Raytown, MO to Saint Charles, MO is 224.4 miles and takes about 4h 19m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a trip primarily on surface roads rather than major highways, offering a more grounded travel experience. With a recommended one-day duration and a manageable fuel cost, this route is a straightforward option for getting between these two points.
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
112.2 miles from Raytown, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
153.3 mi
2h 56m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Raytown Road
1.6 mi
2m
Blue Ridge Cutoff
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 153.3 mi, about 2h 56m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 46 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,284 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,878
Quietest
1 AM
~292 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
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 Raytown, MO and Saint Charles, MO.
32 mi·34 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
15
Continue on I 70; US 40
99 mi·1 hr 57 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 228Toward I 70 Business, MO 94: First Capitol Drive, Lewis and Clark TrailUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward I 70 Business, MO 94 East: First Capitol Drive, Lindenwood University, SSM Health Saint Joseph HospitalUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto I 70 Business; MO 94
0.9 mi·2 min·First Capitol Drive
19
Turn slight right onto I 70 Business; MO 94
0.9 mi·2 min·I 70 Business; MO 94
Toward MO 94
20
Turn left onto South Second Street
0.3 mi·56 sec·South Second Street
21
Arrive at destination
North Second Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 19m estimated drive time, leaving mid-morning should allow you to arrive in Saint Charles with plenty of daylight. Since this is a one-day trip with a $35 fuel budget, you can be flexible with your departure time. Plan for one stop to break up the 153.3-mile stretch on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway; a midday break would be ideal. Keep an eye on local traffic patterns, especially as you approach Saint Charles, as surface roads can be more susceptible to slowdowns than highways.
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 112.2 miles from Raytown, MO, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153.3 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 49 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.2 miles or 2h 3m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Charles, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Raytown, 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 Raytown, MO
This is one driving day of about 224.4 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Raytown, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 153.3 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 222.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Raytown Trafficway
Turn right onto Raytown Trafficway
Navigation decision point
4
3.2 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Navigation decision point
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
4
95.4 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|I 70 / U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
8
222 mi into trip|~4h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 70 Business, MO 94: First Capitol Drive, Lewis and Clark Trail
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 228
Toward I 70 Business, MO 94: First Capitol Driv...
9
222.1 mi into trip|~4h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 Business, MO 94 East: First Capitol Drive, Lindenwood University, SSM Health Saint Joseph Hospital
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 70 Business, MO 94 East: First Capitol...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.43 one way
$74.86 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$40.68
$81.37
premium
$5.26
$46.46
$92.92
diesel
$6.18
$54.59
$109.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.5 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
67.3
0
$23.56
$10.77
Efficient EV
56.1
0
$19.64
$8.98
EV Truck/SUV
89.8
1
$31.42
$14.36
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 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 18, 2026
Origin
Raytown, MO
Morning
in Raytown on Monday
Local time
8:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
S 7 to 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Saint Charles, MO
Morning
in Saint Charles on Monday
Local time
8:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Patchy Fog then Sunny
S 3 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
80°F
Columbia, MO
112 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 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.
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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
$19
near mile 224.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip involves navigating 0% highway, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the entire 224.4 miles. The longest continuous stretch without a significant turn or intersection is 153.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. You'll notice a continuous flow of exits and local traffic as you traverse through communities rather than bypassing them on high-speed roads.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 153.3 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Raytown Trafficway.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 19m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Raytown Trafficway): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 95.4 miles (I 70 / U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Top landmarks
•First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site — historic site in Missouri, United States
•African Church — church building in Missouri, United States of America
•Frenchtown Historic District — historic district in St. Charles County, Missouri
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 153.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 32 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.
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 0.1 miles (Raytown Trafficway): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 95.4 miles (I 70 / U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — 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 Saint Charles, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
