Saint Charles, MO to Bismarck, MO is 85 miles and takes about 1 hour 47 minutes via US 67 and I-270, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest region, traveling entirely within Missouri. It's a straightforward drive that should feel familiar to anyone who has navigated similar stretches of highway. With a short driving time, this trip is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing ample time for activities at your destination or along the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.5 miles from Saint Charles, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 67
26.4 mi
30m
I 270
19 mi
23m
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
18.3 mi
19m
MO 32
6.7 mi
10m
I 70
2.7 mi
3m
North Front Street
1.9 mi
3m
North Desloge Drive
1.9 mi
2m
Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 67
— 26.4 mi, about 30m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~6,486 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~540 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12×
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 Saint Charles, MO and Bismarck, MO.
1
Start on North Second Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·North Second Street
2
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
0.2 mi·44 sec·Jefferson Street
3
Turn left onto MO 94
1.1 mi·2 min·South Fifth Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 70 EastUse the left / straight lanes.
5
Merge onto I 70
2.7 mi·3 min·I 70
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·12 sec
Exit 232Toward I 270: Chicago, MemphisUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·33 sec
Toward I 270 South: MemphisUse the slight right lane.
8
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·10 sec·this road
Exit 232Toward I 270 South: Memphis
9
Merge onto I 270
19 mi·23 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 1AToward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward I 55 South: Memphis
12
Merge onto I 55
1.5 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
13
Continue on I 55
1.8 mi·2 min·Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 55
18 mi·19 min·Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 174BToward US 67 South: Farmington, Poplar Bluff
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
17
Enter roundabout onto US 67
30 ft·0 sec·US 67
18
Continue on US 67
26 mi·30 min·US 67
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward US 67 Business, MO 8: Desloge, Park Hills
20
Turn right onto US 67 Business; MO 8
350 ft·7 sec·US 67 Business; MO 8
21
Turn left onto US 67 Business; MO 8
1.9 mi·2 min·North Desloge Drive
22
Continue on US 67 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Taylor Avenue
23
Turn right onto Community Drive
527 ft·18 sec·Community Drive
24
At end of road, turn right onto West Main Street
77 ft·7 sec·West Main Street
25
Turn left onto Municipal Drive
503 ft·10 sec·Municipal Drive
26
Continue on Wood Drive
0.1 mi·13 sec·Wood Drive
27
Continue on North Front Street
1.9 mi·3 min·North Front Street
28
At end of road, turn right onto MO 32
6.7 mi·10 min·MO 32
29
Arrive at destination
MO 32
Trip Plan
Given this is a relatively short drive of under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your time in Bismarck, or depart mid-day if you prefer a more relaxed start. The estimated fuel cost is around $13, so you should be able to make the trip on a single tank, but it's always wise to top off before departing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you get closer to Bismarck, as services can become less frequent on US 67 in more rural stretches.
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 42.5 miles from Saint Charles, MO, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.4 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.5 miles or 53m 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 Bismarck, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Charles, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Charles, MO
This is one driving day of about 85 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Saint Charles, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 67 for about 26.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 42.5 miles from Saint Charles, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 46.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|MO 94 / South Fifth Street
Turn left onto MO 94 / South Fifth Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
4.3 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
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 232
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
7
4.5 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 270 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 270 South: Memphis
8
24.1 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis...
6
46.5 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the exit toward US 67 South: Farmington, Poplar Bluff
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 174B
Toward US 67 South: Farmington, Poplar Bluff
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.18 one way
$26.36 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$14.45
$28.90
premium
$4.93
$16.49
$32.98
diesel
$5.60
$18.74
$37.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.5
0
$8.93
$4.08
Efficient EV
21.3
0
$7.44
$3.40
EV Truck/SUV
34
0
$11.90
$5.44
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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 Sep 2, 2026
Origin
Saint Charles, MO
Evening
in Saint Charles on Wednesday
Local time
6:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Clear
S 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 7:45PM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 12:55PM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Bismarck, MO
Evening
in Bismarck on Wednesday
Local time
6:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Clear
S 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 7:45PM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 12:55PM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
74°F
Arnold, MO
43 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
1h 47m 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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
$19
near mile 23.5
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...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 61.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 64% of this 85-mile drive is on highways, meaning you'll experience a significant amount of high-speed cruising. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 26.4 miles on US 67. You'll transition from interstate driving on I-270 to US 67, which offers a mix of faster travel and potentially more local traffic as you approach your destination.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.4 mi on US 67.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 67 and I 270. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near MO 94 / South Fifth Street.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85 miles you will encounter 20 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: at 0.4 miles (MO 94 / South Fifth Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,029 ft430 ft
Total Climb
980 ft
Total Descent
442 ft
Highest Point
1,029 ft
~85 mi in
Elevation Range
599 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Charles, MO and Bismarck, MO, road signs point toward Memphis, Poplar Bluff and Park Hills.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 85 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.4 miles on US 67. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bismarck, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: at 0.4 miles (MO 94 / South Fifth Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Bismarck, MO before heading back.
