Ozark, MO to Florissant, MO is 233.2 miles and takes about 4h 23m via I 44 and I 270, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest region, primarily traversing Missouri. Expect a straightforward drive with minimal complications, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip. The majority of your travel will be on major interstates, so plan for consistent speeds and straightforward navigation.
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
116.6 miles from Ozark, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
193 mi
3h 29m
I 270
18.8 mi
23m
Schoolcraft Freeway
10.7 mi
13m
American Legion Memorial Highway
4.5 mi
5m
North Lindbergh Boulevard
1.8 mi
3m
North 3rd Street
1.4 mi
2m
West Washington Street
1 mi
2m
West Church Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 193 mi, about 3h 29m
Traffic on I-44
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,711 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,202
Quietest
2 AM
~187 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Ozark, MO and Florissant, MO.
1
Start on West Church Street
97 ft·6 sec·West Church Street
2
Turn right onto US 65 Bus; MO 14
1.4 mi·2 min·North 3rd Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 65 North: SpringfieldUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto US 65
4.5 mi·5 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
5
Continue on US 65
11 mi·13 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·54 sec
Toward I 44 East: Saint Louis
7
Merge onto I 44
193 mi·3 hr 29 min·I 44
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Exit 276Toward I 270: Chicago, MemphisUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward I 270 North: ChicagoUse the slight left lane.
10
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·52 sec·this road
Exit 276Toward I 270 North: Chicago
11
Merge onto I 270
19 mi·23 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 25Toward US 67Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto US 67
1.8 mi·3 min·North Lindbergh Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto West Washington Street
1.0 mi·2 min·West Washington Street
15
Turn left onto North New Florissant Road
87 ft·1 sec·North New Florissant Road
16
Arrive at destination
North New Florissant Road
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 23m driving time, leaving Ozark in the morning allows ample time to reach Florissant well before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing; consider a brief break around the halfway point or when fuel is needed. Watch for the dense exits as you approach the St. Louis metropolitan area, which includes I 270. The fuel cost is estimated at $41, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing Ozark to minimize stops.
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 116.6 miles from Ozark, MO, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 193 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 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.6 miles or 2h 10m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florissant, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ozark, 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 Ozark, MO
This is one driving day of about 233.2 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Ozark, 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 44 for about 193 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 230.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward US 65 North: Springfield
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 65 North: Springfield
8
210.5 mi into trip|~3h 52m 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 276
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
8
210.7 mi into trip|~3h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 North: Chicago
7
230.1 mi into trip|~4h 17m in
Take the exit toward US 67
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 25
Toward US 67
6
230.4 mi into trip|~4h 18m in|US 67 / North Lindbergh Boulevard
Turn left onto US 67 / North Lindbergh Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.44 one way
$68.88 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$38.02
$76.04
premium
$4.72
$43.30
$86.60
diesel
$4.80
$44.03
$88.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70
0
$24.49
$11.19
Efficient EV
58.3
0
$20.41
$9.33
EV Truck/SUV
93.3
1
$32.65
$14.92
Gas CO2
82 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Ozark, MO
Late night
in Ozark on Sunday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 8 to 12 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:57AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Florissant, MO
Late night
in Florissant on Sunday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
W 10 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:57AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
89°F
Cuba, MO
117 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
2 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 23m 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.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$19
near mile 233.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is 95% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on interstates like I 44. The longest uninterrupted stretch on the highway is 193 miles on I 44. You'll experience a consistent cruising speed for the bulk of the journey. The transition to surface roads, if any, will likely occur near your destination as you enter Florissant.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 193 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and I 270. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 233.2 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 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 210.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 210.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,388 ft450 ft
Total Climb
642 ft
Total Descent
1,229 ft
Highest Point
1,388 ft
~33.3 mi in
Elevation Range
938 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 Ozark, MO to Florissant, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Memphis
210.5 mi in|~3h 52m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 23m. Total distance: 233.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 193 miles on I 44. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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 Florissant, 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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 210.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 210.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield and Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Florissant, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
