Chesterfield, MO to Chillicothe, MO is 214.3 miles and takes about 4h 17m via Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, Avenue of the Saints, and V.F.W. Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, taking you through the Midwest region. The drive is mostly on highways, so expect a relatively quick transit. With only one recommended stop and a straightforward route, this is a solid option for a single-day excursion. Plan for a day of consistent travel with minimal detours.
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
107.2 miles from Chesterfield, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
111.4 mi
2h 8m
Avenue of the Saints
90.1 mi
1h 46m
V.F.W. Memorial Highway
5.8 mi
6m
Veterans Road
2.2 mi
3m
South Washington Street
1.4 mi
3m
Chesterfield Airport Road
1.2 mi
2m
Paris Gravel Road
0.5 mi
1m
Baxter Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 111.4 mi, about 2h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chesterfield, MO and Chillicothe, MO.
1
Start on Santa Maria Drive
107 ft·8 sec·Santa Maria Drive
2
Turn left onto Old Chesterfield Road
0.1 mi·32 sec·Old Chesterfield Road
3
Turn right onto Baxter Road
0.3 mi·45 sec·Baxter Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto Chesterfield Airport Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Chesterfield Airport Road
5
Continue on Chesterfield Airport Road
438 ft·8 sec·Chesterfield Airport Road
6
Turn right onto Boone's Crossing
0.2 mi·26 sec·Boone's Crossing
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
167 ft·7 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 NorthUse the left lane.
8
Turn left
0.2 mi·17 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North
9
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
90 mi·1 hr 46 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
249 ft·14 sec
11
Turn left onto Paris Gravel Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Paris Gravel Road
12
Keep slight right at fork onto County Road 422
279 ft·8 sec·County Road 422
13
Turn right onto Veterans Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Veterans Road
14
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Monroe City
15
Merge onto US 36; MO 110
5.8 mi·6 min·V.F.W. Memorial Highway
16
Continue on US 24; US 36; MO 110
111 mi·2 hr 8 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward US 65, US 36 Business: Chillicothe, Carrollton
18
Turn right onto US 65; US 36 Business
1.4 mi·3 min·South Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Jackson Street
322 ft·15 sec·Jackson Street
20
Turn left onto Locust Street
0.1 mi·30 sec·Locust Street
21
Arrive at destination
Locust Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 17m estimated duration, leaving Chesterfield, MO in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. This route is designed for a single-day trip, so you can be flexible with your stop; the single recommendation is likely for a fuel or stretch break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move from the highway segments to surface roads, as services might be less frequent. The $38 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting, but it’s always wise to have a little extra. Enjoy the efficient drive across Missouri.
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 107.2 miles from Chesterfield, MO, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.4 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 47 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.2 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chillicothe, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chesterfield, 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 Chesterfield, MO
This is one driving day of about 214.3 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Chesterfield, 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 111.4 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 95.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in|Boone's Crossing
Turn right onto Boone's Crossing
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North
6
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in
Turn left toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North
5
2.1 mi into trip|~4m 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 lane.
6
95.1 mi into trip|~1h 56m 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
$31.65 one way
$63.29 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$34.94
$69.88
premium
$4.72
$39.79
$79.58
diesel
$4.80
$40.46
$80.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.3
0
$22.50
$10.29
Efficient EV
53.6
0
$18.75
$8.57
EV Truck/SUV
85.7
1
$30.00
$13.72
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Chesterfield, MO
Late night
in Chesterfield on Sunday
Local time
4:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 1 to 8 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:26PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Chillicothe, MO
Late night
in Chillicothe on Sunday
Local time
4:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy
W 2 to 6 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:26PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
88°F
Independence, IL
107 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 17m 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 214.3-mile trip features a 52% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of the time on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch is 111.4 miles on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. After that, expect the route to transition to surface roads, offering a different driving experience with more local traffic and potentially more frequent intersections. You'll notice a shift from open highway cruising to more varied conditions as you approach your destination.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.4 mi on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Boone's Crossing.
Driving Effort5/10
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 214.3 miles you will encounter 17 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 1.7 miles (Boone's Crossing): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 17m. Total distance: 214.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.4 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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: at 1.7 miles (Boone's Crossing): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Chillicothe, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
