Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 39m
Distance
79.2 mi
127 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Charles, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Sainte Genevieve County, MO
Thomas Parker
Saint Charles, MO to Sainte Genevieve County, MO is 79.2 miles and takes about 1h 39m via Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway and I 270, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, offering a straightforward journey between two points in Missouri. Expect a mixed drive that's manageable for a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick getaway or a segment of a larger road trip. The relatively short distance and duration mean you'll spend more time at your destination than on the road.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.6 miles from Saint Charles, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway | 42.6 mi | 45m |
| I 270 | 19 mi | 23m |
| MO 32 | 6.7 mi | 10m |
| I 70 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Rosa Parks Highway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| South Fifth Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| River Aux Vases Church Road | 0.9 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Charles, MO and Sainte Genevieve County, MO.
Start on North Second Street
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
Turn left onto MO 94
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 70
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 270
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 55
Continue on I 55
Continue on I 55
Take the exit
Turn sharp right onto MO 32
Turn left onto River Aux Vases Church Road
Turn left onto River Aux Vases Church Road
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Given the short 1h 39m duration, this drive offers excellent flexibility; you can leave Saint Charles at your leisure. With a fuel cost estimated around $12, you won't need to worry about frequent stops for gas, though it's always wise to top off before departing. Plan for minimal stops to maximize your time in Sainte Genevieve County. A key tip for this route is to be aware of the transition points between the Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, I 270, and MO 32, as these can sometimes involve quick changes in speed or road conditions.
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.
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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.6 miles or 49m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sainte Genevieve County, MO than in the middle of the route.
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 79.2 miles and 1h 39m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 39.6 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 70.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto MO 94 / South Fifth Street
Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight right at fork toward I 270 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward MO 32, MO A, MO B: Sainte Genevieve, Farmington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$12.38 one way
$24.76 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.59 | $27.19 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.24 | $30.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.49 | $34.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.32 | $3.80 |
| Efficient EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.93 | $3.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.7 | 0 | $11.09 | $5.07 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Saint Charles on Sunday
Local time
7:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
Destination
Morning in Sainte Genevieve County on Sunday
Local time
7:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
57°F
Imperial, MO
40 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Historical Park
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...
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.
This drive features a 36% highway share, meaning you'll experience a mix of faster-paced travel and potentially more local road sections. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 42.6 miles on the Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, offering a good period of consistent driving. As you progress, the route shifts, blending interstate segments with other main roads like I 270 and MO 32. This varied landscape means you won't be stuck on one type of road for the entire journey.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.2 miles you will encounter 15 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Charles, MO and Sainte Genevieve County, MO, road signs point toward Memphis, Mo A, Mo B: Sainte Genevieve and Farmington.
Memphis
Mo A
Mo B: Sainte Genevieve
Farmington
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 79.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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