St. Louis, MO to Maryville, MO is 344.9 miles and takes about 6h 34m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Missouri for its entirety. Expect a drive that primarily utilizes surface roads, offering a more grounded perspective of the landscape rather than high-speed interstate travel. With a recommended single day of driving, this route is suitable for those looking for a straightforward trip without needing an overnight stay.
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
172.4 miles from St. Louis, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi
1h 35m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
I 29
39.9 mi
43m
US 59
30.3 mi
35m
Avenue of the Saints
27.8 mi
33m
I 435
20.9 mi
22m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
7.8 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 27 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,893 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,398
Quietest
1 AM
~270 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.7×
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 Maryville, MO.
1
Start on Market Street
1.6 mi·3 min·Market Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West: Wentzville
3
Merge onto I 64; US 40
4.3 mi·5 min·Jack Buck Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on I 64; US 40
5.7 mi·7 min·Daniel Boone Expressway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on I 64; US 40; US 61
28 mi·33 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit onto US 40
0.6 mi·1 min·US 40
Exit 1AToward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial 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
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Exit 8BToward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 435; US 24
7.8 mi·9 min·Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
19
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi·1 min·I435 N
20
Continue on I 435
21 mi·22 min·I 435
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71
37 mi·40 min·I 29; US 71
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
22
Continue on I 29; US 59; US 71
2.7 mi·2 min·I 29; US 59; US 71
23
Take the exit onto US 59; US 71
30 mi·35 min·US 59; US 71
Exit 56AToward US 71 North, US 59 North: Maryville
24
Turn left onto US 71 Business
2.3 mi·4 min·US 71 Business
25
Turn right onto MO 46
134 ft·2 sec·East 1st Street
26
Arrive at destination
MO 46
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour, 34-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from St. Louis to maximize daylight. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but planning for one stop around the halfway point is advisable for fuel and a break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you move onto surface roads where stations might be less frequent than on major interstates. The longest stretch without a significant highway change is 80.7 miles, so plan your break before or after this segment.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 172.4 miles from St. Louis, MO, or about 3h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.7 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 76 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.4 miles or 3h 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 5h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maryville, 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 344.9 miles and 6h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 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 Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 80.7 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 1.9 and 312.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.9 mi into trip|~3m in|I 64; US 40 / Jack Buck Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 64; US 40 / Jack Buck Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
39.7 mi into trip|~50m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
8
241.4 mi into trip|~4h 37m in
Take the exit toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8B
Toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
6
272.5 mi into trip|~5h 12m in|I 29; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71 toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
6
312.3 mi into trip|~5h 55m in|US 59; US 71
Take the exit onto US 59; US 71 toward US 71 North, US 59 North: Maryville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 56A
Toward US 71 North, US 59 North: Maryville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.34 one way
$114.69 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$62.46
$124.92
premium
$5.18
$70.38
$140.76
diesel
$5.35
$72.65
$145.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
103.5
1
$36.21
$16.56
Efficient EV
86.2
0
$30.18
$13.80
EV Truck/SUV
138
1
$48.29
$22.07
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
St. Louis, MO
Afternoon
in St. Louis on Wednesday
Local time
2:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
NE 6 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 8:22PM CDT until June 3 at 9:24PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Destination
Maryville, MO
Afternoon
in Maryville on Wednesday
Local time
2:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy
E 9 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 8:22PM CDT until June 3 at 9:24PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
86°F
Centralia, MO
172 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 34m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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?
This route involves 344.9 miles of driving, with 29% of it on highways like the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. You'll experience a longest stretch of 80.7 miles on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway before transitioning to surface roads. Expect mostly surface road driving, which often means more frequent intersections and varied speed limits compared to pure interstate travel.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.7 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near I 64; US 40 / Jack Buck Memorial Highway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 344.9 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 1.9 miles (I 64; US 40 / Jack Buck Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 241.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,153 ft464 ft
Total Climb
981 ft
Total Descent
292 ft
Highest Point
1,153 ft
~344.9 mi in
Elevation Range
689 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 34m. Total distance: 344.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 34m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.7 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 44 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 Maryville, 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 44 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (I 64; US 40 / Jack Buck Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 241.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Maryville, MO before the return drive.
