Saint Charles, MO to Richmond, MO is 206.7 miles and takes about 4h 3m via I 70 and MO 13, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest, offering a straightforward drive across Missouri. It's primarily a highway trip, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a relatively quick and efficient way to cover this distance. Expect a direct path with minimal complications, suitable for a single-day excursion.
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
103.3 miles from Saint Charles, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
178.6 mi
3h 23m
MO 13
25.4 mi
32m
First Capitol Drive
1.8 mi
4m
North Second Street
0.3 mi
1m
East Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
West Main Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 178.6 mi, about 3h 23m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,319 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,912
Quietest
1 AM
~234 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.9×
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 Richmond, MO.
1
Start on North Second Street
0.3 mi·1 min·North Second Street
2
Turn right onto First Capitol Drive
0.9 mi·2 min·First Capitol Drive
3
Turn left onto I 70 Business; MO 94
0.9 mi·2 min·First Capitol Drive
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 70 West
5
Merge onto I 70
179 mi·3 hr 23 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 49Toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg
7
Turn right onto MO 13
25 mi·32 min·MO 13
8
Turn left onto MO 10 Business
0.3 mi·50 sec·East Main Street
9
Arrive at destination
MO 10 Business
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour drive, consider leaving Saint Charles in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $33, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. The longest stretch on I 70 is over 178 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with extended periods of highway driving. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto MO 13, as services might be less frequent than on the interstate. This route offers flexibility, so you can adjust your pace as needed.
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 103.3 miles from Saint Charles, MO, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 178.6 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 45 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.3 miles or 2h 1m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, 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 206.7 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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 178.6 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 0.3 and 206.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|First Capitol Drive
Turn right onto First Capitol Drive
Navigation decision point
3
2.1 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West
Navigation decision point
Toward I 70 West
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.
6
180.8 mi into trip|~3h 29m in
Take the exit toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 49
Toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg
4
206.4 mi into trip|~4h 2m in|MO 10 Business / East Main Street
Turn left onto MO 10 Business / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.48 one way
$68.96 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$37.62
$75.24
premium
$5.25
$42.75
$85.50
diesel
$6.28
$51.07
$102.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62
0
$21.70
$9.92
Efficient EV
51.7
0
$18.09
$8.27
EV Truck/SUV
82.7
1
$28.94
$13.23
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Saint Charles, MO
Morning
in Saint Charles on Friday
Local time
7:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
SE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Richmond, MO
Morning
in Richmond on Friday
Local time
7:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
48°F
Centralia, MO
103 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 3m 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?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with 99% of the 206.7 miles on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 178.6 miles on I 70, so be prepared for continuous cruising. The transition to surface roads happens late in the trip, with MO 13 and First Capitol Drive making up the final segment. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits along the interstate portion.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 178.6 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and MO 13. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near First Capitol Drive.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 3m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (First Capitol Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
917 ft491 ft
Total Climb
767 ft
Total Descent
432 ft
Highest Point
917 ft
~88.6 mi in
Elevation Range
426 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Saint Charles, MO to Richmond, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Warrensburg along the way.
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
The longest stretch is about 178.6 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 0.3 miles (First Capitol Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Richmond, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
