Origin
De Soto, MO
Late night in De Soto on Tuesday
Local time
3:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from De Soto, MO to Saint Charles, MO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
55.1 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
De Soto, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Charles, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting De Soto to Saint Charles, this 55.1-mile journey is an efficient trip through the Missouri Midwest. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 12 minutes on the road, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $8, the trip is as affordable as it is straightforward. You will navigate via MO 21, MO 141, and I-270 to complete the transit between these two locations. Given the duration and distance, you won't need to worry about an overnight stay, allowing you the flexibility to complete your business or leisure travel in a single afternoon.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MO 21 | 23.9 mi | 28m |
| I 270 | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| MO 141 | 4 mi | 5m |
| I 70 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| MO 30 | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| MO 110 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Fifth Street | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
MO 21
— 23.9 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between De Soto, MO and Saint Charles, MO.
1
Start on Easton Street
435 ft
·
24 sec
·
Easton Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto North Main Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto MO 110
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
MO 110
4
At end of road, turn right onto MO 21
406 ft
·
6 sec
·
MO 21
5
Continue on MO 21
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
MO 21
6
Turn left onto MO 21; MO B
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
MO 21; MO B
7
Continue on MO 21
20 mi
·
22 min
·
MO 21
Toward MO 21 North: Saint Louis
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
Toward MO 141: Arnold, Fenton
9
Turn left onto MO 141
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
MO 141
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward MO 30 East: Saint Louis
11
Merge onto MO 30
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
MO 30
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 270 North
13
Merge onto I 270
15 mi
·
18 min
·
I 270
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 20A
Toward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Louis Lambert International Airport
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Use the slight left lane.
16
Continue on this road
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
this road
Exit 20B
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
17
Merge onto I 70
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
I 70
18
Take the exit onto I 70 Business
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 70 Business
Exit 229B
Toward I 70 Business: Fifth Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork
231 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 70 Business: Fifth Street North, Bass Pro Drive, Ameristar Boulevard
Use the right lane.
20
Turn slight right onto I 70 Business
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Fifth Street
Use the right lane.
21
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Jefferson Street
22
Turn left onto North Second Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
North Second Street
23
Arrive at destination
North Second Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.6 miles from De Soto, 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 53.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
MO 110
At end of road, turn left onto MO 110
Navigation decision point
8
49 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Louis Lambert International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20A
Toward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Lo...
7
50.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
7
53.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
I 70 Business
Take the exit onto I 70 Business toward I 70 Business: Fifth Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 229B
Toward I 70 Business: Fifth Street
9
53.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 Business: Fifth Street North, Bass Pro Drive, Ameristar Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 70 Business: Fifth Street North, Bass...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.61 one way
$17.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.46 | $18.92 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.60 | $21.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.17 | $24.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.79 | $2.64 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.82 | $2.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22 | 0 | $7.71 | $3.53 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Saint Charles, MO
Late night in Saint Charles on Tuesday
Local time
3:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
SE 8 mph
23% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
73°F
Fenton, MO
28 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
22 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
1h 12m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 90% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady pace early on, tackling a longest stretch of 23.9 miles while traveling on MO 21. As you transition from the state highways onto the interstate system, the character of the drive shifts from regional road travel to the more structured environment of I-270. It is a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, scenic detours. You should anticipate a consistent experience behind the wheel that favors highway cruising over complex navigation.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.9 mi on MO 21.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 21 and I 270. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near MO 110.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.1 miles you will encounter 18 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 1.4 miles (MO 110): Navigation decision point; at 49 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between De Soto, MO and Saint Charles, MO, road signs point toward Fenton, Saint Louis and Saint Louis Lambert International Airport.
Fenton
26.9 mi in
|
~33m
Saint Louis
49 mi in
|
~1h 2m
Saint Louis Lambert International Airport
49 mi in
|
~1h 2m
About the Cities
Arriving in Saint Charles, MO
Full guide →St. Charles, Missouri is outside of St. Louis on the bank of the Missouri River. It was Missouri's first state capital and was one of the first stops by Lewis and Clark on their journey to explore Louisiana Territory. The historic Main Street has largely been restored to its 1812-era appearance including gas lights a boardwalk and is lined with shops selling artwork, handicrafts, home decorations, antiques. There are also many restaurants.
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 1h 12m. Total distance: 55.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.9 miles on MO 21. 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 Saint Charles, 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 1.4 miles (MO 110): Navigation decision point; at 49 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Charles, 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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