Castle Point to Hamilton is 253.9 miles and takes about 5h 4m via Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, Avenue of the Saints, and I 70, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest. For the most part, you'll be on major highways, making for a straightforward trip. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is ideal if you're looking for a relatively quick transit between these two points without extensive planning.
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
126.9 miles from Castle Point, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
136.6 mi
2h 37m
Avenue of the Saints
73.3 mi
1h 26m
I 70
21.6 mi
26m
Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
8.6 mi
10m
V.F.W. Memorial Highway
5.8 mi
6m
Veterans Road
2.2 mi
3m
US 36 Business
0.8 mi
1m
New Halls Ferry Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 136.6 mi, about 2h 37m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,766 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,506
Quietest
2 AM
~423 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Castle Point, MO and Hamilton, MO.
1
Start on Lord Drive
284 ft·14 sec·Lord Drive
2
Turn right onto Duchess Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Duchess Drive
3
Turn right onto Edgefield Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Edgefield Drive
4
Turn left onto Hudson Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Hudson Drive
5
At end of road, turn right onto MO AC
0.3 mi·29 sec·Halls Ferry Road
6
Keep slight left at fork onto MO AC
0.7 mi·1 min·New Halls Ferry Road
7
Turn left onto Dunn Road
0.4 mi·53 sec·Dunn Road
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 270 West
9
Merge onto I 270
8.6 mi·10 min·Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 20AToward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
11
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·42 sec·this road
Exit 20A-BToward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas CityUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·41 sec
Exit 20BToward I 70 West: Kansas CityUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 70
22 mi·26 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 210BToward US 61 North: HannibalUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto US 61
73 mi·1 hr 26 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the right lane.
16
Take the exit
249 ft·14 sec
17
Turn left onto Paris Gravel Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Paris Gravel Road
18
Keep slight right at fork onto County Road 422
279 ft·8 sec·County Road 422
19
Turn right onto Veterans Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Veterans Road
20
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Monroe City
21
Merge onto US 36; MO 110
5.8 mi·6 min·V.F.W. Memorial Highway
22
Continue on US 24; US 36; MO 110
137 mi·2 hr 37 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
23
Take the exit onto US 36 Business
0.1 mi·22 sec·US 36 Business
Toward MO 13, US 36 Business: Hamilton
24
Turn right onto US 36 Business; MO 13
0.7 mi·1 min·US 36 Business; MO 13
25
Arrive at destination
MO 13
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 4m estimated drive time, leaving Castle Point in the morning should allow you to reach Hamilton with plenty of daylight to spare. The route has only one recommended stop, but with the highway percentage, you can easily add more breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 136.6-mile stretch on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, as services can be more spread out on longer highway segments. Your estimated fuel cost is around $40.
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 126.9 miles from Castle Point, MO, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.6 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 56 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.9 miles or 2h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hamilton, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Castle Point, 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 Castle Point, MO
This is one driving day of about 253.9 miles and 5h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Castle Point, 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 Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for about 136.6 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 110.4 — 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|Duchess Drive
Turn right onto Duchess Drive
Navigation decision point
6
11 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 20A
Toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
8
11.8 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20B
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
7
33.9 mi into trip|~45m in
Take the exit toward US 61 North: Hannibal
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 210B
Toward US 61 North: Hannibal
6
110.4 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the ramp toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Monroe City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Monroe City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.35 one way
$84.71 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$46.03
$92.06
premium
$5.26
$52.57
$105.14
diesel
$6.18
$61.77
$123.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.2
0
$26.66
$12.19
Efficient EV
63.5
0
$22.22
$10.16
EV Truck/SUV
101.6
1
$35.55
$16.25
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Castle Point, MO
Morning
in Castle Point on Monday
Local time
7:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Sunny
S 0 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hamilton, MO
Morning
in Hamilton on Monday
Local time
7:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
S 5 to 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
79°F
Independence, IL
127 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 4m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 63% of the 253.9 miles on major roads like I 70. You'll encounter your longest unbroken stretch of highway at 136.6 miles along the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. Expect a consistent cruising experience for the majority of your travel time, with fewer turns and frequent exits common on interstate routes.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 136.6 mi on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and Avenue of the Saints. 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 Duchess Drive.
Driving Effort10/10
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 22 significant decision points across 253.9 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 0.1 miles (Duchess Drive): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 4m. Total distance: 253.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 136.6 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Hamilton, 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 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Duchess Drive): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hamilton, MO before the return drive.
