Richland to St. Louis is 150 miles and takes about 2h 52m via I 44, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward, primarily highway trip that's perfect for a single-day excursion. You’ll cover a decent distance without an overwhelming time commitment, making it a practical choice for a quick journey between these two points. Consider this an efficient way to get from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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
75 miles from Richland, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
129.8 mi
2h 22m
East Jefferson Avenue
8.8 mi
13m
Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway
3.5 mi
4m
Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
2.7 mi
3m
Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway
2.3 mi
3m
South Jefferson Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Market Street
1 mi
1m
South Pine Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 129.8 mi, about 2h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richland, MO and St. Louis, MO.
1
Start on MO 133
0.3 mi·24 sec·South Pine Street
2
Turn slight right onto MO 7; MO 133
8.8 mi·13 min·East Jefferson Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 44 East: Rolla
4
Merge onto I 44
130 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 44
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 44
2.7 mi·3 min·Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
6
Continue on I 44
3.5 mi·4 min·Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway
7
Continue on I 44
2.3 mi·3 min·Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 289Toward Jefferson AvenueUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto South Jefferson Avenue
1.3 mi·2 min·South Jefferson Avenue
10
Turn right onto Market Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Market Street
11
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of about 2 hours and 52 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Aiming for a morning start allows you to arrive in St. Louis with plenty of the day remaining. With only one stop likely needed for fuel or a quick break, you can make good time. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 129.8-mile stretch on I 44, as services might be more spaced out. The estimated fuel cost is $22, so plan accordingly before you hit the road.
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 75 miles from Richland, MO, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.8 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 33 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75 miles or 1h 26m 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 19m
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 Richland, 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 Richland, MO
This is one driving day of about 150 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Richland, 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 129.8 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
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 9.1 and 149 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.1 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 East: Rolla
Navigation decision point
Toward I 44 East: Rolla
5
9.3 mi into trip|~14m in|I 44
Merge onto I 44
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
147.6 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Take the exit toward Jefferson Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 289
Toward Jefferson Avenue
3
149 mi into trip|~2h 50m in|Market Street
Turn right onto Market Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.45 one way
$46.90 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.75
$51.50
premium
$4.89
$28.87
$57.73
diesel
$5.61
$33.12
$66.24
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: 52.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45
0
$15.75
$7.20
Efficient EV
37.5
0
$13.13
$6.00
EV Truck/SUV
60
0
$21.00
$9.60
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Richland, MO
Morning
in Richland on Tuesday
Local time
7:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
St. Louis, MO
Morning
in St. Louis on Tuesday
Local time
7:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 10 mph89% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 4:36AM CDT until April 19 at 2:31PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:43AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
69°F
Union, MO
75 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
4 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 52m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is an 86% highway-focused drive, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 129.8 miles on I 44, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. Expect a profile that keeps you moving efficiently, with minimal town navigation for the bulk of the trip. The Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway and East Jefferson Avenue will likely appear as you approach your destination, offering a slight change in scenery before reaching St. Louis.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129.8 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and East Jefferson Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Richland, MO to St. Louis, MO is easy. At 2h 52m with 86% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.3 miles (I 44): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 147.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 129.8 miles on I 44. 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 9.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.3 miles (I 44): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 147.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National 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.
