Spanning 209.7 miles across the Missouri Midwest, this trip connects Battlefield to Chesterfield in approximately 4 hours and 3 minutes. Since the drive is manageable within a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting about $32 for fuel will cover your transit costs, though keeping an extra cushion for local detours is always a wise move. You will primarily navigate via Payne Stewart Highway, Manchester Road, and West Bypass to reach your destination. Because this route involves a heavy mix of local roads rather than a direct interstate sprint, it functions best as a focused, one-day journey through the heart of the state.
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
104.8 miles from Battlefield, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Payne Stewart Highway
177.4 mi
3h 12m
Manchester Road
16.8 mi
24m
West Bypass
6.8 mi
10m
Clarkson Road
3.6 mi
6m
MO FF
2.5 mi
3m
Baxter Road
1.6 mi
2m
Santa Maria Drive
0.3 mi
1m
Wild Horse Creek Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Payne Stewart Highway
— 177.4 mi, about 3h 12m
Traffic on I-44
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,432 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,709
Quietest
2 AM
~177 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Battlefield, MO and Chesterfield, MO.
1
Start on 182
68 ft·3 sec·West 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto MO FF
2.5 mi·3 min·MO FF
3
Continue on US 160
6.8 mi·10 min·West Bypass
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 44 East: Rolla
5
Merge onto I 44
177 mi·3 hr 12 min·Payne Stewart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 253Toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray SummitUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn left onto MO 100
17 mi·24 min·Manchester Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto MO 340
3.6 mi·6 min·Clarkson Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto Baxter Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Baxter Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto Wild Horse Creek Road
0.1 mi·22 sec·Wild Horse Creek Road
11
Turn left onto Santa Maria Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Santa Maria Drive
12
Arrive at destination
Santa Maria Drive
Trip Plan
Planning for this 209.7-mile trek is straightforward, but its local character makes timing your departure essential to avoid heavy traffic on suburban roads. Since you only have one planned stop along the way, use that break strategically to refuel and stretch your legs before tackling the final leg of the journey. Because the route relies entirely on local roads, keep a close eye on your GPS to navigate the frequent turns accurately. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, allowing you to easily adjust your pace to accommodate local traffic conditions or weather. A pro tip for this specific drive is to ensure your navigation system is updated before leaving, as the reliance on Manchester Road and West Bypass involves several distinct junctions that require quick decision-making.
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 104.8 miles from Battlefield, MO, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 177.4 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 46 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.8 miles or 1h 58m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chesterfield, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Battlefield, 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 Battlefield, MO
This is one driving day of about 209.7 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Battlefield, 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 Payne Stewart Highway for about 177.4 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 204.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MO FF
Turn right onto MO FF
Navigation decision point
5
9.6 mi into trip|~15m in|I 44 / Payne Stewart Highway
Merge onto I 44 / Payne Stewart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
187 mi into trip|~3h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray Summit
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 253
Toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray Summit
5
187.2 mi into trip|~3h 27m in|MO 100 / Manchester Road
Turn left onto MO 100 / Manchester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
204.1 mi into trip|~3h 52m in|MO 340 / Clarkson Road
Turn left onto MO 340 / Clarkson Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.97 one way
$61.94 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$34.19
$68.38
premium
$4.72
$38.93
$77.87
diesel
$4.80
$39.60
$79.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.9
0
$22.02
$10.07
Efficient EV
52.4
0
$18.35
$8.39
EV Truck/SUV
83.9
1
$29.36
$13.42
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Battlefield, MO
Morning
in Battlefield on Sunday
Local time
6:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 2 to 7 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 7:18PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Chesterfield, MO
Morning
in Chesterfield on Sunday
Local time
6:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 1 to 6 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 7:18PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
89°F
Cuba, MO
105 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
3 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 3m 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.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
$19
near mile 209.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous highway cruise. With a highway share of 0%, this route prioritizes local paths over high-speed interstates, making it feel more like a community-to-community traversal. The most significant portion of your travel occurs on the Payne Stewart Highway, which accounts for a 177.4-mile stretch of the trip. As you maneuver through the various turns and transitions between Manchester Road and the West Bypass, the road's personality shifts from open stretches to more technical local navigation. You should be prepared for frequent road changes that keep the drive engaging from start to finish.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 177.4 mi on Payne Stewart Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO FF.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 3m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO FF): Navigation decision point; at 9.6 miles (I 44 / Payne Stewart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 187 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 177.4 miles on Payne Stewart Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO FF): Navigation decision point; at 9.6 miles (I 44 / Payne Stewart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 187 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield and Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Chesterfield, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
