Saint Peters, MO to Scott City, MO is 142.2 miles and takes about 2h 41m via Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway and I-270, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, primarily within Missouri. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way south. It's a straightforward, one-day drive that doesn't require extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
71.1 miles from Saint Peters, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
103.3 mi
1h 50m
I 270
19 mi
23m
I 70
13 mi
16m
Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Rosa Parks Highway
1.5 mi
1m
Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
US 61 Business
0.2 mi
<1m
MO 79
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
— 103.3 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Peters, MO and Scott City, MO.
1
Start on I 70
1.2 mi·1 min·I 70
2
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 220Toward MO 79: Elsberry, LouisianaUse 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 EastUse 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 232Toward I 270: Chicago, MemphisUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·33 sec
Toward I 270 South: MemphisUse the slight right lane.
9
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·10 sec·this road
Exit 232Toward I 270 South: Memphis
10
Merge onto I 270
19 mi·23 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 1AToward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward I 55 South: Memphis
13
Merge onto I 55
1.5 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
14
Continue on I 55
1.8 mi·2 min·Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
15
Continue on I 55
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto US 61 Business
0.2 mi·32 sec·US 61 Business
Exit 89Toward MO K, MO M: Scott City, Chaffee
17
Turn left onto US 61 Business; MO M
1.2 mi·2 min·Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
MO K
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 41m duration, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Aim to leave Saint Peters in the morning to take advantage of daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretch on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent than on interstates. The estimated fuel cost is around $22.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.1 miles from Saint Peters, MO, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.3 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 31 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.1 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scott City, 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 142.2 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway for about 103.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 33.3 — 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
6
1.3 mi into trip|~1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 79
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MO 79
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
8
33.3 mi into trip|~41m in
Take the exit toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road
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 1A
Toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.23 one way
$44.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.41
$48.82
premium
$4.89
$27.37
$54.73
diesel
$5.61
$31.40
$62.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.7
0
$14.93
$6.83
Efficient EV
35.6
0
$12.44
$5.69
EV Truck/SUV
56.9
0
$19.91
$9.10
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Saint Peters, MO
Late night
in Saint Peters on Tuesday
Local time
4:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 3 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 10:13PM CDT until April 21 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 7:54PM CDT until April 22 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Scott City, MO
Late night
in Scott City on Tuesday
Local time
4:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
NE 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 10:13PM CDT until April 21 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 7:54PM CDT until April 22 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
71°F
Arnold, MO
71 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 41m 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 route is mostly surface roads, with only 23% of the drive on highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 103.3 miles on the Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway before transitioning to other roads. Be prepared for more frequent stops and slower speeds once you leave the interstate sections.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.3 mi on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 142.2 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 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 13.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Scott City, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Memphis
13.6 mi in|~17m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 142.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.3 miles on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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.
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 Scott City, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 13.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Scott City, MO before heading back.
