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Trip from Chesterfield, MO to De Soto, MO

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 4m

Distance

46.9 mi

75 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 59m ★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States

Chesterfield, MO

Wikimedia Commons

city in Jefferson County, Missouri

De Soto, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 46.9-mile drive from Chesterfield, MO, to De Soto, MO, is a straightforward 1-hour journey perfect for a day trip. You'll primarily travel on Veterans Memorial Highway and MO 21, with about 44% of your time spent on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this short trip is around $7, making it an economical option. Given the short distance and duration, it's easy to complete in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. This route stays within the Midwest region, offering a familiar drive through Missouri.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway 19.8 mi 23m
MO 141 14.9 mi 23m
MO 21 4.4 mi 6m
Avenue of the Saints 3.7 mi 4m
MO 110 1.5 mi 1m
North Main Street 1.4 mi 2m
Baxter Road 0.3 mi <1m
Old Chesterfield Road 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Veterans Memorial Highway — 19.8 mi, about 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chesterfield, MO and De Soto, 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 · 36 sec · Baxter Road
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South
5

Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61

3.7 mi · 4 min · Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Exit 22 Toward MO 141 Use the slight right lane.
7

Turn right

185 ft · 5 sec
Toward MO 141: Manchester
8

Merge onto MO 141

11 mi · 17 min · MO 141
Use the right lane.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto MO 141

4.0 mi · 5 min · MO 141
Use the left / straight lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 13 sec
Toward MO 21 South: Hillsboro
11

Merge onto MO 21

20 mi · 23 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
12

At end of road, turn left onto MO 21; MO B

0.5 mi · 49 sec · MO 21; MO B
13

Continue on MO 21

3.9 mi · 5 min · MO 21
14

Turn left onto MO 110

1.5 mi · 1 min · MO 110
15

Turn right onto North Main Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
16

Turn right onto Easton Street

435 ft · 19 sec · Easton Street
17

Arrive at destination

Easton Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fenton, MO

23 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

Valley Park, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

High Ridge, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23.4 miles from Chesterfield, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 15.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South
5
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m 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.
7
4.3 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the exit toward MO 141

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 22 Toward MO 141
5
4.6 mi into trip | ~6m in

Turn right toward MO 141: Manchester

Navigation decision point

Toward MO 141: Manchester
6
15.6 mi into trip | ~24m in | MO 141

Keep slight left at fork onto MO 141

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.33 one way

$14.66 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $8.05 $16.10
premium $4.89 $9.03 $18.05
diesel $5.61 $10.35 $20.71

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.1 0 $4.92 $2.25
Efficient EV 11.7 0 $4.10 $1.88
EV Truck/SUV 18.8 0 $6.57 $3.00

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (69% 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Chesterfield, MO

Night in Chesterfield on Saturday

Local time

9:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

De Soto, MO

Night in De Soto on Saturday

Local time

9:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

80°F

Fenton, MO

23 mi in

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

2 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

1h 4m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

The drive presents a mixed profile, combining highway speeds with more local road conditions. You'll experience a 44% highway share, but the longest uninterrupted stretch is 19.8 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway, suggesting some transitions between road types. Expect a varied driving experience as you navigate these Missouri roadways. This isn't a constant interstate grind; rather, it's a blend that keeps things interesting without being overly demanding.

44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.8 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.9 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.6 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 46.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 19.8 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 De Soto, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.6 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at De Soto, MO before heading back.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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