Spanning 176.4 miles across the Missouri Midwest, this trip connects Marshfield to Chesterfield in roughly 2 hours and 48 minutes. Because the duration is relatively short, you can easily complete this journey as a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $27 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating this route involves a variety of local roads, including West Jackson Street, West Washington Street, and Spur Drive, rather than relying on a single interstate artery. It is a straightforward drive that works well for those looking to travel between these two Missouri locations efficiently.
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
88.2 miles from Marshfield, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
152 mi
2h 43m
Manchester Road
16.8 mi
24m
Clarkson Road
3.6 mi
6m
Baxter Road
1.6 mi
2m
Spur Drive
0.6 mi
1m
West Jackson Street
0.6 mi
1m
Santa Maria Drive
0.3 mi
1m
West Washington Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 152 mi, about 2h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marshfield, MO and Chesterfield, MO.
1
Start on North Clay Street
501 ft·23 sec·North Clay Street
2
Turn right onto MO 38
0.6 mi·1 min·West Jackson Street
3
Continue on US Historic 66; MO 38
0.2 mi·30 sec·West Washington Street
4
Continue on MO 38
0.6 mi·1 min·Spur Drive
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 44 East: Rolla
6
Merge onto I 44
152 mi·2 hr 43 min·I 44
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 253Toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray SummitUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto MO 100
17 mi·24 min·Manchester Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto MO 340
3.6 mi·6 min·Clarkson Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto Baxter Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Baxter Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto Wild Horse Creek Road
0.1 mi·22 sec·Wild Horse Creek Road
12
Turn left onto Santa Maria Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Santa Maria Drive
13
Arrive at destination
Santa Maria Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 48 minute duration, your best strategy is to plan for at least one stop to break up the drive and stretch your legs. Flexibility is a major advantage here, as the lack of long highway stretches allows you to pull over easily if you need a quick rest. Check your fuel levels before departing Marshfield, as the $27 cost is a reasonable estimate but can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency. Since this is a turn-heavy local route, pay close attention to your GPS navigation to stay on track through the various street transitions. Aim to depart outside of local rush hours to ensure a smoother experience on these smaller, non-highway roads.
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 88.2 miles from Marshfield, MO, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152 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 39 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.2 miles or 1h 37m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chesterfield, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Marshfield, 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 Marshfield, MO
This is one driving day of about 176.4 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Marshfield, 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 44 for about 152 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 174.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 East: Rolla
Navigation decision point
Toward I 44 East: Rolla
8
153.7 mi into trip|~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray Summit
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 253
Toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray Summit
5
153.9 mi into trip|~2h 48m in|MO 100 / Manchester Road
Turn left onto MO 100 / Manchester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
170.8 mi into trip|~3h 12m in|MO 340 / Clarkson Road
Turn left onto MO 340 / Clarkson Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
174.4 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|Baxter Road
Turn left onto Baxter Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.58 one way
$55.16 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.28
$60.56
premium
$4.89
$33.95
$67.89
diesel
$5.61
$38.95
$77.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.7 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
52.9
0
$18.52
$8.47
Efficient EV
44.1
0
$15.43
$7.06
EV Truck/SUV
70.6
0
$24.70
$11.29
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Marshfield, MO
Night
in Marshfield on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chesterfield, MO
Night
in Chesterfield on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Washington, MO
88 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
1 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 24m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway experience, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating through local roadways, which requires more active attention than a typical interstate trek. Since the path relies on surface streets like Spur Drive, the pace is dictated by local traffic patterns and intersections. The lack of high-speed highway stretches means the road is consistently technical and winding. Be prepared for a drive that demands constant focus, as you maneuver through the local infrastructure of the region.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 152 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and Manchester Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 24m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 153.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 153.9 miles (MO 100 / Manchester Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,490 ft472 ft
Total Climb
414 ft
Total Descent
1,432 ft
Highest Point
1,490 ft
Elevation Range
1,018 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 24m. Total distance: 176.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 152 miles on I 44. 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.
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 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 153.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 153.9 miles (MO 100 / Manchester Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Chesterfield, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
