O'Fallon, MO to Kennett, MO is 231.9 miles and takes about 4h 19m via Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway and I 270, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, taking you from the Midwest region of St. Louis County down into the Bootheel. With a duration under five hours, it's a straightforward, same-day drive. The route primarily uses surface roads after a stretch on the interstate. Consider this drive if you're looking for a simple connection between two points in 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
115.9 miles from O'Fallon, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
175.1 mi
3h 7m
I 270
19 mi
23m
US 412
17.4 mi
20m
I 70
13.5 mi
16m
Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Rosa Parks Highway
1.5 mi
1m
Drennen Parkway
0.9 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
— 175.1 mi, about 3h 7m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~6,486 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~540 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 O'Fallon, MO and Kennett, MO.
1
Start on this road
25 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Main Street
3
Turn left onto Drennen Parkway
0.9 mi·1 min·Drennen Parkway
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
438 ft·6 sec
Toward I 70 East: Saint LouisUse the slight left lane.
5
Merge onto I 70
14 mi·16 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·12 sec
Exit 232Toward I 270: Chicago, MemphisUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·33 sec
Toward I 270 South: MemphisUse the slight right lane.
8
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·10 sec·this road
Exit 232Toward I 270 South: Memphis
9
Merge onto I 270
19 mi·23 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 1AToward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward I 55 South: Memphis
12
Merge onto I 55
1.5 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
13
Continue on I 55
1.8 mi·2 min·Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 55
175 mi·3 hr 7 min·Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·45 sec
Exit 17BToward US 412 West: Hayti, Kennett
16
Merge onto US 412
17 mi·20 min·US 412
17
Turn left onto Kennett Street
134 ft·3 sec·Kennett Street
18
Arrive at destination
Kennett Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 19-minute estimated drive time, leaving in the morning is ideal to allow for flexibility. You'll have one stop suggested along the way, but with the drive being under five hours, you can easily adjust your schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition to surface roads, and note the $37 fuel cost estimate. The longest stretch on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway means you can cover a significant distance before needing to navigate surface streets.
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 115.9 miles from O'Fallon, MO, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 175.1 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 51 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.9 miles or 2h 12m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kennett, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving O'Fallon, 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 O'Fallon, MO
This is one driving day of about 231.9 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from O'Fallon, 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 Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway for about 175.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 214 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|Drennen Parkway
Turn left onto Drennen Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
15.1 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the exit toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
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 232
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
7
15.2 mi into trip|~20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 270 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 270 South: Memphis
8
34.8 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis...
6
214 mi into trip|~3h 57m in
Take the exit toward US 412 West: Hayti, Kennett
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 17B
Toward US 412 West: Hayti, Kennett
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.68 one way
$77.37 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$42.04
$84.09
premium
$5.26
$48.01
$96.03
diesel
$6.18
$56.41
$112.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.6
0
$24.35
$11.13
Efficient EV
58
0
$20.29
$9.28
EV Truck/SUV
92.8
1
$32.47
$14.84
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
O'Fallon, MO
Morning
in O'Fallon on Sunday
Local time
7:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Sunny
NE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:40AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Destination
Kennett, MO
Morning
in Kennett on Sunday
Local time
7:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Sunny
NNE 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:40AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
47°F
Crystal City, MO
116 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
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
4h 19m 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.
Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the B...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 80
Park Closure: Janis-Ziegler House (Green Tree Tavern) Closed
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?
You'll spend about 22% of this drive on highways, with the remaining 78% on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 175.1 miles along Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway. Expect to transition from interstate cruising to more frequent stops and slower speeds as you move onto surface roads. This change will likely be noticeable as you encounter more local traffic and reduced speed limits.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 175.1 mi on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Drennen Parkway.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 231.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Drennen Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
636 ft267 ft
Total Climb
283 ft
Total Descent
562 ft
Highest Point
636 ft
~82.8 mi in
Elevation Range
370 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from O'Fallon, MO to Kennett, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
St. Charles, Missouri is outside of St. Louis on the bank of the Missouri River. It was Missouri's first state capital and was one of the first stops by Lewis and Clark on their journey to explore Louisiana Territory. The historic Main Street has largely been restored to its 1812-era appearance including gas lights a boardwalk and is lined with shops selling artwork, handicrafts, home decorations, antiques. There are also many restaurants.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 231.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 175.1 miles on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Kennett, 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. There are 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Drennen Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park and Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Kennett, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
