Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
16m
Distance
12.1 mi
19 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
St. Louis, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Frontenac, MO
life vibes
The drive from St. Louis, MO to Frontenac, MO covers 12.1 miles and takes about 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Daniel Boone Expressway, Jack Buck Memorial Highway, Market Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 5.7 miles on Daniel Boone Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.88 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Boone Expressway | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| Jack Buck Memorial Highway | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Market Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~5,822 veh/hr typical · worst 7,201
Quietest
2 AM
~165 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
35.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 91 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between St. Louis, MO and Frontenac, MO.
Start on Market Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 64; US 40
Continue on I 64; US 40
Continue on I 64; US 40; US 61
Arrive at destination
2 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 1.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I 64 West, US 40 West: Wentzville
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 64; US 40 / Jack Buck Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$1.88 one way
$3.75 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $2.06 | $4.11 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.35 | $4.70 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $2.67 | $5.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.27 | $0.58 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.06 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
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
Morning in St. Louis on Friday
Local time
11:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in Frontenac on Friday
Local time
11:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Clear
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.
12.1 mi in 16m — 47% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Daniel Boone Expressway.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from St. Louis, MO to Frontenac, MO is easy. At 16m with 47% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles (I 64; US 40 / Jack Buck Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
215 ft
Total Descent
106 ft
Highest Point
573 ft
~12.1 mi in
Elevation Range
109 ft
Founded 1764
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.
Top landmarks
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 16m. Total distance: 12.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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