Chesterfield, MO to Nixa, MO is 211.8 miles and takes about 4h 5m via I 44, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, entirely within Missouri, making it a straightforward drive. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so expect a fairly efficient transit. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, perfect for getting from Point A to Point B without much fuss.
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
105.9 miles from Chesterfield, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
170.7 mi
3h 3m
Manchester Road
16.8 mi
24m
Schoolcraft Freeway
11 mi
13m
Clarkson Road
3.6 mi
6m
MO 14
1.7 mi
2m
Baxter Road
1.6 mi
2m
Fremont Road
1.5 mi
2m
American Legion Memorial Highway
1.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 170.7 mi, about 3h 3m
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
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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 Chesterfield, MO and Nixa, MO.
1
Start on Santa Maria Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Santa Maria Drive
2
At end of road, turn right onto Wild Horse Creek Road
0.1 mi·19 sec·Wild Horse Creek Road
3
Turn left onto Baxter Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Baxter Road
4
Turn right onto MO 340
3.6 mi·6 min·Clarkson Road
5
Turn right onto MO 100
17 mi·24 min·Manchester Road
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: St. Clair
7
Merge onto I 44; US 50
171 mi·3 hr 3 min·I 44; US 50
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Exit 82AToward US 65 South: Branson
9
Merge onto US 65
11 mi·13 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 65
1.4 mi·1 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward MO J, MO CC: Fremont Hills
12
Turn straight onto MO CC
0.9 mi·1 min·MO CC
13
Turn left onto Fremont Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Fremont Road
14
Turn right onto East North Road
1.0 mi·1 min·East North Road
15
Turn left onto North Cheyenne Road
0.6 mi·1 min·North Cheyenne Road
16
At end of road, turn right onto MO 14
1.7 mi·2 min·MO 14
17
Turn left
59 ft·4 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 5m estimated drive time and 211.8 miles, leaving Chesterfield, MO in the morning should get you to Nixa, MO with plenty of daylight to spare. The 87% highway share means you can cover ground quickly, but be mindful of the 170.7-mile stretch on I 44; plan your single recommended stop before or after this segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $32, it's wise to fill up before departing or in a larger town along I 44 to ensure competitive pricing. This is a single-day trip, so you have flexibility to depart later if needed.
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 105.9 miles from Chesterfield, MO, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 170.7 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 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.9 miles or 2h 5m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nixa, 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 211.8 miles and 4h 5m.
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 I 44 for about 170.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 193.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Wild Horse Creek Road
At end of road, turn right onto Wild Horse Creek Road
Navigation decision point
5
22.4 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the exit toward I 44 West, US 50 West: St. Clair
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: St. Clair
5
22.6 mi into trip|~35m in|I 44; US 50
Merge onto I 44; US 50
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
193.3 mi into trip|~3h 39m in
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Branson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 82A
Toward US 65 South: Branson
5
193.6 mi into trip|~3h 40m in|US 65 / Schoolcraft Freeway
Merge onto US 65 / Schoolcraft Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.28 one way
$62.56 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$34.53
$69.06
premium
$4.72
$39.32
$78.65
diesel
$4.80
$39.99
$79.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.5
0
$22.24
$10.17
Efficient EV
53
0
$18.53
$8.47
EV Truck/SUV
84.7
1
$29.65
$13.56
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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
Morning
in Chesterfield on Sunday
Local time
6:00 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
Nixa, MO
Morning
in Nixa on Sunday
Local time
6:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 2 to 8 mph18% 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
89°F
Cuba, MO
106 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
4h 5m 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...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 211.8
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 route is predominantly highway, with 87% of the drive on interstates like I 44 and the Schoolcraft Freeway. You'll experience a long stretch of 170.7 miles on I 44, which means sustained highway cruising. The transition to surface roads, like Manchester Road, will likely involve navigating more frequent exits and local traffic as you approach your destination. Expect a consistent driving pace for the majority of the trip.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 170.7 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and Manchester Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Wild Horse Creek Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 5m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Wild Horse Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.6 miles (I 44; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 170.7 miles on I 44. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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 0.3 miles (Wild Horse Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.6 miles (I 44; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Nixa, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
