This 222.1-mile journey from Excelsior Springs, MO to Chesterfield, MO will take approximately 3 hours and 27 minutes of driving time. Designed as a single-day trip, it covers a modest distance with a projected fuel cost of around $34. The route is characterized by its turn-heavy nature, suggesting a more local and potentially winding experience rather than a straightforward highway cruise. You'll be staying within the Midwest region throughout this drive, experiencing a consistent regional feel. It's a manageable drive that allows for a relaxed pace and easy completion in one day.
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
110.6 miles from Excelsior Springs, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
102.6 mi
1h 58m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
South Spartan Drive
24.5 mi
30m
Avenue of the Saints
16.6 mi
19m
Isley Boulevard
13.9 mi
20m
MO 10
2.6 mi
3m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 102.6 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Excelsior Springs, MO and Chesterfield, MO.
1
Start on South Thompson Avenue
105 ft·6 sec·South Thompson Avenue
2
Turn left onto MO 10
14 mi·20 min·Isley Boulevard
3
Turn left onto MO 10
2.6 mi·3 min·MO 10
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward MO 13: Polo, Henrietta
5
Keep slight right at fork
157 ft·4 sec
Toward MO 13 South: Henrietta
6
Merge onto MO 13
25 mi·30 min·South Spartan Drive
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
8
Merge onto I 70; US 40
20 mi·21 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi·34 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
15
Take the exit onto US 40
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 40
Exit 210AToward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
16
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
17 mi·19 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 17Toward Boone's CrossingUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto Boone's Crossing
0.1 mi·21 sec·Boone's Crossing
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto Chesterfield Airport Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Chesterfield Airport Road
20
Turn slight right
212 ft·7 sec
Toward Baxter RoadUse the right lane.
21
Turn slight right onto Baxter Road
0.3 mi·33 sec·Baxter Road
Use the right lane.
22
Turn left onto Old Chesterfield Road
0.2 mi·40 sec·Old Chesterfield Road
23
Turn right onto Santa Maria Drive
107 ft·4 sec·Santa Maria Drive
24
Arrive at destination
Santa Maria Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 27-minute duration, starting your drive in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Chesterfield. With just one stop recommended and a turn-heavy profile, plan for a slightly longer overall travel time than the pure driving duration suggests. Keep an eye on your navigation as you'll be using MO 13 South for a significant portion, and be mindful of the numerous turns. The fuel cost of $34 is a good estimate for this 222.1-mile trip, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before departing Excelsior Springs to avoid unnecessary stops.
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 110.6 miles from Excelsior Springs, MO, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.6 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 49 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.6 miles or 2h 9m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chesterfield, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Excelsior Springs, 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 Excelsior Springs, MO
This is one driving day of about 221.1 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Excelsior Springs, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 102.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.6 and 219.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
16.6 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward MO 13: Polo, Henrietta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 13: Polo, Henrietta
5
16.9 mi into trip|~24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 13 South: Henrietta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MO 13 South: Henrietta
7
41.5 mi into trip|~55m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
6
202.2 mi into trip|~3h 57m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 210A
Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Ches...
7
219.1 mi into trip|~4h 17m in
Take the exit toward Boone's Crossing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward Boone's Crossing
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.57 one way
$69.13 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.95
$75.91
premium
$4.89
$42.55
$85.10
diesel
$5.61
$48.82
$97.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.3
0
$23.22
$10.61
Efficient EV
55.3
0
$19.35
$8.84
EV Truck/SUV
88.4
1
$30.95
$14.15
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Excelsior Springs, MO
Night
in Excelsior Springs on Saturday
Local time
9:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chesterfield, MO
Night
in Chesterfield on Saturday
Local time
9:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Columbia, MO
111 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 22m 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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
$19
near mile 221.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this route, with a 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating primarily on local roads, which can offer a more intimate connection with the landscape but also require more constant attention. There's no mention of a longest uninterrupted stretch, implying frequent intersections or changes in direction. The character of the drive will likely involve more frequent adjustments to speed and steering compared to a typical interstate journey. Be prepared for a driving experience that is more hands-on and less about simply cruising.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.6 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.6 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 221.1 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 16.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 41.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Excelsior Springs, MO to Chesterfield, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Henrietta along the way.
Henrietta
16.6 mi in|~23m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 22m. Total distance: 221.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.6 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Chesterfield, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 41.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Chesterfield, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
