Florissant, MO to Chillicothe, MO is 225.5 miles and takes about 4h 32m via Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and I-70, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The profile is mixed highway and surface roads, suggesting you'll transition between faster interstates and potentially slower local routes. With only one recommended stop and a single day of driving, this route is best suited for those who want a straightforward trip between these two points without extensive sightseeing.
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
112.7 miles from Florissant, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
111.4 mi
2h 8m
Avenue of the Saints
73.3 mi
1h 26m
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
South Washington Street
1.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 111.4 mi, about 2h 8m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 17 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,843 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~426 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Chillicothe, 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
111 mi·2 hr 8 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward US 65, US 36 Business: Chillicothe, Carrollton
20
Turn right onto US 65; US 36 Business
1.4 mi·3 min·South Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto Jackson Street
322 ft·15 sec·Jackson Street
22
Turn left onto Locust Street
0.1 mi·30 sec·Locust Street
23
Arrive at destination
Locust Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4.5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Florissant, MO, to maximize your daylight hours. With only one recommended stop, you can complete this trip in a single day, but be mindful of the longest stretch of 111.4 miles on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, where opportunities for services might be less frequent. Budgeting around $35 for fuel is a good estimate for the 225.5-mile journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that longer highway segment, to ensure you don't need to deviate significantly for a gas station.
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 112.7 miles from Florissant, MO, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.4 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 50 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.7 miles or 2h 20m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chillicothe, 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 225.5 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 111.4 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 106.2 — 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
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.30 one way
$66.60 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$36.76
$73.53
premium
$4.72
$41.87
$83.74
diesel
$4.80
$42.58
$85.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.7
0
$23.68
$10.82
Efficient EV
56.4
0
$19.73
$9.02
EV Truck/SUV
90.2
1
$31.57
$14.43
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Florissant, MO
Late night
in Florissant on Sunday
Local time
5:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Chillicothe, MO
Late night
in Chillicothe on Sunday
Local time
5:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 6 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 32m 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?
This drive involves 59% highway driving, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on major expressways. The longest continuous stretch on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway is 111.4 miles, offering a period of uninterrupted cruising. You'll experience a mix of highway speeds and potentially slower speeds on surface roads as you navigate the 225.5-mile total distance. Expect to notice changes in traffic density as you move between urban areas and more rural stretches.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.4 mi on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 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 19 significant decision points across 225.5 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 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 225.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.4 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Chillicothe, 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. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Chillicothe, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
