Traveling from Poplar Bluff to St. Louis covers 152.7 miles through the heart of the Missouri Midwest. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 32 minutes behind the wheel, making this a very manageable trip to complete in a single day. You will primarily navigate via North Westwood Boulevard and State Street before transitioning onto I-55 North for the bulk of your journey. With a estimated fuel cost of $23, it is an affordable route that doesn't require an overnight stay. Whether you are heading north for business or a change of scenery, this direct path offers a straightforward transition between these two Missouri locations.
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
76.2 miles from Poplar Bluff, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 60
112.6 mi
2h 9m
I 55
20.5 mi
22m
Rosa Parks Highway
12.5 mi
15m
North Westwood Boulevard
2.9 mi
4m
South Tucker Boulevard
1.3 mi
3m
West Pine Street
0.8 mi
1m
US 67
0.8 mi
1m
State Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 112.6 mi, about 2h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Poplar Bluff, MO and St. Louis, MO.
1
Start on US 60 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·West Pine Street
2
Turn right onto US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·North Westwood Boulevard
3
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·State Street
4
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·North Westwood Boulevard
5
Continue on US 67; US 60 Business
0.4 mi·37 sec·US 67; US 60 Business
6
Continue on US 60; US 67
113 mi·2 hr 9 min·US 60; US 67
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 67
0.3 mi·27 sec·US 67
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Toward I 55 North: Saint Louis
9
Merge onto I 55
21 mi·22 min·I 55
10
Continue on I 55
12 mi·15 min·Rosa Parks Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 207AToward MO 30 East: Gravois AvenueUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn slight right onto Gravois Avenue
0.2 mi·27 sec·Gravois Avenue
13
Continue on South Tucker Boulevard
1.3 mi·3 min·South Tucker Boulevard
14
Turn right onto Market Street
86 ft·2 sec·Market Street
15
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple since the trip is short enough to offer plenty of schedule flexibility. Aim to clear the local segments on North Westwood Boulevard and State Street before peak traffic hours to keep your transit time close to the 2-hour and 32-minute estimate. With one suggested stop along the way, you can easily pace your drive to avoid fatigue, especially during the more technical, turn-heavy sections near the start. Keep your fuel budget of $23 in mind when planning your refilling strategy, as prices may fluctuate between the smaller town setting of Poplar Bluff and the metropolitan area of St. Louis. A helpful tip is to check your navigation app before leaving the city limits of Poplar Bluff, as the local road navigation can be trickier than the later highway portion.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.2 miles from Poplar Bluff, MO, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.6 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 34 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.2 miles or 1h 29m 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 25m
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 Poplar Bluff, 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 Poplar Bluff, MO
This is one driving day of about 152.4 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Poplar Bluff, 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 US 60 for about 112.6 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 117 and 152.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
117 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|US 67
Keep slight right at fork onto US 67
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
117.3 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 55 North: Saint Louis
3
117.7 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
150.7 mi into trip|~2h 55m 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
4
152.4 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|Market Street
Turn right onto Market Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.63 one way
$45.25 round trip
$3.77/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.25
$25.52
$51.04
premium
$4.65
$27.92
$55.85
diesel
$5.30
$31.82
$63.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.7
0
$16.00
$7.32
Efficient EV
38.1
0
$13.33
$6.10
EV Truck/SUV
61
0
$21.34
$9.75
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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 17, 2026
Origin
Poplar Bluff, MO
Night
in Poplar Bluff on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
St. Louis, MO
Night
in St. Louis on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
9 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
2h 59m 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...
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 105.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you depart Poplar Bluff. While the route eventually connects to I-55 North, the initial segments on North Westwood Boulevard and State Street keep the pace moderate and require frequent navigation. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this journey features a mix of local road maneuvering that evolves as you move toward the highway. Since this route contains no extended, uninterrupted stretches, you will find the driving environment shifts consistently throughout the 2-hour and 32-minute transit. Stay alert during the transition from local streets to the interstate system to ensure a smooth transition.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 112.6 mi on US 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and I 55. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 117 miles in near US 67.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Poplar Bluff, MO to St. Louis, MO is easy. At 2h 59m with 88% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 117 miles (US 67): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 117.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 117.7 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 112.6 miles on US 60. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 117 miles (US 67): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 117.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 117.7 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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.
