Saint Clair Rest Area (Westbound)
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Billings, MO to Saint Peters, MO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 32m
Distance
230.1 mi
370 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 20m
★
6 AM
4h 33m
8 AM
5h 0m
10 AM
4h 42m
12 PM
4h 40m
3 PM
4h 44m
5 PM
4h 58m
8 PM
4h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Billings, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Peters, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 230.1-mile drive from Billings, MO to Saint Peters, MO is a straightforward journey that can comfortably be completed in about 4 hours and 32 minutes, making it an ideal one-day trip. The route primarily utilizes the Congressman Mel Hancock Freeway and Manchester Road, with only a small portion on Northeast Elm Street. With an estimated fuel cost of $35, this highway-focused drive through the Midwest offers a practical and efficient way to travel between these Missouri towns. You'll encounter a good balance of open road and local access, with a single recommended stop to break up the journey.
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
115.1 miles from Billings, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Congressman Mel Hancock Freeway | 182.8 mi | 3h 17m |
| Manchester Road | 13.4 mi | 18m |
| Northeast Elm Street | 8.9 mi | 13m |
| MO 109 | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| Mid Rivers Mall Drive | 4.7 mi | 9m |
| MO MM | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| MO 94 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 2.7 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Congressman Mel Hancock Freeway
— 182.8 mi, about 3h 17m
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
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Billings, MO and Saint Peters, MO.
1
Start on this road
140 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto MO 14
199 ft
·
5 sec
·
Northwest Jefferson Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 60; MO 413
8.9 mi
·
13 min
·
Northeast Elm Street
4
Turn left onto MO MM
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
MO MM
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 44 East: Springfield
6
Merge onto I 44
183 mi
·
3 hr 17 min
·
Congressman Mel Hancock Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 253
Toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray Summit
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto MO 100
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Manchester Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward MO 109
10
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
224 ft
·
4 sec
·
MO 109
11
Continue on MO 109
515 ft
·
10 sec
·
MO 109
12
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
98 ft
·
1 sec
·
MO 109
13
Continue on MO 109
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
MO 109
14
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
94 ft
·
2 sec
·
MO 109
15
Continue on MO 109
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
MO 109
16
Enter roundabout onto South Eatherton Road
94 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Eatherton Road
17
Continue on South Eatherton Road
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
South Eatherton Road
18
Continue on Olive Street Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Olive Street Road
19
Take the ramp onto Chesterfield Airport Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Chesterfield Airport Road
20
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 10
Toward MO 94: Defiance, Saint Charles
Use the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork
313 ft
·
4 sec
Toward MO 94 East: Saint Charles
Use the right lane.
23
Merge onto MO 94
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
MO 94
Use the right lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward Mid Rivers Mall Drive, Pitman Hill Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn left onto Mid Rivers Mall Drive
4.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Mid Rivers Mall Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
26
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 70 West: Wentzville
Use the slight left lane.
27
Merge onto I 70
479 ft
·
6 sec
·
I 70
28
Arrive at destination
I 70
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 32-minute duration, starting your journey in the morning from Billings, MO will allow you ample time to reach Saint Peters, MO without feeling rushed. While the longest stretch is over 180 miles, planning one stop around the midpoint is advisable for a break. Consider refueling before departing Billings, as the $35 fuel cost estimate suggests a relatively efficient trip, but it’s always good to start with a full tank. The flexibility of this one-day drive means you can adjust your departure time based on traffic or personal preference.
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 115.1 miles from Billings, MO, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.8 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 51 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.1 miles or 2h 10m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Peters, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Billings, 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 Billings, MO
This is one driving day of about 230.1 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Billings, 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 Congressman Mel Hancock Freeway for about 182.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
115 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 115.1 miles from Billings, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Congressman Mel Hancock Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 182.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
TA
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Mr. Fuel
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Truck Parking
0.1 mi from route
Truck Parking
0.1 mi from route
Saint Clair Rest Area (Eastbound)
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
ONE9 Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
B&D Auto/Truck Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Conway Rest Area (Eastbound)
0.2 mi from route
Conway Rest Area (Westbound)
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
0.9 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
1.9 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 224.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MO 14 / Northwest Jefferson Avenue
Turn right onto MO 14 / Northwest Jefferson Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
195.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 38m 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
8
221.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 17m in
Take the exit toward MO 94: Defiance, Saint Charles
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 10
Toward MO 94: Defiance, Saint Charles
8
221.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 94 East: Saint Charles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward MO 94 East: Saint Charles
8
224.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Mid Rivers Mall Drive, Pitman Hill Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Mid Rivers Mall Drive, Pitman Hill Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.98 one way
$67.96 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
81 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $37.51 | $75.03 |
| premium | $4.72 | $42.72 | $85.45 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $43.45 | $86.89 |
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: 80.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69 | 0 | $24.16 | $11.04 |
| Efficient EV | 57.5 | 0 | $20.13 | $9.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 92 | 1 | $32.21 | $14.73 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Billings, MO
Late night in Billings on Sunday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 8 to 12 mph
19% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Saint Peters, MO
Late night in Saint Peters on Sunday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Sunny
W 9 mph
8% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
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
4h 32m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 7.9
Caution: BE AWARE OF HIGH-WATER DANGER
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
$19
near mile 214.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 230.1-mile trip, as 83% of the route consists of highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is an impressive 182.8 miles on the Congressman Mel Hancock Freeway, allowing for steady progress. While primarily on main roadways, you will transition to sections of Manchester Road, which may offer a slightly different pace before reaching your destination. This drive is designed for efficiency, minimizing complex navigation and maximizing forward momentum.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 182.8 mi on Congressman Mel Hancock Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Congressman Mel Hancock Freeway and Manchester Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 14 / Northwest Jefferson Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 21 significant decision points across 230.1 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: near the start (MO 14 / Northwest Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 195.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 221.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,471 ft
443 ft
Total Climb
786 ft
Total Descent
1,709 ft
Highest Point
1,471 ft
~32.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,028 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Billings, MO
Full guide →Arriving in Saint Peters, MO
Full guide →Founded 1910
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 230.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 182.8 miles on Congressman Mel Hancock Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 21 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 Saint Peters, 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 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 14 / Northwest Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 195.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 221.2 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 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Saint Peters, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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