Origin
Tipton, MO
Late night in Tipton on Tuesday
Local time
12:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tipton, MO to Saint Charles, MO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 8, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 55m
Distance
147.1 mi
237 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 44m
★
6 AM
2h 56m
8 AM
3h 18m
10 AM
3h 3m
12 PM
3h 1m
3 PM
3h 5m
5 PM
3h 17m
8 PM
2h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tipton, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Saint Charles, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Tipton, MO to Saint Charles, MO is 147.1 miles and takes about 2h 55m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a relatively short drive, making it a good option for a single-day excursion. The route is a mix of highway and surface roads, so expect varying speeds and scenery. Consider this if you need a straightforward connection between these two Missouri points without a long time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
73.5 miles from Tipton, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 79.9 mi | 1h 33m |
| US 50 | 34.3 mi | 41m |
| US 54 | 29.6 mi | 32m |
| First Capitol Drive | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| I 70 Business | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South Second Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 63 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Randolph Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 79.9 mi, about 1h 33m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,319 veh/hr typical · worst 2,912
Quietest
1 AM
~234 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 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 Tipton, MO and Saint Charles, MO.
1
Start on Osage Avenue
498 ft
·
27 sec
·
Osage Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto East Cooper Street
347 ft
·
16 sec
·
East Cooper Street
3
Turn right onto Randolph Street
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
·
Randolph Street
4
Turn left onto US 50
34 mi
·
41 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward US 54, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia, Lake of the Ozarks
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 63
309 ft
·
14 sec
·
US 63
7
Turn left
340 ft
·
8 sec
8
Continue on US 63
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 63
9
Merge onto US 54; US 63
30 mi
·
32 min
·
US 54; US 63
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
11
Merge onto I 70; US 40
80 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 228
Toward I 70 Business, MO 94: First Capitol Drive, Lewis and Clark Trail
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 70 Business, MO 94 East: First Capitol Drive, Lindenwood University, SSM Health Saint Joseph Hospital
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto I 70 Business; MO 94
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
First Capitol Drive
15
Turn slight right onto I 70 Business; MO 94
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 70 Business; MO 94
Toward MO 94
16
Turn left onto South Second Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
South Second Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Second Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 55m duration, departing in the morning allows ample time for stops and arrival before evening. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $23, this is a manageable drive for a single day. The longest stretch without a break is 79.9 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, so plan your own break before or after that segment. Since it's a relatively short trip, you have flexibility to leave a bit later if needed, but keep in mind the change in road type from highway to surface roads as you get closer to your destination.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.5 miles from Tipton, MO, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.9 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 32 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.5 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Charles, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tipton, 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 Tipton, MO
This is one driving day of about 147.1 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Tipton, 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 79.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 73.5 miles from Tipton, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.9 miles.
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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 144.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Cooper Street
At end of road, turn left onto East Cooper Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 50
Turn left onto US 50
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
34.6 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward US 54, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia, Lake of the Ozarks
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 54, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia, La...
8
144.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
Take the exit toward I 70 Business, MO 94: First Capitol Drive, Lewis and Clark Trail
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 228
Toward I 70 Business, MO 94: First Capitol Driv...
9
144.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 Business, MO 94 East: First Capitol Drive, Lindenwood University, SSM Health Saint Joseph Hospital
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70 Business, MO 94 East: First Capitol...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.81 one way
$45.61 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $25.01 | $50.01 |
| premium | $4.93 | $28.54 | $57.08 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $32.43 | $64.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.1 | 0 | $15.45 | $7.06 |
| Efficient EV | 36.8 | 0 | $12.87 | $5.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.8 | 0 | $20.59 | $9.41 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Destination
Saint Charles, MO
Late night in Saint Charles on Tuesday
Local time
12:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2h 55m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a substantial portion on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, accounting for 44% of the total mileage. You'll experience a longest stretch of 79.9 miles on this highway before transitioning to US 50 and US 54. Expect to move from higher-speed highway cruising to more moderate speeds on surface roads. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely involve a noticeable change in traffic density and exit frequency.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.9 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Cooper Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 147.1 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 0.1 miles (East Cooper Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (US 50): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
928 ft
491 ft
Total Climb
372 ft
Total Descent
809 ft
Highest Point
928 ft
Elevation Range
437 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tipton, MO and Saint Charles, MO, road signs point toward Columbia and Lake Of The Ozarks.
Columbia
34.6 mi in
|
~42m
Lake Of The Ozarks
34.6 mi in
|
~42m
About the Cities
Starting in Tipton, MO
Full guide →Arriving in Saint Charles, MO
Full guide →Founded 1765
St. Charles, Missouri is outside of St. Louis on the bank of the Missouri River. It was Missouri's first state capital and was one of the first stops by Lewis and Clark on their journey to explore Louisiana Territory. The historic Main Street has largely been restored to its 1812-era appearance including gas lights a boardwalk and is lined with shops selling artwork, handicrafts, home decorations, antiques. There are also many restaurants.
Top landmarks
- • First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site — historic site in Missouri, United States
- • African Church — church building in Missouri, United States of America
- • Frenchtown Historic District — historic district in St. Charles County, Missouri
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 147.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.9 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Saint Charles, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Cooper Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (US 50): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Charles, MO before heading back.
How this page is built
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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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