The drive from Caruthersville, MO to Saint Peters, MO covers 213.8 miles and takes about 4h behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, I 270, I 70 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 175.7 miles on I 55.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.43 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
106.9 miles from Caruthersville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 213.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h highway drive covering 213.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and I 270. The longest continuous stretch is about 175.7 miles on I 55.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 175.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 270. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
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 213.8 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 5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 182.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 182.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Sikeston
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Sikeston
8
182.3 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Take the exit toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago
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 196
Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chi...
8
182.5 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 West: Kansas City
8
201.5 mi into trip|~3h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Louis Lambert International Airport
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 20A
Toward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Lo...
7
202.5 mi into trip|~3h 46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Caruthersville, MO and Saint Peters, MO, road signs point toward Chicago, Saint Louis and Saint Louis Lambert International Airport.
Chicago
182.3 mi in|~3h 20m
Saint Louis
201.5 mi in|~3h 44m
Saint Louis Lambert International Airport
201.5 mi in|~3h 44m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
175.7 mi
3h 8m
I 270
18.1 mi
22m
I 70
10.5 mi
13m
West 3rd Street
2.9 mi
5m
MO 84
2 mi
3m
Rosa Parks Highway
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 175.7 mi, about 3h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Caruthersville, MO and Saint Peters, MO.
1
Start on this road
45 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
2.9 mi·5 min·West 3rd Street
3
Continue on MO 84
2.0 mi·3 min·MO 84
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Sikeston
5
Merge onto I 55; US 61
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 55; US 61
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
102 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 55
7
Continue on I 55
1.3 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 196Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, ChicagoUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
388 ft·8 sec
Toward I 270 West: Kansas CityUse the slight left lane.
10
Continue on this road
0.7 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 196Toward I 270 West
11
Merge onto I 270
18 mi·22 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 20AToward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Louis Lambert International AirportUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward I 70 West: Kansas CityUse the slight left lane.
14
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·57 sec·this road
Exit 20BToward I 70 West: Kansas City
15
Merge onto I 70
11 mi·13 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
I 70
Trip Plan
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 106.9 miles from Caruthersville, MO, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 175.7 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 47 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.9 miles or 1h 59m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Peters, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Caruthersville, 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 Caruthersville, MO
This is one driving day of about 213.8 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Caruthersville, 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 I 55 for about 175.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 106.9 mi from Caruthersville, MO
· 1h 59m into the drive
The midpoint is around 107.1 miles from Caruthersville, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Saint Peters, MO
The final approach into Saint Peters, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Saint Peters, MO.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 132.7
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
$19
near mile 184.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.43 one way
$66.85 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.70
$73.40
premium
$4.89
$41.14
$82.29
diesel
$5.61
$47.20
$94.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.1
0
$22.45
$10.26
Efficient EV
53.5
0
$18.71
$8.55
EV Truck/SUV
85.5
1
$29.93
$13.68
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 15, 2026
Origin
Caruthersville, MO
Morning
in Caruthersville on Friday
Local time
8:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Peters, MO
Morning
in Saint Peters on Friday
Local time
8:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
1 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
4h 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Caruthersville, MO to Saint Peters, MO covers 213.8 miles and takes about 4h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, I 270, I 70. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 106.9 miles from Caruthersville, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.43 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 213.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 182.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 182.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Caruthersville, MO and Saint Peters, MO, road signs point toward Chicago, Saint Louis and Saint Louis Lambert International Airport.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
