If you are planning a getaway from the St. Louis suburbs to the heart of the Lake of the Ozarks area, this 180.7-mile trek between Florissant and Camdenton is a straightforward Midwest journey. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 33 minutes behind the wheel, making it an ideal choice for a one-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $27, the drive is quite economical for a solo traveler or a small group. You will primarily utilize I-70, US 54, and the Rosemary Straub Davison Highway to navigate through Missouri. Since the entire route stays within the state, you can anticipate a consistent regional feel as you transition from the suburban sprawl of Florissant to the more relaxed pace of Camdenton.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
90.4 miles from Florissant, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 54
88.1 mi
1h 41m
I 70
84.1 mi
1h 38m
Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
3.7 mi
4m
Lindbergh Boulevard
1.7 mi
3m
Washington Street
1 mi
1m
Court Circle SE
0.1 mi
<1m
Court Circle SW
<0.1 mi
<1m
North New Florissant Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 54
— 88.1 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florissant, MO and Camdenton, 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
84 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 148Toward US 54: Auxvasse, Mexico, Fulton
11
Turn left onto US 54
88 mi·1 hr 40 min·US 54
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto Court Circle SE
147 ft·4 sec·Court Circle SE
13
Continue on Court Circle SE
0.1 mi·20 sec·Court Circle SE
14
Continue on Court Circle SW
379 ft·15 sec·Court Circle SW
15
At end of road, turn right onto US 54
296 ft·8 sec·US 54
16
Arrive at destination
US 54
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable drive of under four hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to leave early to avoid potential congestion on the interstate segments, though a single well-timed stop is usually sufficient to complete the 180.7-mile trip comfortably. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge when you transition onto US 54, as that 88.1-mile stretch is your longest uninterrupted segment without major town exits. Because the route is highway-heavy, it is wise to check local traffic reports for the I-70 portion before you head out. Embracing the pace of this drive allows you to reach Camdenton without feeling rushed, giving you more time to settle into your destination once you arrive.
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 90.4 miles from Florissant, MO, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.1 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 40 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.4 miles or 1h 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 2h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Camdenton, 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 180.7 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 US 54 for about 88.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 180.7 — 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
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
6
92.2 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward US 54: Auxvasse, Mexico, Fulton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 148
Toward US 54: Auxvasse, Mexico, Fulton
6
180.7 mi into trip|~3h 33m in|US 54
At end of road, turn right onto US 54
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.25 one way
$56.50 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.02
$62.04
premium
$4.89
$34.77
$69.55
diesel
$5.61
$39.90
$79.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.2
0
$18.97
$8.67
Efficient EV
45.2
0
$15.81
$7.23
EV Truck/SUV
72.3
0
$25.30
$11.56
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Night
in Florissant on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Camdenton, MO
Night
in Camdenton on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
7 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
3h 33m 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?
This trip is heavily focused on highway travel, with 95% of the route consisting of major roadways that prioritize efficiency. You will find that the personality of the drive shifts as you transition from the interstate system onto US 54, which accounts for the longest stretch of your journey at 88.1 miles. While the majority of the trip offers a smooth, high-speed experience, the mix of roads ensures you are not just stuck on a single monotonous path for the entire duration. Navigating this stretch requires you to stay alert during the transition between the high-traffic interstate and the secondary highways. Overall, the route feels like a functional, direct corridor designed for getting you to your destination with minimal fuss.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.1 mi on US 54.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 54 and I 70. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near I 270 / Rosemary Straub Davison Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 180.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 7.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,044 ft521 ft
Total Climb
1,147 ft
Total Descent
682 ft
Highest Point
1,044 ft
~180.7 mi in
Elevation Range
523 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Florissant, MO and Camdenton, MO, road signs point toward Mexico and Fulton.
Mexico
92.2 mi in|~1h 51m
Fulton
92.2 mi in|~1h 51m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 180.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 88.1 miles on US 54. 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 Camdenton, 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 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 7.6 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 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Camdenton, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
