Spanning 202.5 miles across Missouri, this route from Oak Grove to Chesterfield is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 3 hours to complete. You will primarily utilize I-70 East, making it an efficient connection between these two Midwest locations. Budget roughly $31 for fuel to cover the distance, which is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion. Because the drive is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless your schedule requires extra flexibility. It serves as a practical link for those looking to transit across the state without a complex itinerary.
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
100.8 miles from Oak Grove, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
123.7 mi
2h 21m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Avenue of the Saints
16.6 mi
19m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Chesterfield Airport Road
1.2 mi
2m
South Broadway Street
0.7 mi
1m
US 40
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 123.7 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oak Grove, MO and Chesterfield, MO.
1
Start on MO F
0.7 mi·1 min·South Broadway Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
3
Merge onto I 70; US 40
41 mi·43 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
4
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi·34 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
6
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
10
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
11
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
17 mi·19 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 17Toward Boone's CrossingUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto Boone's Crossing
0.1 mi·21 sec·Boone's Crossing
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto Chesterfield Airport Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Chesterfield Airport Road
15
Turn slight right
212 ft·7 sec
Toward Baxter RoadUse the right lane.
16
Turn slight right onto Baxter Road
0.3 mi·33 sec·Baxter Road
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto Old Chesterfield Road
0.2 mi·40 sec·Old Chesterfield Road
18
Turn right onto Santa Maria Drive
107 ft·4 sec·Santa Maria Drive
19
Arrive at destination
Santa Maria Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a 3-hour trip, you have the advantage of scheduling your departure around your personal preference rather than racing against daylight. Plan for at least one stop to break up the 202.5-mile trek, which will help keep you alert during the more technical portions of the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $31 estimated cost can vary based on your vehicle's efficiency and current local pricing. A helpful tip for this specific route is to account for extra time if you are traveling during peak hours, as the turn-heavy nature of the roads may cause delays compared to standard highway transit.
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 100.8 miles from Oak Grove, MO, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.7 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 44 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.8 miles or 1h 50m 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 5m
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 Oak Grove, 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 Oak Grove, MO
This is one driving day of about 201.6 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Oak Grove, 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 123.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 199.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
6
182.7 mi into trip|~3h 26m 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
183 mi into trip|~3h 26m 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
199.6 mi into trip|~3h 46m in
Take the exit toward Boone's Crossing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward Boone's Crossing
5
199.8 mi into trip|~3h 47m in|Boone's Crossing
Turn right onto Boone's Crossing
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.52 one way
$63.04 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.61
$69.21
premium
$4.89
$38.80
$77.59
diesel
$5.61
$44.51
$89.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.5
0
$21.17
$9.68
Efficient EV
50.4
0
$17.64
$8.06
EV Truck/SUV
80.6
1
$28.22
$12.90
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 18, 2026
Origin
Oak Grove, MO
Night
in Oak Grove on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chesterfield, MO
Night
in Chesterfield on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 12 to 16 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 9:59AM CDT until April 20 at 5:30AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 9:59AM CDT until April 20 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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 51m 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.
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
$19
near mile 201.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While you will be navigating via I-70 East, the nature of this route involves more technical maneuvering than a standard high-speed highway cruise. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a more involved experience behind the wheel. The road demands your full attention as you transition between local segments, so keep your focus sharp throughout the 202.5-mile journey. It is a drive defined by its localized character, offering a different pace than typical cross-country transit.
Only 0% 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: 123.7 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 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 201.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 182.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 183 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
895 ft472 ft
Total Climb
268 ft
Total Descent
642 ft
Highest Point
895 ft
~115.2 mi in
Elevation Range
422 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 201.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 123.7 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.
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 0.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 182.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 183 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 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Chesterfield, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
