St. Louis, MO to Perryville, MO is 80.4 miles and takes about 1h 35m via I 55, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically crossing Missouri. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on interstate highways, making it a convenient option for a short hop. You'll find this route efficient if you're looking for a quick journey between these two points without much fuss. It's a good choice for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.2 miles from St. Louis, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
71.9 mi
1h 19m
US 61
5.3 mi
7m
South Tucker Boulevard
1.3 mi
3m
MO M
0.6 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
Gravois Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
East Saint Joseph Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
South Spring Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 71.9 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between St. Louis, MO and Perryville, MO.
1
Start on Market Street
86 ft·4 sec·Market Street
2
Turn left onto South Tucker Boulevard
1.3 mi·3 min·South Tucker Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Turn straight onto Gravois Avenue
0.3 mi·46 sec·Gravois Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I 55 South: MemphisUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 55
72 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 135Toward MO M: Brewer
7
Turn left onto MO M
0.6 mi·1 min·MO M
8
At end of road, turn right onto US 61; MO M
5.3 mi·7 min·US 61; MO M
9
Enter roundabout onto MO B
55 ft·0 sec·North Main Street
10
Continue on MO B
0.5 mi·1 min·North Main Street
11
Turn left onto East Saint Joseph Street
365 ft·18 sec·East Saint Joseph Street
12
Turn right onto South Spring Street
221 ft·9 sec·South Spring Street
13
Arrive at destination
South Spring Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 35 minutes, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. You can easily depart anytime, and with only 80.4 miles, you won't need to worry about extensive fuel stops, though keeping your tank at least half-full is always a good practice. The longest stretch is on I 55, so plan to take any necessary breaks before or after this segment. Since it's a same-day trip, you can start your journey at your leisure and still arrive with ample time to spare.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.2 miles from St. Louis, MO, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.9 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.2 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Perryville, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from St. Louis, MO
This is one driving day of about 80.4 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from St. Louis, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 71.9 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 0 and 80.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Tucker Boulevard
Turn left onto South Tucker Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 South: Memphis
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 55 South: Memphis
5
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
73.6 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward MO M: Brewer
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 135
Toward MO M: Brewer
5
80.3 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|South Spring Street
Turn right onto South Spring Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.57 one way
$25.14 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.80
$27.60
premium
$4.89
$15.47
$30.94
diesel
$5.61
$17.75
$35.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.1
0
$8.44
$3.86
Efficient EV
20.1
0
$7.04
$3.22
EV Truck/SUV
32.2
0
$11.26
$5.15
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
St. Louis, MO
Night
in St. Louis on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Perryville, MO
Night
in Perryville on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Crystal City, MO
40 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
18 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
1h 35m 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...
Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the B...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route utilizing major highways like I 55. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 71.9 miles on I 55, which means consistent speed and minimal turns for a significant portion of the journey. The character is primarily that of a steady interstate cruise, designed for efficient travel rather than winding scenic exploration. Expect mostly highway conditions throughout, reflecting its purpose as a direct connection.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.9 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 61. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Tucker Boulevard.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 35m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Tucker Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from St. Louis, MO to Perryville, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Mo M: Brewer along the way.
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.
The longest stretch is about 71.9 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Tucker Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park and Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Perryville, MO before heading back.
