Connecting Sullivan to Chesterfield, this 51.5-mile journey is a straightforward trek across the Missouri Midwest. You can comfortably complete the drive in about 1 hour and 9 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $8 for fuel covers the trip, allowing you to focus on the transition from the quieter stretches near Sullivan to the suburban landscape of Chesterfield. Because the route is short, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. It serves as a practical link between these two Missouri locales without the need for extensive planning or multiple days on the road.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
27.1 mi
29m
Manchester Road
16.8 mi
24m
Clarkson Road
3.6 mi
6m
Baxter Road
1.6 mi
2m
West Springfield Road
0.8 mi
1m
South Church Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Santa Maria Drive
0.3 mi
1m
MO 185
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 27.1 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sullivan, MO and Chesterfield, MO.
1
Start on this road
55 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto West Washington Street
115 ft·3 sec·West Washington Street
3
Enter roundabout onto West Vine Street
176 ft·6 sec·West Vine Street
4
Continue on West Vine Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·West Vine Street
5
Turn left onto South Church Street
0.4 mi·56 sec·South Church Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto US Historic 66
0.8 mi·1 min·West Springfield Road
7
Turn left onto MO 185
0.2 mi·23 sec·MO 185
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 44 East: Saint Louis
9
Merge onto I 44
27 mi·29 min·I 44
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 253Toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray SummitUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto MO 100
17 mi·24 min·Manchester Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto MO 340
3.6 mi·6 min·Clarkson Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto Baxter Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Baxter Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Wild Horse Creek Road
0.1 mi·22 sec·Wild Horse Creek Road
15
Turn left onto Santa Maria Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Santa Maria Drive
16
Arrive at destination
Santa Maria Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 25.7 miles from Sullivan, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 28.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Washington Street
Turn right onto West Washington Street
Navigation decision point
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Vine Street
Enter roundabout onto West Vine Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|US Historic 66 / West Springfield Road
At end of road, turn right onto US Historic 66 / West Springfield Road
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 East: Saint Louis
Navigation decision point
Toward I 44 East: Saint Louis
8
28.8 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 253
Toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray Summit
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.05 one way
$16.10 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg18 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$8.84
$17.68
premium
$4.89
$9.91
$19.82
diesel
$5.61
$11.37
$22.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
15.5
0
$5.41
$2.47
Efficient EV
12.9
0
$4.51
$2.06
EV Truck/SUV
20.6
0
$7.21
$3.30
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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 12, 2026
Origin
Sullivan, MO
Late night
in Sullivan on Sunday
Local time
2:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers
S 8 to 17 mph35% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:21AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:46PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Chesterfield, MO
Late night
in Chesterfield on Sunday
Local time
2:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers
S 7 to 16 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:21AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:46PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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
3 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
1h 9m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you navigate the 53% highway portion of this route. You will begin with a significant 27.1-mile stretch on I-44, which provides the most consistent pace of the trip. As you transition off the interstate, the character shifts significantly when you move onto Manchester Road and Clarkson Road. This change moves you from high-speed travel into the more localized flow of the suburban corridor. By blending these fast highway segments with local road segments, the drive offers a balanced pace that keeps you engaged behind the wheel.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.1 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Washington Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 51.5 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (West Washington Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (West Vine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.6 miles (US Historic 66 / West Springfield Road): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
982 ft472 ft
Total Climb
657 ft
Total Descent
1,167 ft
Highest Point
982 ft
Elevation Range
510 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 51.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.1 miles on I 44. 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 (West Washington Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (West Vine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.6 miles (US Historic 66 / West Springfield Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Gateway Arch National 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 Chesterfield, MO before heading back.
