Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 50m
Distance
307.8 mi
495 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
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 Peters, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Anderson, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Spanning 307.8 miles across Missouri, this trek from Saint Peters to Anderson is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 5 hours and 50 minutes. Because the route is highway-focused, you can comfortably complete the drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $47 on fuel for the trip, making it a relatively affordable excursion within the Midwest. While the drive is efficient, the nearly six-hour duration suggests you should prepare for a solid day of travel. Whether you are heading out for business or a visit, this route offers a reliable connection between the two points.
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
153.9 miles from Saint Peters, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 2m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 44 | 240.9 mi | 4h 19m |
| I 49 | 24.3 mi | 26m |
| MO 100 | 13.3 mi | 18m |
| MO K | 6.5 mi | 11m |
| US 71 Business | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| MO 109 | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| I 70 | 3 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Peters, MO and Anderson, MO.
Start on I 70
Take the exit
Turn straight onto East Terra Lane
Turn slight left
Continue on MO K
Continue on MO K
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
Take the exit
Continue on Chesterfield Airport Road
Turn right
Turn right onto Olive Street Road
Continue on North Eatherton Road
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
Continue on MO 109
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
Continue on MO 109
Enter roundabout
Continue
Merge onto MO 100
Take the exit
Merge onto I 44; US 50
Take the exit onto I 49; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 Business
Continue on US 71 Business; MO 59
Turn right onto MO 59; MO 76
Turn left onto Jefferson Street
Arrive at destination
To make the most of your 307.8-mile drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the route is heavily reliant on I-44, keep an eye on traffic patterns near major intersections to avoid unnecessary delays. Departing early in the morning is your best strategy to ensure you reach Anderson before the end of the day with plenty of energy to spare. With a total fuel budget of $47, you have the flexibility to manage your stops based on gas prices along the interstate corridor. Focus on maintaining a steady pace during that long 240.9-mile stretch on I-44 to stay on schedule.
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.
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 68 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 153.9 miles or 3h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anderson, MO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Saint Peters, 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 Peters, MO
This is one driving day of about 307.8 miles and 5h 50m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
154 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 68 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 153.9 miles from Saint Peters, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 44 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 240.9 miles.
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 3 and 278.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward MO K: O'Fallon, Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the ramp toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Chesterfield Airport Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto I 49; US 71 toward I 49 South, US 71 South, MO 249 North: Neosho, Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 71 toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Neosho, Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$48.12 one way
$96.24 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $52.83 | $105.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $59.23 | $118.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $67.96 | $135.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 92.3 | 1 | $32.32 | $14.77 |
| Efficient EV | 77 | 0 | $26.93 | $12.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 123.1 | 1 | $43.09 | $19.70 |
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Evening in Saint Peters on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Evening in Anderson on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
74°F
Washington, MO
154 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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Monument
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National Battlefield
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National Park
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
You will spend 95% of your time on highways, primarily utilizing I-44, I-49, and MO-100 to navigate the state. The journey is dominated by a long, uninterrupted 240.9-mile stretch on I-44, which defines the bulk of your time behind the wheel. Because this is a highway-focused drive, the pace is consistent and fast-moving, lacking the frequent twists of local backroads. You should anticipate a steady interstate experience that favors efficiency over technical driving. Once you transition between these major arteries, the rhythm of the road remains largely predictable for the duration of your trip.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and I 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 307.8 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 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,512 ft
Total Descent
733 ft
Highest Point
1,502 ft
~197.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,059 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Saint Peters, MO to Anderson, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.
Fort Smith
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 50m. Total distance: 307.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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