This 105.8-mile drive from Rolla, MO to St. Louis, MO is a straightforward trip best suited for a single day. Expect the journey to take around 2 hours and 2 minutes, making it an easy excursion without the need for an overnight stay. The route primarily utilizes I-44, with portions also on the Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway and Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway. With a projected fuel cost of approximately $17, this Midwest to Midwest drive is budget-friendly. It's a practical option for a quick trip between these Missouri cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.9 miles from Rolla, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
93.8 mi
1h 43m
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
North Pine Street
0.6 mi
1m
North Bishop Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 93.8 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rolla, MO and St. Louis, 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
94 mi·1 hr 43 min·I 44
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 44
2.7 mi·3 min·Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
7
Continue on I 44
3.5 mi·4 min·Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway
8
Continue on I 44
2.3 mi·3 min·Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 289Toward Jefferson AvenueUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto South Jefferson Avenue
1.3 mi·2 min·South Jefferson Avenue
11
Turn right onto Market Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Market Street
12
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2-hour duration, you have flexibility with your departure time for this 105.8-mile trip. Leaving Rolla in the morning should get you to St. Louis with plenty of daylight. Plan for minimal stops, as the longest stretch is over 90 miles, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge as it's a good idea to fill up before you leave Rolla, especially if your car's range is on the shorter side. The main highways are well-maintained, making for a smooth ride.
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 52.9 miles from Rolla, MO, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.8 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 23 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.9 miles or 1h 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 37m
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 Rolla, 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 Rolla, MO
This is one driving day of about 105.8 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 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 93.8 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
5 of 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 103.4 — 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
5
1 mi into trip|~3m in|I 44
Merge onto I 44
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
103.4 mi into trip|~1h 57m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.54 one way
$33.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.16
$36.32
premium
$4.89
$20.36
$40.72
diesel
$5.61
$23.36
$46.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.7
0
$11.11
$5.08
Efficient EV
26.5
0
$9.26
$4.23
EV Truck/SUV
42.3
0
$14.81
$6.77
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Rolla, MO
Late night
in Rolla on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
St. Louis, MO
Late night
in St. Louis on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 3 to 15 mph32% chanceLive forecast
75°F
Wildwood, MO
53 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
12 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
2h 2m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the 105.8 miles on interstates. You'll experience long, uninterrupted stretches, including a significant 93.8-mile segment on I-44. While mostly a high-speed affair, the highway designation names suggest moments where the road might feel more personal, perhaps with local law enforcement memorials integrated into the infrastructure. The character remains consistently that of efficient travel on major roadways.
89% 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: 93.8 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Pine Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Rolla, MO to St. Louis, MO is easy. At 2h 2m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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.
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 93.8 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: 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 — 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.
