Origin
Saint Peters, MO
Evening in Saint Peters on Saturday
Local time
7:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Peters, MO to Hillsboro, MO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
55.9 mi
90 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Peters, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Hillsboro, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Trip Overview
Saint Peters to Hillsboro is 55.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 12 minutes via MO 79, I-70 East, and I-270, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It’s a straightforward drive that primarily uses surface roads, making it a good option if you prefer to avoid extensive highway time. The total distance is manageable for a same-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 17.1 mi | 19m |
| I 270 | 15.6 mi | 19m |
| I 70 | 13 mi | 16m |
| MO 141 | 4 mi | 5m |
| MO 30 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Old State Highway 21 | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| MO A | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| MO 79 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 17.1 mi, about 19m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~6,486 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~540 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Peters, MO and Hillsboro, MO.
1
Start on I 70
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 70
2
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 220
Toward MO 79: Elsberry, Louisiana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Keep slight left at fork
384 ft
·
14 sec
Toward MO 79
4
Turn left onto MO 79
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
MO 79
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 70 East
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 70
12 mi
·
14 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Exit 232
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 270 South: Memphis
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
this road
Exit 232
Toward I 270 South: Memphis
10
Merge onto I 270
16 mi
·
19 min
·
I 270
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 3
Toward MO 30: Gravois Road
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
306 ft
·
7 sec
Toward MO 30 West: Fenton
Use the right lane.
13
Merge onto MO 30
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
MO 30
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward MO 141: Fenton, Valley Park
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto MO 141
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
MO 141
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
Toward MO 21 South: Hillsboro
17
Merge onto MO 21
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward MO A
19
Turn left onto MO A
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
MO A
20
Turn straight
205 ft
·
9 sec
Toward MO 21 Business
21
Turn slight right onto MO 21 Business
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Old State Highway 21
22
Arrive at destination
MO 21 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28 miles from Saint Peters, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 30.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.2 mi into trip
|
~1m 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 straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 220
Toward MO 79: Elsberry, Louisiana
8
13.6 mi into trip
|
~17m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 232
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
7
13.8 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 270 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 270 South: Memphis
7
29.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward MO 30: Gravois Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 3
Toward MO 30: Gravois Road
8
30.2 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 30 West: Fenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward MO 30 West: Fenton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.67 one way
$17.33 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $9.50 | $19.01 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.85 | $21.69 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $12.32 | $24.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.87 | $2.68 |
| Efficient EV | 14 | 0 | $4.89 | $2.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.83 | $3.58 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Hillsboro, MO
Evening in Hillsboro on Saturday
Local time
7:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Fenton, MO
28 mi in
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
3 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
1h 12m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route involves 0% highway driving, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the entire 55.9 miles. The longest stretch without a turn is not specified, but expect a continuous drive on local roads. You’ll likely notice more frequent intersections and varying speed limits as you navigate through towns and rural areas. The shift to surface roads begins immediately from Saint Peters.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.1 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Veterans Memorial Highway and I 270. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.9 miles you will encounter 18 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 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
858 ft
422 ft
Total Climb
931 ft
Total Descent
581 ft
Highest Point
858 ft
~47.9 mi in
Elevation Range
436 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Peters, MO and Hillsboro, MO, road signs point toward Memphis and Valley Park.
Memphis
13.6 mi in
|
~17m
Valley Park
32.7 mi in
|
~41m
About the Cities
Starting in Saint Peters, MO
Full guide →Founded 1910
Arriving in Hillsboro, MO
Full guide →Founded 1839
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 55.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.1 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Hillsboro, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hillsboro, MO before heading back.
How this page is built
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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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