Connecting Rolla to Chesterfield is a straightforward 90-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 32 minutes to complete. Because of the relatively short distance, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to budget roughly $14 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Missouri locations. Navigating through the Midwest, you will transition from local streets like North Pine Street and North Bishop Avenue before transitioning onto I-44 East. It is a practical, efficient route that serves well for commuters or travelers looking to move between these two points without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45 miles from Rolla, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
66.3 mi
1h 11m
Manchester Road
16.8 mi
24m
Clarkson Road
3.6 mi
6m
Baxter Road
1.6 mi
2m
North Pine Street
0.6 mi
1m
Santa Maria Drive
0.3 mi
1m
North Bishop Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Wild Horse Creek Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 66.3 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rolla, MO and Chesterfield, MO.
1
Start on MO BB
88 ft·7 sec·West 10th Street
2
Turn right onto North Pine Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Pine Street
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63
0.3 mi·37 sec·North Bishop Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 44 East: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 44
66 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 44
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 253Toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray SummitUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn left onto MO 100
17 mi·24 min·Manchester Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto MO 340
3.6 mi·6 min·Clarkson Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto Baxter Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Baxter Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto Wild Horse Creek Road
0.1 mi·22 sec·Wild Horse Creek Road
11
Turn left onto Santa Maria Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Santa Maria Drive
12
Arrive at destination
Santa Maria Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1-hour and 32-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility when deciding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 90-mile distance without planning for any formal stops, though keeping your $14 fuel budget in mind remains a smart move. Because the route begins with local navigation, aim to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on North Pine Street or North Bishop Avenue. Pay close attention to your GPS as you maneuver the turns in Rolla before hitting I-44 East. Embracing the lack of required stops allows you to reach Chesterfield efficiently, making this an ideal trip to finish in one straightforward push.
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 45 miles from Rolla, MO, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.3 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 20 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45 miles or 50m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chesterfield, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rolla, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Rolla, MO
This is one driving day of about 90 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Rolla, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 44 for about 66.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 67.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Pine Street
Turn right onto North Pine Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~2m in|I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63 / North Bishop Avenue
Turn right onto I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63 / North Bishop Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the exit toward I 44 East: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 44 East: Saint Louis
8
67.4 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray Summit
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 253
Toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray Summit
5
67.6 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|MO 100 / Manchester Road
Turn left onto MO 100 / Manchester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.07 one way
$28.14 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.45
$30.90
premium
$4.89
$17.32
$34.64
diesel
$5.61
$19.87
$39.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27
0
$9.45
$4.32
Efficient EV
22.5
0
$7.87
$3.60
EV Truck/SUV
36
0
$12.60
$5.76
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
11 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 15, 2026
Origin
Rolla, MO
Late night
in Rolla on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chesterfield, MO
Late night
in Chesterfield on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Wildwood, MO
45 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
18 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
1h 50m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you exit Rolla, navigating through North Pine Street and North Bishop Avenue before reaching the interstate. Once you merge onto I-44 East, the personality of the drive shifts toward a more consistent, high-speed pace. While this route is primarily defined by its technical local sections, the transition onto the interstate allows you to settle into a steady rhythm for the remainder of the trip. You won't find yourself on long, monotonous stretches, as the road requires your attention throughout the transition from local lanes to the highway. It is a functional drive that demands a mix of focus for city streets and patience for the main highway transit.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.3 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and Manchester Road. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Pine Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 90 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Pine Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63 / North Bishop Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 90 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.3 miles on I 44. 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 (North Pine Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63 / North Bishop Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chesterfield, MO before heading back.
