This 76.1-mile drive from Florissant, MO to Bowling Green, MO is a straightforward trip, taking about 1 hour and 36 minutes to complete. It's an ideal one-day excursion, perfect for a quick getaway without needing an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost is around $12, making it an economical option. You'll spend about 30% of your time on highways, with the majority of the journey on roads like Avenue of the Saints and I-70. This route offers a mixed driving experience as you travel within the Midwest region of Missouri.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.1 miles from Florissant, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
44.2 mi
52m
I 70
21.6 mi
26m
Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
3.7 mi
4m
Lindbergh Boulevard
1.7 mi
3m
US 61 Business
1.2 mi
2m
Washington Street
1 mi
1m
South Court Street
0.6 mi
1m
North New Florissant Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 44.2 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florissant, MO and Bowling Green, 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
44 mi·52 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the right lane.
12
Take the exit onto US 61 Business
0.2 mi·35 sec·US 61 Business
13
Turn left onto US 61 Business; MO 161
0.3 mi·27 sec·US 61 Business; MO 161
14
Enter roundabout onto US 61 Business; MO 161
126 ft·2 sec·US 61 Business; MO 161
15
Continue on US 61 Business; MO 161
0.6 mi·57 sec·US 61 Business; MO 161
16
Enter roundabout onto South Court Street
22 ft·0 sec·South Court Street
17
Continue on South Court Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Court Street
18
Turn right onto West Main Street
44 ft·1 sec·West Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just under 1.5 hours, this trip from Florissant to Bowling Green offers great flexibility. You can easily depart mid-morning and still arrive with plenty of daylight. Since it's a relatively short drive with no specific stops recommended in the data, you can focus on enjoying the journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading out, as the estimated cost is $12. A practical tip for this route would be to be aware of the transition points between highway driving and other main roads to adjust your speed accordingly.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.1 miles from Florissant, MO, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.2 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.1 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bowling Green, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Florissant, MO
This is one driving day of about 76.1 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Florissant, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 44.2 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 29.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.1 mi into trip|~6m in|I 270 / Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
Merge onto I 270 / Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
5
7.1 mi into trip|~11m in
Continue toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 20A-B
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.90 one way
$23.79 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.06
$26.13
premium
$4.89
$14.64
$29.29
diesel
$5.61
$16.80
$33.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.8
0
$7.99
$3.65
Efficient EV
19
0
$6.66
$3.04
EV Truck/SUV
30.4
0
$10.65
$4.87
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Florissant, MO
Late night
in Florissant on Sunday
Local time
5:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bowling Green, MO
Late night
in Bowling Green on Sunday
Local time
5:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
12 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
1h 36m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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?
Expect a mixed drive on this 76.1-mile route, with 30% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 44.2 miles on Avenue of the Saints, offering a substantial period of consistent travel. While you'll navigate some interstate driving on I-70, the route also incorporates other main roads, suggesting a varied road experience. This blend means you'll shift between faster highway speeds and potentially more local road conditions.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.2 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near I 270 / Rosemary Straub Davison Highway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 3.1 miles (I 270 / Rosemary Straub Davison Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. 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 Florissant, MO to Bowling Green, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Kansas City along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 76.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.2 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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 Bowling Green, 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 3.1 miles (I 270 / Rosemary Straub Davison Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bowling Green, MO before heading back.
