Saint Charles to Winfield is 25.6 miles and takes about 35 minutes via MO 79 and I-70, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Missouri, making it a convenient option for a quick getaway or a simple transfer between two points in the Midwest region. With most of the drive on highways, you'll experience a straightforward and efficient commute. It's a perfect route if you're looking for minimal travel time and a no-fuss experience between these two locations.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MO 79
15.6 mi
20m
I 70
7.5 mi
9m
First Capitol Drive
1.8 mi
4m
North Second Street
0.3 mi
1m
West Cherry Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
MO 79
— 15.6 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Charles, MO and Winfield, 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
7.5 mi·9 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 220Toward MO 79: Elsberry, LouisianaUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward MO 79: Elsberry, Clarksville, LouisianaUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto MO 79
16 mi·20 min·MO 79
9
Turn right onto West Cherry Street
21 ft·1 sec·West Cherry Street
10
Arrive at destination
West Cherry Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 25.6 — 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
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.
8
9.8 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward MO 79: Elsberry, Louisiana
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 220
Toward MO 79: Elsberry, Louisiana
9
9.9 mi into trip|~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 79: Elsberry, Clarksville, Louisiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MO 79: Elsberry, Clarksville, Louisiana
4
25.6 mi into trip|~35m in|West Cherry Street
Turn right onto West Cherry Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.97 one way
$7.94 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg9 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$4.35
$8.70
premium
$4.93
$4.97
$9.93
diesel
$5.60
$5.64
$11.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
7.7
0
$2.69
$1.23
Efficient EV
6.4
0
$2.24
$1.02
EV Truck/SUV
10.2
0
$3.58
$1.64
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Morning
in Saint Charles on Sunday
Local time
10:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Clear
S 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 12:55PM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 12:55PM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Winfield, MO
Morning
in Winfield on Sunday
Local time
10:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Clear
S 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 12:55PM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 12:55PM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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
35m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 90% of it on major roads. You'll cover a longest stretch of 15.6 miles on MO 79 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a mostly highway profile with limited exits during that initial segment. The shift to First Capitol Drive will mark the end of the high-speed cruising.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.6 mi on MO 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 79 and I 70. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near First Capitol Drive.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 25.6 miles you will encounter 6 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 0.3 miles (First Capitol Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
592 ft443 ft
Total Climb
126 ft
Total Descent
170 ft
Highest Point
592 ft
~1.8 mi in
Elevation Range
149 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 Winfield, MO, road signs point toward Louisiana and Clarksville.
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 35m. Total distance: 25.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.6 miles on MO 79. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.3 miles (First Capitol Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Winfield, MO before heading back.
