Scott City, MO to Saint Peters, MO is 139.4 miles and takes about 2h 37m via I 55 and I 270, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, connecting two points in the Midwest region. It's a fairly straightforward drive, mostly on major interstates, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. You'll find it's a manageable distance for a single day of travel, with a clear path that minimizes navigation hassle.
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
69.7 miles from Scott City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
105.1 mi
1h 53m
I 270
18.1 mi
22m
I 70
10.5 mi
13m
Rosa Parks Highway
1.3 mi
1m
Main Street
1 mi
2m
US 61 Business
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 105.1 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scott City, MO and Saint Peters, MO.
1
Start on MO K
1.0 mi·2 min·Main Street
2
Take the ramp onto US 61 Business
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 61 Business
Toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Cape Girardeau
3
Merge onto I 55; US 61
3.6 mi·3 min·I 55; US 61
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
102 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 55
5
Continue on I 55
1.3 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 196Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, ChicagoUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
388 ft·8 sec
Toward I 270 West: Kansas CityUse the slight left lane.
8
Continue on this road
0.7 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 196Toward I 270 West
9
Merge onto I 270
18 mi·22 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 20AToward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Louis Lambert International AirportUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward I 70 West: Kansas CityUse the slight left lane.
12
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·57 sec·this road
Exit 20BToward I 70 West: Kansas City
13
Merge onto I 70
11 mi·13 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
I 70
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 37m duration, this is a comfortable one-day trip. Leaving Scott City in the morning should allow ample time to reach Saint Peters well before evening. With only one recommended stop and 96% highway travel, you can easily adjust your pace. Keep an eye on fuel, especially as you enter the more developed areas around St. Louis, where gas stations are plentiful but prices can vary. The $22 fuel estimate is based on the 139.4 miles, so factor this into your budget.
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 69.7 miles from Scott City, MO, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.1 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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.7 miles or 1h 16m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Peters, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Scott City, 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 Scott City, MO
This is one driving day of about 139.4 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Scott City, 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 55 for about 105.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 128.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip|~2m in|US 61 Business
Take the ramp onto US 61 Business toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Cape Girardeau
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Cape Girardeau
8
107.8 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago
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 196
Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chi...
8
108.1 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 West: Kansas City
8
127 mi into trip|~2h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Louis Lambert International Airport
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 20A
Toward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Lo...
7
128.1 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.79 one way
$43.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.93
$47.86
premium
$4.89
$26.83
$53.65
diesel
$5.61
$30.78
$61.56
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: 48.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.8
0
$14.64
$6.69
Efficient EV
34.9
0
$12.20
$5.58
EV Truck/SUV
55.8
0
$19.52
$8.92
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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
Scott City, MO
Late night
in Scott City on Tuesday
Local time
4:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Sunny
SSW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 1:03PM CDT until April 24 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 1:02PM CDT until April 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Saint Peters, MO
Late night
in Saint Peters on Tuesday
Local time
4:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Arnold, MO
70 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
1 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 37m 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 predominantly highway driving, with 96% of the 139.4 miles spent on interstates. You'll encounter a long stretch of 105.1 miles on I 55 before transitioning to I 270 and then I 70. Expect a consistent cruising experience with frequent exits and merges as you approach the St. Louis metropolitan area. The latter portion of the drive will feel more urbanized.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105.1 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 270. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near US 61 Business.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 139.4 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 miles (US 61 Business): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Scott City, MO and Saint Peters, MO, road signs point toward Chicago, Saint Louis and Saint Louis Lambert International Airport.
Chicago
107.8 mi in|~1h 57m
Saint Louis
127 mi in|~2h 22m
Saint Louis Lambert International Airport
127 mi in|~2h 22m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 37m. Total distance: 139.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105.1 miles on I 55. 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 Saint Peters, 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 miles (US 61 Business): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.1 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 Saint Peters, MO before heading back.
