St. Louis to Hollister is 254.2 miles and takes about 4h 49m via Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The route primarily uses surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate drive. With a recommended one-day duration, this is a straightforward trip perfect for a single day's travel, especially if you're looking for a drive that isn't entirely highway.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
127.1 miles from St. Louis, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
194.7 mi
3h 31m
American Legion Memorial Highway
18.4 mi
21m
US Highway 65
12 mi
13m
Schoolcraft Freeway
11 mi
13m
Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway
3.5 mi
4m
Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway
3.5 mi
4m
Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
2.7 mi
3m
Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
— 194.7 mi, about 3h 31m
Traffic on I-44
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,417 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,956
Quietest
2 AM
~186 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between St. Louis, MO and Hollister, MO.
1
Start on Market Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Market Street
2
Turn left onto South Jefferson Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jefferson Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·17 sec
Toward I 44 West
4
Merge onto I 44
2.3 mi·3 min·Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway
5
Continue on I 44
3.5 mi·4 min·Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway
6
Continue on I 44
2.7 mi·3 min·Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
7
Continue on I 44
3.5 mi·4 min·Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway
8
Continue on I 44; US 50
195 mi·3 hr 31 min·Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Exit 82AToward US 65 South: Branson
10
Merge onto US 65
11 mi·13 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 65
11 mi·12 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
12
Continue on US 65
12 mi·13 min·US Highway 65
13
Continue on US 65
7.5 mi·8 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward MO 248, CR 165, Red Route
15
Keep slight left at fork
260 ft·6 sec
Toward Red Route East
16
Turn straight onto Red Route
0.6 mi·1 min·Branson Landing Boulevard
17
Enter roundabout onto Red Route
154 ft·4 sec·Veterans Boulevard
18
Continue on Red Route
0.4 mi·51 sec·Veterans Boulevard
19
Continue on US 65 Bus; MO 76
1.9 mi·4 min·South Business 65
20
Turn right onto Esplanade Drive
385 ft·19 sec·Esplanade Drive
21
Turn right onto Old Mill Road
392 ft·17 sec·Old Mill Road
22
Arrive at destination
Old Mill Road
Trip Plan
For this 254.2-mile drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to ensure you have ample daylight to complete the trip, which takes under 5 hours. Since it's a one-day drive, you can be flexible with your departure time. Plan for one stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to refuel and stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $39 and you'll want to avoid running low, especially on the longer stretches of surface roads. The significant portion on local roads means you might encounter more varied traffic conditions than on a pure highway route.
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 127.1 miles from St. Louis, MO, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 194.7 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 56 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.1 miles or 2h 22m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hollister, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving St. Louis, 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 St. Louis, MO
This is one driving day of about 254.2 miles and 4h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from St. Louis, 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 Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor for about 194.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 209.1 and 254.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
209.1 mi into trip|~3h 51m in
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Branson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 82A
Toward US 65 South: Branson
5
209.4 mi into trip|~3h 52m in|US 65 / Schoolcraft Freeway
Merge onto US 65 / Schoolcraft Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
250.8 mi into trip|~4h 41m in
Take the exit toward MO 248, CR 165, Red Route
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 248, CR 165, Red Route
6
251 mi into trip|~4h 41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Red Route East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Red Route East
5
254.1 mi into trip|~4h 48m in|Old Mill Road
Turn right onto Old Mill Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.54 one way
$75.08 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$41.44
$82.89
premium
$4.72
$47.20
$94.39
diesel
$4.80
$48.00
$96.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.3
0
$26.69
$12.20
Efficient EV
63.6
0
$22.24
$10.17
EV Truck/SUV
101.7
1
$35.59
$16.27
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
St. Louis, MO
Late night
in St. Louis on Sunday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Hollister, MO
Late night
in Hollister on Sunday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
SW 1 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
89°F
Cuba, MO
127 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 49m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 219.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly on surface roads, with only about 9% on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 194.7 miles on the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. Expect to transition from highway driving relatively early, with the bulk of your time spent cruising on local routes. The profile suggests you'll notice more local traffic and potentially more frequent stops compared to a high-speed interstate.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 194.7 mi on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 209.1 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 49m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 209.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 209.4 miles (US 65 / Schoolcraft Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 250.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
•Gateway Arch — monument in St. Louis, Missouri
•Missouri Botanical Garden — non-profit organization in the USA
•Gateway Arch National Park — American National Park in St. Louis, Missouri
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 194.7 miles on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 209.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 209.4 miles (US 65 / Schoolcraft Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 250.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park and Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Hollister, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
