Florissant, MO to Bethany, MO is 300 miles and takes about 5h 54m via the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and I 35, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Missouri. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, it’s a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in a single day. Plan for a solid chunk of driving time, but without the need to stop overnight. It’s a practical route for getting between these two points efficiently.
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
150 miles from Florissant, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
148.7 mi
2h 51m
Avenue of the Saints
73.3 mi
1h 26m
I 35
37.6 mi
40m
I 70
21.6 mi
26m
V.F.W. Memorial Highway
5.8 mi
6m
Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
3.7 mi
4m
Veterans Road
2.2 mi
3m
Lindbergh Boulevard
1.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 148.7 mi, about 2h 51m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,766 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,506
Quietest
2 AM
~423 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Florissant, MO and Bethany, MO.
1
Start on North New Florissant Road
87 ft·5 sec·North New Florissant Road
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Washington Street
3
Turn left onto US 67
1.7 mi·3 min·Lindbergh Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 270
3.7 mi·4 min·Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 20AToward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
7
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·42 sec·this road
Exit 20A-BToward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas CityUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·41 sec
Exit 20BToward I 70 West: Kansas CityUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 70
22 mi·26 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 210BToward US 61 North: HannibalUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto US 61
73 mi·1 hr 26 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the right lane.
12
Take the exit
249 ft·14 sec
13
Turn left onto Paris Gravel Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Paris Gravel Road
14
Keep slight right at fork onto County Road 422
279 ft·8 sec·County Road 422
15
Turn right onto Veterans Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Veterans Road
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Monroe City
17
Merge onto US 36; MO 110
5.8 mi·6 min·V.F.W. Memorial Highway
18
Continue on US 24; US 36; MO 110
149 mi·2 hr 51 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 35 North: Bethany, Des Moines
20
Merge onto I 35
38 mi·40 min·I 35
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
22
Turn left onto US 136
0.8 mi·1 min·Miller Street
23
Turn right onto US 69
0.2 mi·27 sec·South 25th Street
24
Turn left onto MO W
139 ft·11 sec·Main Street
25
Turn sharp left
32 ft·1 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 5h 54m drive, departing in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility in when you stop. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 148.7-mile stretch on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, as services can be spaced out. The total fuel cost is estimated at $48. Breaking up the drive with a quick stop for a meal or a stretch can make the 300 miles more comfortable.
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 150 miles from Florissant, MO, or about 3h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.7 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 66 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150 miles or 3h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethany, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Florissant, 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 Florissant, MO
This is one driving day of about 300 miles and 5h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Florissant, 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 Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for about 148.7 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.9 and 261 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.9 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 20A
Toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
8
7.6 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20B
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
7
29.7 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the exit toward US 61 North: Hannibal
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 210B
Toward US 61 North: Hannibal
6
106.2 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Take the ramp toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Monroe City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Monroe City
6
261 mi into trip|~5h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North: Bethany, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 North: Bethany, Des Moines
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.55 one way
$93.09 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$50.86
$101.72
premium
$4.67
$55.13
$110.27
diesel
$6.01
$70.98
$141.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90
1
$31.50
$14.40
Efficient EV
75
0
$26.25
$12.00
EV Truck/SUV
120
1
$42.00
$19.20
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Florissant, MO
Afternoon
in Florissant on Monday
Local time
12:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Clear
E 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bethany, MO
Afternoon
in Bethany on Monday
Local time
12:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
79°F
Independence, IL
150 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
1 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
5h 54m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 69% of your time on the highway, which means a lot of cruising on major roads. The longest continuous stretch on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway is 148.7 miles. Expect a mostly highway profile, transitioning to surface roads as you get closer to Bethany. The abundance of highway means you'll encounter a good number of exits for services and potential diversions.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 148.7 mi on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and Avenue of the Saints. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.9 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 22 significant decision points across 300 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 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
961 ft478 ft
Total Climb
801 ft
Total Descent
485 ft
Highest Point
961 ft
~257.2 mi in
Elevation Range
483 ft
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 Florissant, MO to Bethany, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Des Moines along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 54m. Total distance: 300 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 148.7 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. 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 Bethany, 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 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bethany, MO before the return drive.
