Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
17m
Distance
11.8 mi
19 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Peters, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Charles, MO
Wikimedia Commons
This straightforward 11.8-mile drive from Saint Peters to Saint Charles, Missouri, will only take about 17 minutes to complete. It's an easy hop within the Midwest region, perfect for a quick trip or as part of a larger itinerary. With a low fuel cost estimated at $2, this route is very budget-friendly. The highway-focused profile means you'll spend most of your time on interstates, making it a fast and efficient journey. Since it's so short, it's definitely not an overnight trip; you can easily tackle it in a single day.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 8.9 mi | 11m |
| First Capitol Drive | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| I 70 Business | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South Second Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| MO 79 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Second Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Peters, MO and Saint Charles, MO.
Start on I 70
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto MO 79
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 70
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight onto I 70 Business; MO 94
Turn slight right onto I 70 Business; MO 94
Turn left onto South Second Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 9.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 79
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the ramp toward I 70 East
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 70 Business, MO 94: First Capitol Drive, Lewis and Clark Trail
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 Business, MO 94 East: First Capitol Drive, Lindenwood University, SSM Health Saint Joseph Hospital
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$1.84 one way
$3.69 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.03 | $4.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.27 | $4.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.61 | $5.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.24 | $0.57 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.03 | $0.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.76 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Late night in Saint Peters on Sunday
Local time
2:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Saint Charles on Sunday
Local time
2:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Sunny
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.
Expect a highway-centric experience on this route, with 84% of the journey taking place on major interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.9 miles on I-70, offering a period of consistent driving. You'll navigate primarily via I-70, First Capitol Drive, and I-70 Business, a mix that balances interstate speeds with some local access. The overall feel is one of efficiency and directness, designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and First Capitol Drive. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 11.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 17m.
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 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Peters, MO and Saint Charles, MO, road signs point toward Louisiana, Lindenwood University and Ssm Health Saint Joseph Hospital.
Louisiana
Lindenwood University
Ssm Health Saint Joseph Hospital
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 17m. Total distance: 11.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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