This 80.2-mile drive from Perryville, MO to St. Louis, MO is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-55, with sections of Rosa Parks Highway and North King's Highway also part of the journey. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, this route offers an efficient and straightforward way to travel between two points within the Midwest region. The overall feel is one of focused highway travel, making it a practical option for getting from point A to point B without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.1 miles from Perryville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
59.4 mi
1h 4m
Rosa Parks Highway
12.5 mi
15m
North King's Highway
2.8 mi
4m
North Kingshighway Street
2.5 mi
3m
South Tucker Boulevard
1.3 mi
3m
MO M
0.5 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
Gravois Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 59.4 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Perryville, MO and St. Louis, MO.
1
Start on South Spring Street
221 ft·15 sec·South Spring Street
2
Turn left onto East Saint Joseph Street
365 ft·16 sec·East Saint Joseph Street
3
Turn right onto MO B
349 ft·10 sec·North Main Street
4
Continue on MO B
0.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
5
Enter roundabout onto US 61
194 ft·3 sec·North Kingshighway Street
6
Continue on US 61
2.4 mi·3 min·North Kingshighway Street
7
Continue on US 61
2.8 mi·4 min·North King's Highway
8
Turn left onto MO M
0.5 mi·1 min·MO M
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 55 North: Saint Louis
10
Merge onto I 55
59 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 55
11
Continue on I 55
12 mi·15 min·Rosa Parks Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 207AToward MO 30 East: Gravois AvenueUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn slight right onto Gravois Avenue
0.2 mi·27 sec·Gravois Avenue
14
Continue on South Tucker Boulevard
1.3 mi·3 min·South Tucker Boulevard
15
Turn right onto Market Street
86 ft·2 sec·Market Street
16
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 35 minutes, this is an ideal route for a spontaneous day trip. You can depart at your leisure, though an early morning start will help you avoid any potential rush hour traffic as you approach St. Louis. With no designated stops in the data, you have the flexibility to pull over for breaks as needed, perhaps at one of the many service areas along I-55. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on I-55 is nearly 60 miles, and plan your refueling accordingly before you hit that segment.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.1 miles from Perryville, MO, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.4 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.1 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near St. Louis, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Perryville, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Perryville, MO
This is one driving day of about 80.2 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Perryville, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 59.4 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 78.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Saint Joseph Street
Turn left onto East Saint Joseph Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|MO B / North Main Street
Turn right onto MO B / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|US 61 / North Kingshighway Street
Enter roundabout onto US 61 / North Kingshighway Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
6.4 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 North: Saint Louis
Navigation decision point
Toward I 55 North: Saint Louis
7
78.5 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward MO 30 East: Gravois Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 207A
Toward MO 30 East: Gravois Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.54 one way
$25.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.77
$27.53
premium
$4.89
$15.43
$30.87
diesel
$5.61
$17.71
$35.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.1
0
$8.42
$3.85
Efficient EV
20.1
0
$7.02
$3.21
EV Truck/SUV
32.1
0
$11.23
$5.13
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Perryville, MO
Night
in Perryville on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
St. Louis, MO
Night
in St. Louis on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph7% chanceLive forecast
56°F
Crystal City, MO
40 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
5 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
1h 35m 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...
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 19.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 74% of the route utilizing major highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a solid 59.4 miles on I-55, indicating a good portion of the drive will be at higher speeds. While there are other road types involved like Rosa Parks Highway and North King's Highway, the dominant characteristic is the interstate experience. This means you can anticipate a relatively consistent driving pace for most of the journey, minimizing stops and maximizing forward momentum.
74% 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: 59.4 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Rosa Parks Highway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Saint Joseph Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Perryville, MO to St. Louis, MO is easy. At 1h 35m with 74% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Saint Joseph Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MO B / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 61 / North Kingshighway Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The Gateway City of St. Louis is the epitome of the modern Midwestern metropolis. Missouri's second-largest city is vibrant but laid-back, populous but navigable, historic but still relevant. The city's planners have created an aesthetically beautiful city, with plenty of green space amidst buildings both old and new, framed by the majestic Mississippi and Missouri rivers. And capping it all is the world's tallest man-made monument, the beautiful and iconic Gateway Arch.
St. Louis is a city of culture and surprisingly inexpensive. Among American cities, only Washington, D.C. has more free attractions for tourists and residents alike. Hotels, restaurants, and even parking garages avoid the premium pricing common in other big cities. Although often overlooked, St. Louis can be an affordable, educational, and fun family getaway.
The longest stretch is about 59.4 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Saint Joseph Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MO B / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 61 / North Kingshighway Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park and Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at St. Louis, MO before heading back.
