Spanning 185.2 miles across Missouri, this route connects Odessa to Saint Peters in approximately 2 hours and 44 minutes. It functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $28 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly way to cross the state. Navigating from the western edge toward the eastern suburbs requires transitioning from local streets like South 2nd Street onto the primary artery of I-70 East. Because the entire trip stays within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, this path offers a reliable, no-nonsense connection between these two Missouri communities.
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
92.7 miles from Odessa, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
125.5 mi
2h 25m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
West Old U.S. 40
0.6 mi
1m
South 2nd Street
0.5 mi
1m
I 70
<0.1 mi
<1m
Mid Rivers Mall Drive
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 125.5 mi, about 2h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Odessa, MO and Saint Peters, MO.
1
Start on West Mason Street
31 ft·5 sec·West Mason Street
2
Turn right onto MO 131
0.5 mi·1 min·South 2nd Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto West Old U.S. 40
0.6 mi·1 min·West Old U.S. 40
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
5
Merge onto I 70; US 40
31 mi·33 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi·34 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
93 mi·1 hr 49 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 222AToward Mid Rivers Mall DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
205 ft·4 sec
Toward Mid Rivers Mall DriveUse the slight left lane.
14
Turn straight onto Mid Rivers Mall Drive
198 ft·5 sec·Mid Rivers Mall Drive
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·20 sec
Toward I 70 West: WentzvilleUse the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 70
479 ft·6 sec·I 70
17
Arrive at destination
I 70
Trip Plan
Since this trip takes less than three hours, you have plenty of flexibility when planning your departure time. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the busier sections of I-70 East as you approach Saint Peters. With only one stop planned, you can easily manage the 185.2-mile distance without feeling rushed, though it is smart to keep an eye on your fuel gauge given the $28 estimated cost. Be sure to account for the transition from slower local roads to the faster pace of the interstate early in your trip. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation apps updated, as the frequent turns on local streets require precise timing to stay on track.
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 92.7 miles from Odessa, MO, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125.5 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 41 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.7 miles or 1h 42m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Peters, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Odessa, 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 Odessa, MO
This is one driving day of about 185.4 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Odessa, 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 125.5 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 185.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MO 131 / South 2nd Street
Turn right onto MO 131 / South 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|West Old U.S. 40
At end of road, turn right onto West Old U.S. 40
Navigation decision point
7
184.8 mi into trip|~3h 31m in
Take the exit toward Mid Rivers Mall Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 222A
Toward Mid Rivers Mall Drive
8
185 mi into trip|~3h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Mid Rivers Mall Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Mid Rivers Mall Drive
6
185.1 mi into trip|~3h 31m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West: Wentzville
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Wentzville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.99 one way
$57.97 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.82
$63.65
premium
$4.89
$35.68
$71.36
diesel
$5.61
$40.93
$81.87
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: 64.9 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
55.6
0
$19.47
$8.90
Efficient EV
46.4
0
$16.22
$7.42
EV Truck/SUV
74.2
0
$25.96
$11.87
Gas CO2
65 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
Odessa, MO
Late night
in Odessa on Sunday
Local time
2:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Peters, MO
Late night
in Saint Peters on Sunday
Local time
2:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Columbia, MO
93 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
15 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
3h 32m 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...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
$19
near mile 185.2
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 that demands your full attention rather than a mindless highway cruise. While you will eventually merge onto I-70 East, the route begins with local navigation along South 2nd Street and U.S. 40, keeping the highway percentage at zero for the initial segments. This mix of local roads and interstate travel creates a dynamic behind-the-wheel experience where traffic patterns shift frequently. You won't find long, monotonous stretches here, as the route requires constant adjustments and careful navigation through various junctions. Prepare for a more engaging, hands-on driving experience compared to a standard high-speed interstate sprint.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 125.5 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 131 / South 2nd Street.
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 185.4 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (MO 131 / South 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (West Old U.S. 40): Navigation decision point; at 184.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 185.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 125.5 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 Saint Peters, 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: near the start (MO 131 / South 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (West Old U.S. 40): Navigation decision point; at 184.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Saint Peters, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
