This 146.6-mile journey from Marion, MO to St. Louis, MO will take approximately 2 hours and 57 minutes, making it a very manageable day trip. You'll primarily travel on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and US 54, with a portion of the Avenue of the Saints also incorporated. With a fuel cost estimated at $23, this route offers an economical drive through the Midwest. The mixed driving profile suggests a varied experience on the road, and the single recommended stop means you can easily complete this trip in one day without needing an overnight stay.
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
73.3 miles from Marion, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
61.9 mi
1h 11m
US 54
29.4 mi
32m
Avenue of the Saints
27.7 mi
33m
MO 179
12.1 mi
17m
Jack Buck Memorial Highway
5.8 mi
7m
Daniel Boone Expressway
5.7 mi
7m
West Main Street
2.7 mi
5m
South 14th Street
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 Marion, MO and St. Louis, MO.
1
Start on MO 179
2.3 mi·3 min·MO 179
2
Turn straight onto MO 179
9.8 mi·14 min·MO 179
3
Turn left onto West Main Street
2.4 mi·5 min·West Main Street
4
Continue on West Main Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·West Main Street
5
Take the ramp
401 ft·9 sec
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
6
Merge onto US 54; US 63
29 mi·32 min·US 54; US 63
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
8
Merge onto I 70; US 40
62 mi·1 hr 11 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Take the exit onto US 40
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 40
Exit 210AToward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
10
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
28 mi·33 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Continue on I 64; US 40
5.7 mi·7 min·Daniel Boone Expressway
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on I 64; US 40
5.8 mi·7 min·Jack Buck Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 39AToward 14th StreetUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto South 14th Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·South 14th Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto Market Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Market Street
16
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 3 hours, you have considerable flexibility in planning your departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your day in St. Louis. With only one recommended stop, you can easily manage your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 61.9-mile stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and plan your refueling accordingly. The $23 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting your trip expenses.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.3 miles from Marion, MO, or about 1h 28m 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 32 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.3 miles or 1h 28m 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 23m
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 Marion, 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 Marion, MO
This is one driving day of about 146.6 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Marion, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 61.9 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 14.8 and 145.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
14.8 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the ramp toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbi...
5
44.3 mi into trip|~55m 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
106.5 mi into trip|~2h 6m 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...
5
106.8 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
145.9 mi into trip|~2h 55m 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
$22.37 one way
$44.73 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$24.63
$49.27
premium
$4.81
$27.74
$55.48
diesel
$5.61
$32.37
$64.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44
0
$15.39
$7.04
Efficient EV
36.7
0
$12.83
$5.86
EV Truck/SUV
58.6
0
$20.52
$9.38
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 20, 2026
Origin
Marion, MO
Afternoon
in Marion on Tuesday
Local time
2:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
St. Louis, MO
Afternoon
in St. Louis on Tuesday
Local time
2:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
1 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
2h 57m 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?
The drive features a 32% highway share, indicating a good balance between faster highway segments and potentially more local road travel. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 61.9 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, providing a substantial period of consistent travel. The 'Mixed drive' profile suggests that you can expect a blend of driving experiences, perhaps transitioning from open highway to more varied terrain or traffic conditions as you approach your destination. This route isn't a monotonous interstate grind but offers a dynamic feel behind the wheel.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 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
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 14.8 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 146.6 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: at 14.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 106.5 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Marion, MO to St. Louis, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Columbia along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 146.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). 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 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: at 14.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 106.5 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 St. Louis, MO before heading back.
