This trip from Marshall, MO to St. Louis, MO covers 183.8 miles and should take about 3 hours and 39 minutes, making it a perfect one-day drive. You'll primarily be on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, also known as U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway and Avenue of the Saints. With a fuel cost estimated at $29, this journey through the Midwest is straightforward and efficient. The route involves a few turns but is generally manageable for a single day's travel, so an overnight stay isn't necessary.
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
91.9 miles from Marshall, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
82.8 mi
1h 37m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
45.7 mi
48m
Avenue of the Saints
27.7 mi
33m
US 65
8.2 mi
9m
Jack Buck Memorial Highway
5.8 mi
7m
Daniel Boone Expressway
5.7 mi
7m
North Odell Avenue
3 mi
7m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 82.8 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marshall, MO and St. Louis, MO.
1
Start on US 65 Bus
0.1 mi·22 sec·East Eastwood Street
2
Turn right onto US 65 Bus
3.0 mi·7 min·North Odell Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 65 South
4
Merge onto US 65
8.2 mi·9 min·US 65
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
6
Merge onto I 70; US 40
23 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
12
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
13
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
28 mi·33 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Continue on I 64; US 40
5.7 mi·7 min·Daniel Boone Expressway
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on I 64; US 40
5.8 mi·7 min·Jack Buck Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 39AToward 14th StreetUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto South 14th Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·South 14th Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Market Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Market Street
19
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 39-minute duration, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Leaving Marshall in the morning will give you ample time to reach St. Louis with flexibility for any unscheduled stops. The estimated fuel cost is $29, so plan accordingly. While the drive has a 'turn-heavy' profile, the longest uninterrupted stretch is over 80 miles, offering some periods of consistent travel. Pay attention to signs for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, and Avenue of the Saints to navigate smoothly.
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 91.9 miles from Marshall, MO, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.8 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 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.9 miles or 1h 48m 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 57m
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 Marshall, 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 Marshall, MO
This is one driving day of about 183.8 miles and 3h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Marshall, 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 82.8 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 0.1 and 183.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 65 Bus / North Odell Avenue
Turn right onto US 65 Bus / North Odell Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
143.7 mi into trip|~2h 49m 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
143.9 mi into trip|~2h 49m 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
183.1 mi into trip|~3h 37m 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
5
183.3 mi into trip|~3h 38m in|South 14th Street
Turn left onto South 14th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.74 one way
$57.47 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.55
$63.10
premium
$4.89
$35.37
$70.74
diesel
$5.61
$40.58
$81.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.1
0
$19.30
$8.82
Efficient EV
46
0
$16.08
$7.35
EV Truck/SUV
73.5
0
$25.73
$11.76
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Marshall, MO
Night
in Marshall on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
St. Louis, MO
Night
in St. Louis on Saturday
Local time
11:15 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
3 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
3h 39m 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?
Expect a drive that's about 8% highway, meaning you'll experience a mix of faster travel and more frequent turns. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 82.8 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This route is characterized as 'turn-heavy,' suggesting that you'll need to stay alert for changes in direction as you progress from Marshall towards St. Louis. It's not a monotonous interstate cruise but rather a more engaging local drive.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.8 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 65 Bus / North Odell Avenue.
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 183.8 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 0.1 miles (US 65 Bus / North Odell Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 143.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.9 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 3h 39m. Total distance: 183.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.8 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. 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 St. Louis, 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 0.1 miles (US 65 Bus / North Odell Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 143.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.9 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at St. Louis, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
