Origin
Buckner, MO
Late night in Buckner on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buckner, MO to St. Louis, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 32m
Distance
234 mi
377 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
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.
Buckner, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Trip Overview
Embark on a 234-mile journey from Buckner, MO, to St. Louis, MO, a drive that typically takes around 4 hours and 32 minutes. This route, primarily utilizing the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and the Avenue of the Saints, is manageable as a single-day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of $36. The drive offers a mix of highway and local road experiences, making it a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. Given its manageable length and the potential for varied road conditions, it’s a good option for a focused day trip within the Midwest.
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
117 miles from Buckner, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 127.6 mi | 2h 25m |
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 27.7 mi | 33m |
| North Buckner Tarsney Road | 6.7 mi | 10m |
| Jack Buck Memorial Highway | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| Daniel Boone Expressway | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway | 1.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 127.6 mi, about 2h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buckner, MO and St. Louis, MO.
1
Start on Washington Street
346 ft
·
19 sec
·
Washington Street
2
Turn right onto MO BB
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sibley Street
3
Continue on MO BB
6.7 mi
·
10 min
·
North Buckner Tarsney Road
4
Continue on MO BB
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
5
Continue on US 40; MO BB
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Main Street
6
Take the ramp onto US 40
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 40
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia, Saint Louis
7
Merge onto I 70; US 40
45 mi
·
48 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi
·
34 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi
·
24 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
81 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
14
Take the exit onto US 40
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
US 40
Exit 210A
Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
15
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
28 mi
·
33 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Continue on I 64; US 40
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Daniel Boone Expressway
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on I 64; US 40
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Jack Buck Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 39A
Toward 14th Street
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn left onto South 14th Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
South 14th Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto Market Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Market Street
21
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 32-minute drive, leaving in the morning will allow you to reach St. Louis with plenty of time to spare, and you can easily complete it in one day. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a planned stop is over 127 miles. A practical tip for this route is to pre-program your GPS with the specific highway names like the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and Avenue of the Saints, as they are key to navigating the more local segments effectively.
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 117 miles from Buckner, MO, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.6 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 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117 miles or 2h 12m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near St. Louis, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Buckner, 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 Buckner, MO
This is one driving day of about 234 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Buckner, 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 127.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
117 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 117 miles from Buckner, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 127.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 8.1 and 233.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
US 40
Take the ramp onto US 40 toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia, Saint Louis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia, Saint L...
6
193.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 42m in
|
US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 210A
Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Ches...
5
194.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 42m in
|
I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
233.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 31m in
Take the exit toward 14th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 39A
Toward 14th Street
5
233.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 31m in
|
South 14th Street
Turn left onto South 14th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.58 one way
$73.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
82 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $40.17 | $80.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $45.03 | $90.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.66 | $103.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.2 | 0 | $24.57 | $11.23 |
| Efficient EV | 58.5 | 0 | $20.47 | $9.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.6 | 1 | $32.76 | $14.98 |
Gas CO2
82 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.
Destination
St. Louis, MO
Late night in St. Louis on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
19 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.
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...
0 mi from route
~1 min detour
$19
near mile 234
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll encounter more frequent turns and changes in road type than on a typical interstate. While the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch at 127.6 miles, a significant portion of the route involves navigating local roads, indicated by the 39% highway share. Expect a dynamic driving experience where the road's personality shifts as you move from more open highway segments to more intricate local routes. This varied landscape means you'll need to stay engaged behind the wheel.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 127.6 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8.1 miles in near US 40.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 234 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.1 miles (US 40): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 193.8 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 194.1 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in St. Louis, MO
Full guide →The Gateway City of St. Louis is the epitome of the modern Midwestern metropolis. Missouri's second-largest city is vibrant but laid-back, populous but navigable, historic but still relevant. The city's planners have created an aesthetically beautiful city, with plenty of green space amidst buildings both old and new, framed by the majestic Mississippi and Missouri rivers. And capping it all is the world's tallest man-made monument, the beautiful and iconic Gateway Arch. St. Louis is a city of culture and surprisingly inexpensive. Among American cities, only Washington, D.C. has more free attractions for tourists and residents alike. Hotels, restaurants, and even parking garages avoid the premium pricing common in other big cities. Although often overlooked, St. Louis can be an affordable, educational, and fun family getaway.
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: 234 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 (3%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 127.6 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. 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.
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: at 8.1 miles (US 40): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 193.8 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 194.1 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at St. Louis, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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