
0.2 mi·24 sec·South Elm Street
14
Turn right onto US 60 Business
0.4 mi·40 sec·Ozark Street
15
Continue on US 60 Business
0.3 mi·33 sec·Ozark Avenue
16
Turn left onto US 63
64 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 63
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63
287 ft·4 sec·North Bishop Avenue
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63
183 ft·3 sec·North Bishop Avenue
19
Keep slight right at fork onto MO E
0.3 mi·32 sec·Tim Bradley Way
20
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward I 44 East: Saint LouisUse the slight right lane.
21
Merge onto I 44
95 mi·1 hr 44 min·I 44
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 44
2.7 mi·3 min·Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
23
Continue on I 44
0.6 mi·47 sec·Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway
24
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Exit 284Toward Jamieson AvenueUse the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight left at fork
227 ft·6 sec
Toward Jamieson Avenue
26
Turn left onto Jamieson Avenue
0.3 mi·46 sec·Jamieson Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
27
At end of road, turn left onto Arsenal Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·Arsenal Street
28
Turn right onto McCausland Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·McCausland Avenue
29
Continue on South Skinker Boulevard
2.8 mi·5 min·South Skinker Boulevard
Use the left lane.
30
Continue on Kienlen Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·Kienlen Avenue
31
Continue on Jennings Station Road
3.3 mi·6 min·Jennings Station Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
32
Turn left onto Halls Ferry Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Halls Ferry Road
Use the left lane.
33
Turn right onto Chambers Road
0.4 mi·38 sec·Chambers Road
34
Turn left onto Lord Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·Lord Drive
35
Arrive at destination
Lord Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 4.5-hour duration and 219.2-mile distance, this trip is easily achievable in one day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unforeseen delays. While the route has only one designated stop, consider breaking up the 94.8-mile stretch on I 44 with a brief pause for fuel or a stretch if needed. The $34 fuel cost is an estimate, so always check current prices before you go. Pay attention to signage when transitioning between I 44 and US 63, as these are key junctures on your drive.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 109.6 miles from Ava, MO, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.8 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 48 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.6 miles or 2h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 36m
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 Ava, 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 Ava, MO
This is one driving day of about 219.2 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Ava, 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 I 44 for about 94.8 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 206.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South Lister Street
Turn right onto South Lister Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West Washington Avenue
Turn right onto West Washington Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
108.4 mi into trip|~2h 17m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 East: Saint Louis
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 44 East: Saint Louis
7
206.7 mi into trip|~4h 6m in
Take the exit toward Jamieson Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 284
Toward Jamieson Avenue
6
206.9 mi into trip|~4h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Jamieson Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Jamieson Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.27 one way
$68.54 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.63
$75.25
premium
$4.89
$42.18
$84.37
diesel
$5.61
$48.40
$96.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.8
0
$23.02
$10.52
Efficient EV
54.8
0
$19.18
$8.77
EV Truck/SUV
87.7
1
$30.69
$14.03
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Ava, MO
Late night
in Ava on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Castle Point, MO
Late night
in Castle Point on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Washington, MO
110 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
4 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
4h 30m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
$19
near mile 211.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 91% of the route utilizing major highways like I 44, US 63, and US 60. You'll experience a significant stretch of 94.8 miles on I 44, offering a chance for steady progress. While the majority of the trip is on faster roads, be prepared for potential transitions as you navigate between these main thoroughfares. The profile suggests a consistent, high-speed experience for the bulk of the 4.5-hour journey, minimizing slower, winding sections.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.8 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and US 63. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Lister Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 219.2 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 0.1 miles (South Lister Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Washington Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 108.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 30m. Total distance: 219.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.8 miles on I 44. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Lister Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Washington Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 108.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Castle Point, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
