O'Fallon, MO to Peculiar, MO is 235.5 miles and takes about 4h 29m via I-70, I-470, and I-49, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. With nearly all highway driving, this route is designed for efficiency, making it a straightforward option for getting between these two points. If you're looking for a direct path with minimal fuss, this route fits the bill, allowing you to cover the distance quickly.
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
117.7 miles from O'Fallon, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
200.7 mi
3h 46m
I 470
15.5 mi
18m
I 49
15.1 mi
16m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
1.6 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
MO C
0.4 mi
<1m
West Terra Lane
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 200.7 mi, about 3h 46m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 42 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,518 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,027
Quietest
1 AM
~240 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Peculiar, MO.
Exit 15AToward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's SummitUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 470; MO 291
6.4 mi·7 min·I 470; MO 291
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 470
9.2 mi·10 min·I 470
Toward I 470 South: WichitaUse the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 1Toward I 49, I 435 North, US 71: Joplin, Kansas City, Des MoinesUse the slight left / straight lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·52 sec
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South: JoplinUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South: JoplinUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 49; US 71
15 mi·16 min·I 49; US 71
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 167Toward MO J, MO C: Peculiar
17
Turn right onto MO C
0.4 mi·48 sec·MO C
18
Turn left
488 ft·41 sec
19
Turn left
113 ft·8 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 29m estimated drive time, this is easily a one-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure. Leaving O'Fallon in the morning should get you to Peculiar with plenty of daylight to spare. The longest continuous stretch is over 200 miles on I-70, so plan for a fuel stop before you hit that segment if your tank is low. While there's only one recommended stop, consider a brief break around the halfway point to stretch your legs, especially since the bulk of the drive is on I-70.
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 117.7 miles from O'Fallon, MO, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 200.7 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 52 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.7 miles or 2h 14m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Peculiar, 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 235.5 miles and 4h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 I 70 for about 200.7 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 203.1 and 219.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
203.1 mi into trip|~3h 50m in
Take the exit toward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 15A
Toward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's Summit
7
209.7 mi into trip|~3h 58m in|I 470
Keep slight right at fork onto I 470 toward I 470 South: Wichita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 470 South: Wichita
8
218.9 mi into trip|~4h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 49, I 435 North, US 71: Joplin, Kansas City, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 1
Toward I 49, I 435 North, US 71: Joplin, Kansas...
8
219 mi into trip|~4h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
8
219.5 mi into trip|~4h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.28 one way
$78.57 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$42.70
$85.39
premium
$5.26
$48.76
$97.52
diesel
$6.18
$57.29
$114.58
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: 82.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.7
0
$24.73
$11.30
Efficient EV
58.9
0
$20.61
$9.42
EV Truck/SUV
94.2
1
$32.97
$15.07
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% 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 19, 2026
Origin
O'Fallon, MO
Morning
in O'Fallon on Tuesday
Local time
6:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
SE 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Peculiar, MO
Morning
in Peculiar on Tuesday
Local time
6:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Sunny
SSE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
80°F
Columbia, MO
118 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 29m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on highways, with a 98% highway share. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 200.7 miles primarily on I-70. Expect a continuous highway experience for the vast majority of your trip, meaning you'll likely see many exits and merges as you travel. The transition to non-highway roads will be brief, occurring only in the final moments before reaching Peculiar.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 200.7 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and I 470. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 203.1 miles in.
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 17 significant decision points across 235.5 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 203.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 209.7 miles (I 470): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 218.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
992 ft546 ft
Total Climb
1,014 ft
Total Descent
568 ft
Highest Point
992 ft
~235.5 mi in
Elevation Range
446 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between O'Fallon, MO and Peculiar, MO, road signs point toward Kansas City and Des Moines.
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 29m. Total distance: 235.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 200.7 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 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 Peculiar, 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 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 203.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 209.7 miles (I 470): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 218.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Peculiar, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
