This 234.3-mile journey from Excelsior Springs, MO to Florissant, MO will take approximately 3 hours and 39 minutes of driving time. Operating primarily on local roads like Isley Boulevard and MO 13 South, this route is best suited for a single day trip, especially given its relatively short duration. Budget around $36 for fuel for this drive. The Midwest scenery provides a familiar backdrop as you travel within Missouri. With only one recommended stop, you'll have plenty of flexibility in how you pace this trip.
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
116.4 miles from Excelsior Springs, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
124.7 mi
2h 26m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
South Spartan Drive
24.5 mi
30m
Isley Boulevard
13.9 mi
20m
I 270
4.2 mi
5m
MO 10
2.6 mi
3m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
North Lindbergh Boulevard
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 124.7 mi, about 2h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Excelsior Springs, MO and Florissant, 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
103 mi·2 hr 2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·12 sec
Exit 232Toward I 270: Chicago, MemphisUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·36 sec
Toward I 270 North: ChicagoUse the slight left lane.
17
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·18 sec·this road
Exit 232Toward I 270 North: Chicago
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 270 North: ChicagoUse the straight lane.
19
Merge onto I 270
4.2 mi·5 min·I 270
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 25Toward US 67Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn left onto US 67
1.8 mi·3 min·North Lindbergh Boulevard
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto West Washington Street
1.0 mi·2 min·West Washington Street
23
Turn left onto North New Florissant Road
87 ft·1 sec·North New Florissant Road
24
Arrive at destination
North New Florissant Road
Trip Plan
For this 3 hour and 39 minute drive, leaving mid-morning should allow you to arrive in Florissant with ample time to spare. Since this is a single-day trip covering 234.3 miles and not a high-speed interstate journey, you can easily adjust your pace. Plan for your single stop to be a convenient point for a break or a quick meal. Given the route's reliance on MO 13 South, pay close attention to local signage and speed limits as you transition between different sections of the road to stay on track.
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 116.4 miles from Excelsior Springs, MO, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124.7 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 51 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.4 miles or 2h 15m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florissant, 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 232.8 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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 124.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 41.5 and 229.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8
224.3 mi into trip|~4h 24m in
Take the exit toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
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 232
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
7
224.5 mi into trip|~4h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 North: Chicago
8
225.2 mi into trip|~4h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 270 North: Chicago
7
229.7 mi into trip|~4h 31m in
Take the exit toward US 67
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 25
Toward US 67
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.40 one way
$72.79 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$39.96
$79.92
premium
$4.89
$44.80
$89.60
diesel
$5.61
$51.40
$102.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.8
0
$24.44
$11.17
Efficient EV
58.2
0
$20.37
$9.31
EV Truck/SUV
93.1
1
$32.59
$14.90
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% 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
Late night
in Excelsior Springs on Sunday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Florissant, MO
Late night
in Florissant on Sunday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
29 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 37m 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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$19
near mile 232.8
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' for most of this 234.3-mile route, as indicated by its 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating a series of local roads and state highways, rather than cruising on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests frequent adjustments in direction. This type of driving keeps you engaged with the immediate surroundings, offering a more intimate connection with the landscape as you make your way across Missouri.
Only 3% 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: 124.7 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 41.5 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 232.8 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 41.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 224.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 224.5 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.
On the drive from Excelsior Springs, MO to Florissant, 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 37m. Total distance: 232.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 124.7 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 Florissant, 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 41.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 224.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 224.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Florissant, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
