Maysville, MO to St. Louis, MO is 287.4 miles and takes about 5h 46m via US 36 and Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region from a more rural starting point to a major metropolitan area. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way east. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a straightforward option for getting across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
143.7 miles from Maysville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 36
162 mi
3h 7m
Avenue of the Saints
101.3 mi
2h 1m
South Polk Street
8.9 mi
15m
Jack Buck Memorial Highway
5.8 mi
7m
Daniel Boone Expressway
5.7 mi
7m
Veterans Road
2.1 mi
3m
Paris Gravel Road
0.5 mi
1m
South 14th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 36
— 162 mi, about 3h 7m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 9 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~5,652 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,927
Quietest
2 AM
~160 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
35.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 47 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 Maysville, MO and St. Louis, MO.
1
Start on MO 6
0.1 mi·16 sec·West Main Street
2
Turn right onto MO 33
8.9 mi·15 min·South Polk Street
3
Turn left onto US 36
162 mi·3 hr 7 min·US 36
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward Veterans Road
5
Turn right onto Veterans Road
2.1 mi·3 min·Veterans Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto County Road 422
279 ft·6 sec·County Road 422
7
Continue on Paris Gravel Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Paris Gravel Road
8
Take the ramp
120 ft·3 sec
9
Merge onto US 61
101 mi·2 hr 1 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the right lane.
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 39AToward 14th StreetUse 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
Given the 5h 46m estimated drive time, leaving Maysville in the morning should allow you to reach St. Louis well before evening. The longest stretch without significant stops is 162 miles on US 36, so plan a fuel and stretch break before or during that segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $44, be sure to check your tank levels, especially before heading into longer stretches. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility; however, aim to depart early to maximize your daylight hours.
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 143.7 miles from Maysville, MO, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 162 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 63 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.7 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 42m
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 Maysville, 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 Maysville, MO
This is one driving day of about 287.4 miles and 5h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Maysville, 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 US 36 for about 162 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 0.1 and 286.9 — 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|MO 33 / South Polk Street
Turn right onto MO 33 / South Polk Street
Navigation decision point
4
9.1 mi into trip|~16m in|US 36
Turn left onto US 36
Navigation decision point
5
173.9 mi into trip|~3h 29m in|US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
286.7 mi into trip|~5h 44m 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
286.9 mi into trip|~5h 45m in|South 14th Street
Turn left onto South 14th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.44 one way
$84.88 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$46.86
$93.71
premium
$4.72
$53.36
$106.72
diesel
$4.80
$54.27
$108.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.2
1
$30.18
$13.80
Efficient EV
71.9
0
$25.15
$11.50
EV Truck/SUV
115
1
$40.24
$18.39
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Maysville, MO
Late night
in Maysville on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
SW 7 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:27PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
St. Louis, MO
Late night
in St. Louis on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Clear
SW 3 to 7 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:27PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
88°F
Independence, IL
144 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
4 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
5h 46m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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?
This route is about 58% highway, offering substantial stretches of faster driving. You'll experience a 162-mile segment primarily on US 36. The profile is mixed highway and surface, meaning you'll transition from higher-speed roads to more local streets and rural highways. Be prepared for a change in pace as you move between these different road types.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 162 mi on US 36.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near MO 33 / South Polk Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 46m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (MO 33 / South Polk Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.1 miles (US 36): Navigation decision point; at 173.9 miles (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.
Top landmarks
•Gateway Arch — monument in St. Louis, Missouri
•Missouri Botanical Garden — non-profit organization in the USA
•Gateway Arch National Park — American National Park in St. Louis, Missouri
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 162 miles on US 36. 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.
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 (MO 33 / South Polk Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.1 miles (US 36): Navigation decision point; at 173.9 miles (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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at St. Louis, MO before the return drive.
