This 189.8-mile trip from Sedalia, MO, to St. Louis, MO, is easily manageable as a single-day adventure, taking approximately 3 hours and 44 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, with a portion on the Avenue of the Saints, all within the Midwest. With a projected fuel cost of around $30, this drive offers a straightforward journey. The route is designed for one primary stop, making it a convenient option for a day trip without the need for an overnight stay.
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
94.9 miles from Sedalia, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
82.8 mi
1h 37m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
45.3 mi
48m
Avenue of the Saints
27.7 mi
33m
US 65
15.9 mi
18m
Jack Buck Memorial Highway
5.8 mi
7m
Daniel Boone Expressway
5.7 mi
7m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 82.8 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sedalia, MO and St. Louis, MO.
1
Start on South Ohio Avenue
1.5 mi·4 min·South Ohio Avenue
2
Continue on MO 765
0.2 mi·18 sec·MO 765
3
Continue on MO 765
0.1 mi·11 sec·MO 765
Toward US 65 North: Marshall
4
Merge onto US 65
16 mi·18 min·US 65
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·39 sec
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
6
Merge onto I 70; US 40
23 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
12
Take the exit onto US 40
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 40
Exit 210AToward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
13
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
28 mi·33 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Continue on I 64; US 40
5.7 mi·7 min·Daniel Boone Expressway
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on I 64; US 40
5.8 mi·7 min·Jack Buck Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 39AToward 14th StreetUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto South 14th Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·South 14th Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Market Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Market Street
19
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 44-minute duration, you can comfortably depart Sedalia in the morning and arrive in St. Louis by midday. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $30, this trip offers flexibility. Keep an eye on road signage as you transition between the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and other local roads, as the 'turn-heavy' nature of this route requires vigilance. Planning your single stop strategically will ensure a smooth and efficient journey.
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 94.9 miles from Sedalia, MO, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.8 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 42 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.9 miles or 1h 49m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near St. Louis, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sedalia, 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 Sedalia, MO
This is one driving day of about 189.8 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Sedalia, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 82.8 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 17.7 and 189.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
17.7 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
6
149.7 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 210A
Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Ches...
5
150 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
189.1 mi into trip|~3h 43m in
Take the exit toward 14th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 39A
Toward 14th Street
5
189.3 mi into trip|~3h 43m in|South 14th Street
Turn left onto South 14th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.67 one way
$59.35 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.58
$65.16
premium
$4.89
$36.53
$73.05
diesel
$5.61
$41.91
$83.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.9
0
$19.93
$9.11
Efficient EV
47.5
0
$16.61
$7.59
EV Truck/SUV
75.9
0
$26.57
$12.15
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 15, 2026
Origin
Sedalia, MO
Late night
in Sedalia on Sunday
Local time
2:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
St. Louis, MO
Late night
in St. Louis on Sunday
Local time
2:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
19 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
3h 44m 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.
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 this 189.8-mile segment, with only about 12% of the journey on major highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 82.8 miles along the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. While there are highway portions, the overall character leans towards navigating local roads and junctions, requiring your attention. This means you'll likely experience a more varied driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.8 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17.7 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 189.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 149.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The Gateway City of St. Louis is the epitome of the modern Midwestern metropolis. Missouri's second-largest city is vibrant but laid-back, populous but navigable, historic but still relevant. The city's planners have created an aesthetically beautiful city, with plenty of green space amidst buildings both old and new, framed by the majestic Mississippi and Missouri rivers. And capping it all is the world's tallest man-made monument, the beautiful and iconic Gateway Arch.
St. Louis is a city of culture and surprisingly inexpensive. Among American cities, only Washington, D.C. has more free attractions for tourists and residents alike. Hotels, restaurants, and even parking garages avoid the premium pricing common in other big cities. Although often overlooked, St. Louis can be an affordable, educational, and fun family getaway.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 189.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.8 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 St. Louis, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 149.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at St. Louis, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
