Hayti, MO to Saint Peters, MO is 210 miles and takes about 3h 53m via I 55 and I 270, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major interstates, making it a good option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. Plan for this to be a single-day trip, as the driving time is manageable.
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
105 miles from Hayti, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
175.7 mi
3h 8m
I 270
18.1 mi
22m
I 70
10.5 mi
13m
Rosa Parks Highway
1.3 mi
1m
East Washington Street
1.1 mi
2m
South 3rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 175.7 mi, about 3h 8m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 11 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~6,589 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~547 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12×
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 Hayti, MO and Saint Peters, MO.
1
Start on South 3rd Street
108 ft·8 sec·South 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto MO 84
1.1 mi·2 min·East Washington Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Sikeston
4
Merge onto I 55; US 61
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 55; US 61
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
102 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 55
6
Continue on I 55
1.3 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 196Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, ChicagoUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
388 ft·8 sec
Toward I 270 West: Kansas CityUse the slight left lane.
9
Continue on this road
0.7 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 196Toward I 270 West
10
Merge onto I 270
18 mi·22 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 20AToward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Louis Lambert International AirportUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward I 70 West: Kansas CityUse the slight left lane.
13
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·57 sec·this road
Exit 20BToward I 70 West: Kansas City
14
Merge onto I 70
11 mi·13 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
I 70
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short drive time of under 4 hours, this route is best suited for a single-day trip. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to arrive with daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the 175.7-mile stretch on I 55, as services might be less frequent in certain sections. The estimated fuel cost of $32 is a helpful guide for budgeting.
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 105 miles from Hayti, MO, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 175.7 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 46 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105 miles or 1h 53m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Peters, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hayti, 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 Hayti, MO
This is one driving day of about 210 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Hayti, 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 I 55 for about 175.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 198.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Sikeston
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Sikeston
8
178.4 mi into trip|~3h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 196
Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chi...
8
178.7 mi into trip|~3h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 West: Kansas City
8
197.6 mi into trip|~3h 37m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Louis Lambert International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20A
Toward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Lo...
7
198.7 mi into trip|~3h 39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.01 one way
$62.02 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$34.24
$68.47
premium
$4.72
$38.99
$77.98
diesel
$4.80
$39.65
$79.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63
0
$22.05
$10.08
Efficient EV
52.5
0
$18.38
$8.40
EV Truck/SUV
84
1
$29.40
$13.44
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Hayti, MO
Late night
in Hayti on Sunday
Local time
1:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 0 to 5 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 7:18PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Saint Peters, MO
Late night
in Saint Peters on Sunday
Local time
1:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 1 to 8 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 7:18PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
90°F
Crystal City, MO
105 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 53m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the B...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 130.3
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?
With 97% of this drive on highways, you'll spend almost all your time on interstates. The longest continuous stretch is 175.7 miles on I 55. You'll experience consistent highway cruising for the majority of the trip. Expect a high number of exits and merges as you approach and navigate through urban areas, particularly around Saint Louis.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 175.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 270. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 210 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 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 178.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 178.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
618 ft270 ft
Total Climb
494 ft
Total Descent
320 ft
Highest Point
618 ft
~135 mi in
Elevation Range
348 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hayti, MO and Saint Peters, MO, road signs point toward Chicago, Saint Louis and Saint Louis Lambert International Airport.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 53m. Total distance: 210 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 175.7 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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 Saint Peters, 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 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 178.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 178.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park and Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Saint Peters, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
