Saint Charles, MO to Parkville, MO is 238.7 miles and takes about 4h 41m via I 70, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Missouri. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it a good option for a single-day excursion. If you're looking for a direct route with minimal fuss, this one fits the bill, allowing you to get where you're going efficiently.
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
119.3 miles from Saint Charles, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
211.2 mi
3h 59m
MO 9
10 mi
16m
George Brett Super Highway
6.8 mi
9m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
First Capitol Drive
1.8 mi
4m
Locust Street
0.5 mi
<1m
North Second Street
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 211.2 mi, about 3h 59m
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 Saint Charles, MO and Parkville, MO.
Exit 2LToward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, WichitaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 2PToward 13th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on East 13th Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·East 13th Street
13
Turn right onto Locust Street
0.5 mi·59 sec·Locust Street
14
Continue on MO 9
3.0 mi·5 min·MO 9
15
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 9
2.9 mi·4 min·MO 9
Toward MO 9 North: Riverside, ParkvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto MO 9
318 ft·4 sec·MO 9
17
Turn straight onto MO 9
3.6 mi·5 min·MO 9
Use the straight lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto MO 9
0.4 mi·1 min·MO 9
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn right onto East 12th Street
60 ft·2 sec·East 12th Street
20
Arrive at destination
East 12th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 41m estimated drive time, leaving Saint Charles in the morning should allow ample time to reach Parkville before evening. With a total distance of 238.7 miles, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day without needing an overnight stop. The longest stretch on I 70 is over 200 miles, so plan for a fuel stop before you hit that segment if your tank is low. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially around urban centers, as this route has a high highway share.
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 119.3 miles from Saint Charles, MO, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 211.2 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 53 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.3 miles or 2h 18m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parkville, 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.
+
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 Saint Charles, MO
This is one driving day of about 238.7 miles and 4h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Saint Charles, 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 70 for about 211.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 238.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.3 mi into trip|~5m in|I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
227.6 mi into trip|~4h 22m in|I 670; I 70 Alt
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670; I 70 Alt toward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, Wichita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2L
Toward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South:...
9
227.8 mi into trip|~4h 22m in
Take the exit toward 13th Street, Downtown
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 2P
Toward 13th Street, Downtown
8
231.7 mi into trip|~4h 30m in|MO 9
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 9 toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
6
238.2 mi into trip|~4h 39m in|MO 9
Keep slight right at fork onto MO 9
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.82 one way
$79.64 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$43.28
$86.55
premium
$5.26
$49.42
$98.84
diesel
$6.18
$58.07
$116.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.6
0
$25.06
$11.46
Efficient EV
59.7
0
$20.89
$9.55
EV Truck/SUV
95.5
1
$33.42
$15.28
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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 19, 2026
Origin
Saint Charles, MO
Late night
in Saint Charles on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
SE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Parkville, MO
Late night
in Parkville on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
80°F
Columbia, MO
119 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 41m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 93% of your time on highways, with a substantial 211.2-mile stretch on I 70. This means you'll mostly be cruising at highway speeds for the bulk of the trip. Expect frequent exits and merges as you travel along I 70, particularly as you approach urban areas. The final portion of your drive will transition to MO 9 and George Brett Super Highway, likely offering a slightly different pace before you reach your destination.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 211.2 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and MO 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near I 70.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 238.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 227.6 miles (I 670; I 70 Alt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 227.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 4h 41m. Total distance: 238.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 211.2 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Parkville, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 227.6 miles (I 670; I 70 Alt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 227.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Parkville, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
