This 233.9-mile journey from Saint Peters, MO to Lathrop, MO is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 40 minutes. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $36, it's an economical option for traversing the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes local roads, indicated by its 'turn-heavy' profile and 0% highway share, suggesting a more engaging driving experience than a typical interstate trip. You'll be navigating MO 13 and West Elm Street, among other local thoroughfares. Given the duration and road type, it's well-suited as a day trip, allowing for flexibility and an unhurried pace.
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
116.9 miles from Saint Peters, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
172.2 mi
3h 15m
MO 13
45.1 mi
1h 1m
West Elm Street
10.5 mi
13m
MO 116
5.2 mi
7m
Center Street
0.6 mi
1m
Oak Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 172.2 mi, about 3h 15m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,340 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,883
Quietest
1 AM
~235 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Lathrop, MO.
1
Start on I 70
172 mi·3 hr 15 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
2
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 49Toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg
3
Turn right onto MO 13
45 mi·1 hr 1 min·MO 13
4
Turn left onto MO 116
11 mi·13 min·West Elm Street
5
Enter roundabout onto MO 116
119 ft·1 sec·MO 116
6
Continue on MO 116
5.2 mi·7 min·MO 116
7
Turn left onto MO 33
0.6 mi·1 min·Center Street
8
Turn right onto Oak Street
274 ft·12 sec·Oak Street
9
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of 4 hours and 40 minutes and a fuel cost of around $36, this 233.9-mile drive is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip. You can afford to leave a little later in the morning to avoid rush hour traffic in the Saint Peters area. Plan for one stop to break up the journey and refuel or grab a bite, given the 'turn-heavy' nature of the route which might feel more demanding than highway driving. Keep an eye on local road conditions, especially if traveling during inclement weather, as MO 13 and other local roads can be more susceptible to slower travel. The flexibility of this route allows you to 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 116.9 miles from Saint Peters, MO, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 172.2 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 51 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.9 miles or 2h 13m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lathrop, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 233.9 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Saint Peters, 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 172.2 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 233.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|I 70
Depart onto I 70
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
172.2 mi into trip|~3h 15m 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
3
172.4 mi into trip|~3h 16m in|MO 13
Turn right onto MO 13
Navigation decision point
5
228 mi into trip|~4h 31m in|MO 116
Enter roundabout onto MO 116
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
233.8 mi into trip|~4h 40m in|Oak Street
Turn right onto Oak Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.54 one way
$69.08 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$38.13
$76.27
premium
$4.72
$43.43
$86.86
diesel
$4.80
$44.16
$88.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.2
0
$24.56
$11.23
Efficient EV
58.5
0
$20.47
$9.36
EV Truck/SUV
93.6
1
$32.75
$14.97
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Saint Peters, MO
Late night
in Saint Peters on Sunday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny
W 10 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:57AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Lathrop, MO
Late night
in Lathrop on Sunday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:57AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
91°F
Glasgow, MO
117 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 40m 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the entirety of this 233.9-mile route, as it features a 0% highway share. This means you won't encounter long stretches of high-speed interstate driving; instead, anticipate navigating through towns and along county roads, including MO 13 and West Elm Street. The absence of a 'longest stretch' metric suggests a continuous series of turns and changes in scenery rather than prolonged, uninterrupted segments. The character of the drive will likely involve frequent adjustments to speed and direction, making it a more hands-on experience behind the wheel.
95% 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: 172.2 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 early in the drive near I 70.
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 40m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (I 70): Lane positioning matters here; at 172.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 172.4 miles (MO 13): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,063 ft443 ft
Total Climb
1,067 ft
Total Descent
447 ft
Highest Point
1,063 ft
~233.9 mi in
Elevation Range
620 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 Peters, MO to Lathrop, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Warrensburg along the way.
The longest stretch is about 172.2 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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: near the start (I 70): Lane positioning matters here; at 172.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 172.4 miles (MO 13): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Lathrop, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
