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Trip from Fulton, MO to St. Louis, MO

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 11m

Distance

109.1 mi

176 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 2m ★
6 AM
2h 11m
8 AM
2h 30m
10 AM
2h 18m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 29m
8 PM
2h 6m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Fulton, MO, MO

Fulton, MO

Yaroslav Shuraev

Trip Overview

Fulton, MO to St. Louis, MO is 109.1 miles and takes about 2h 11m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within the Midwest, staying within Missouri for the entire trip. Given its relatively short distance and manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day journey. You'll primarily be navigating local roads and highways, so don't expect a pure interstate experience. Plan for a more engaged driving experience rather than a passive cruise.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

54.6 miles from Fulton, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 61.9 mi 1h 11m
Avenue of the Saints 27.7 mi 33m
North Bluff Street 6.3 mi 8m
Jack Buck Memorial Highway 5.8 mi 7m
Daniel Boone Expressway 5.7 mi 7m
Market Street 0.5 mi <1m
South 14th Street 0.3 mi <1m
US 40 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 61.9 mi, about 1h 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fulton, MO and St. Louis, MO.

1

Start on Court Street

24 ft · 6 sec · Court Street
2

Turn left onto East 4th Street

267 ft · 18 sec · East 4th Street
3

Turn left onto US 54 Business

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Market Street
4

Continue on US 54 Business

0.2 mi · 15 sec · Saint Louis Avenue
5

Turn left onto US 54 Business

6.3 mi · 8 min · North Bluff Street
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 14 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
7

Merge onto I 70; US 40

62 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8

Take the exit onto US 40

0.3 mi · 33 sec · US 40
Exit 210A Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
9

Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61

28 mi · 33 min · Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10

Continue on I 64; US 40

5.7 mi · 7 min · Daniel Boone Expressway
Use the straight lane.
11

Continue on I 64; US 40

5.8 mi · 7 min · Jack Buck Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec
Exit 39A Toward 14th Street Use the slight right lane.
13

Turn left onto South 14th Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · South 14th Street
Use the left lane.
14

Turn right onto Market Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Market Street
15

Arrive at destination

Market Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short, one-day trip of just over 2 hours, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Fulton in the morning allows ample time to reach St. Louis with the afternoon to spare. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, you likely won't need to worry about frequent gas station stops, but it's always wise to fill up before leaving Fulton to ensure you have a full tank. Keep an eye on your navigation, as the 'turn-heavy' nature of this route means paying close attention to upcoming turns, especially when transitioning from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway onto local roads.

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 54.6 miles from Fulton, MO, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.9 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 24 miles or 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 54.6 miles or 1h 4m 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 45m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near St. Louis, MO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Fulton, 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 Fulton, MO

This is one driving day of about 109.1 miles and 2h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Fulton, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 61.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Weldon Spring, MO

55 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Weldon Spring, MO to St. Louis, MO

30 mi · 38m

Pacing Suggestions

Montgomery City, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wright City, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 54.6 miles from Fulton, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.9 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 108.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East 4th Street

Turn left onto East 4th Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 54 Business / Market Street

Turn left onto US 54 Business / Market Street

Navigation decision point

5
6.8 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the exit toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
6
69 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in | US 40

Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 210A Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Ches...
7
108.4 mi into trip | ~2h 9m in

Take the exit toward 14th Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 39A Toward 14th Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.20 one way

$32.39 round trip

$3.77/gal 25.4 MPG avg 38 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $18.27 $36.54
premium $4.65 $19.99 $39.98
diesel $5.30 $22.78 $45.56

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 38.2 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 32.7 0 $11.46 $5.24
Efficient EV 27.3 0 $9.55 $4.36
EV Truck/SUV 43.6 0 $15.27 $6.98

Gas CO2

38 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (66% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Fulton, MO

Night in Fulton on Saturday

Local time

9:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

St. Louis, MO

Night in St. Louis on Saturday

Local time

9:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°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

19 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

2h 11m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only about 5% of the journey on major highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 61.9 miles along the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Expect a varied driving experience that shifts between quicker highway sections and more involved local road navigation. The constant changes in road type and direction will demand your attention, making it a more interactive drive compared to a straightforward interstate trip.

Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.9 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 4th Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 109.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (East 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 54 Business / Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Arriving in St. Louis, MO

Full guide →

The Gateway City of St. Louis is the epitome of the modern Midwestern metropolis. Missouri's second-largest city is vibrant but laid-back, populous but navigable, historic but still relevant. The city's planners have created an aesthetically beautiful city, with plenty of green space amidst buildings both old and new, framed by the majestic Mississippi and Missouri rivers. And capping it all is the world's tallest man-made monument, the beautiful and iconic Gateway Arch. St. Louis is a city of culture and surprisingly inexpensive. Among American cities, only Washington, D.C. has more free attractions for tourists and residents alike. Hotels, restaurants, and even parking garages avoid the premium pricing common in other big cities. Although often overlooked, St. Louis can be an affordable, educational, and fun family getaway.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 11m. Total distance: 109.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (5%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 61.9 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 54 Business / Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at St. Louis, MO before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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