Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
64.3 mi
104 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Esther, MO
Lena Khrupina
This straightforward 64.3-mile drive from St. Louis, MO, to Esther, MO, will take you about 1 hour and 18 minutes. It's a quick trip, easily manageable as a day trip, with no need to split the journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $10, making it an economical option for a short hop within the Midwest region. The route is predominantly highway, so you can expect a consistent pace for most of the drive. It's a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 32.7 mi | 37m |
| US 67 | 27.9 mi | 32m |
| South Tucker Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Saint Joe Drive | 1 mi | 1m |
| Parkway Drive | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Gravois Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Jefferson Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between St. Louis, MO and Esther, MO.
Start on Market Street
Turn left onto South Tucker Boulevard
Turn straight onto Gravois Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 55
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Enter roundabout onto US 67
Continue on US 67
Take the exit
Turn right onto Parkway Drive
Turn left onto Saint Joe Drive
Turn left onto Jefferson Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 32.2 miles from St. Louis, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 34.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I 55 South: Memphis
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 67 South: Farmington, Poplar Bluff
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Enter roundabout onto US 67
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Regular Gas
$10.05 one way
$20.11 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.04 | $22.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.37 | $24.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.20 | $28.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.75 | $3.09 |
| Efficient EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.63 | $2.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.7 | 0 | $9.00 | $4.12 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (64% 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
Night in St. Louis on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Night in Esther on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
57°F
Imperial, MO
32 mi in
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-focused experience for 95% of this 64.3-mile journey. You'll primarily be on I-55, US-67, and South Tucker Boulevard. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 32.7 miles on I-55, offering a good opportunity to settle into a steady driving rhythm. While mostly a high-speed affair, be prepared for the transition off the interstate as you approach your destination. This drive offers little in the way of winding backroads, prioritizing direct travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 67. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in.
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 64.3 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 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from St. Louis, MO to Esther, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Poplar Bluff along the way.
Poplar Bluff
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 64.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). 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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