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Trip from Chesterfield, MO to Washington, MO

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

54m

Distance

36.3 mi

58 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 50m ★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States

Chesterfield, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Washington, MO, MO

Washington, MO

Valeria Boltneva

Trip Overview

This 36.3-mile drive from Chesterfield, MO, to Washington, MO, is a manageable 54-minute trip perfect for a single day. Primarily on local roads like MO D and MO TT, with a brief segment on Avenue of the Saints, expect a turn-heavy experience. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $6, this route is an economical choice for exploring the Midwest. Since there are no designated overnight stops and the drive is short, you'll have plenty of flexibility to depart at your convenience and enjoy the journey without needing to split it over multiple days.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

18.2 miles from Chesterfield, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for most of this 36.3-mile journey. Only about 15% of the route involves highway travel, meaning you'll be navigating a series of local roads, including MO D and MO TT, which make up the bulk of the route. The longest stretch without a turn is 18.4 miles on MO D, offering a brief period of more consistent driving before you encounter more frequent changes in direction. This profile suggests a pace that's less about covering ground quickly and more about engaging with the local road network.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MO D is the longest continuous segment at about 18.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 1.7 miles in near Boone's Crossing.

Route Complexity 7/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 36.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (Boone's Crossing): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
1.7 mi into trip | ~3m in | Boone's Crossing

Turn right onto Boone's Crossing

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
1.9 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North
6
1.9 mi into trip | ~4m in

Turn left toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North
8
8 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the exit toward MO 94: Defiance, Saint Charles

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 10 Toward MO 94: Defiance, Saint Charles
9
8.2 mi into trip | ~12m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MO 94: Defiance, Saint Charles

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward MO 94: Defiance, Saint Charles

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 Chesterfield, MO to Washington, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Charles along the way.

Saint Charles

8 mi in | ~11m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
MO D 18.4 mi 26m
Avenue of the Saints 5.9 mi 7m
MO TT 3.6 mi 5m
MO 47 3.4 mi 5m
MO 94 2 mi 3m
Chesterfield Airport Road 1.2 mi 2m
East 3rd Street 0.7 mi 2m
Baxter Road 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: MO D — 18.4 mi, about 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chesterfield, MO and Washington, MO.

1

Start on Santa Maria Drive

107 ft · 8 sec · Santa Maria Drive
2

Turn left onto Old Chesterfield Road

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Old Chesterfield Road
3

Turn right onto Baxter Road

0.3 mi · 45 sec · Baxter Road
4

At end of road, turn left onto Chesterfield Airport Road

1.1 mi · 1 min · Chesterfield Airport Road
5

Continue on Chesterfield Airport Road

438 ft · 8 sec · Chesterfield Airport Road
6

Turn right onto Boone's Crossing

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Boone's Crossing
Use the right lane.
7

Take the ramp

167 ft · 7 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North Use the left lane.
8

Turn left

0.2 mi · 17 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North
9

Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61

5.9 mi · 7 min · Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 15 sec
Exit 10 Toward MO 94: Defiance, Saint Charles Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork

263 ft · 8 sec
Toward MO 94: Defiance, Saint Charles Use the left lane.
12

Turn left onto MO 94

1.3 mi · 1 min · MO 94
13

Turn right onto MO D

15 mi · 21 min · MO D
Use the right lane.
14

At end of road, turn left onto MO D; MO T

3.1 mi · 4 min · MO D; MO T
15

Continue on MO TT

3.6 mi · 5 min · MO TT
16

Continue on MO 94

0.7 mi · 1 min · MO 94
17

At end of road, turn left onto MO 47

3.4 mi · 5 min · MO 47
18

Turn right onto East 3rd Street

0.7 mi · 2 min · East 3rd Street
19

Arrive at destination

West 3rd Street

Trip Plan

Given the short 54-minute duration and 36.3-mile distance, this trip offers significant flexibility. You can easily complete it in a single day, so consider departing mid-morning to avoid any rush hour traffic in the Chesterfield area. With a fuel cost around $6, you won't need to worry much about frequent stops for gas. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you should pay close attention to navigation, especially on MO D where the longest uninterrupted stretch occurs. Keep an eye out for signage as you transition between MO D, Avenue of the Saints, and MO TT to ensure you stay on course.

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 18.2 miles from Chesterfield, MO, or about 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.4 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 36 miles or 53m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 18.2 miles or 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 44m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington, MO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Chesterfield, MO.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Chesterfield, MO

This is one driving day of about 36.3 miles and 54m.

At 36.3 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on MO D for about 18.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 18.2 mi from Chesterfield, MO · 26m into the drive

city in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wentzville, MO

18 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

Marthasville, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wentzville, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.2 miles from Chesterfield, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Washington, MO

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Washington, MO if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.68 one way

$11.35 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $6.23 $12.46
premium $4.89 $6.99 $13.97
diesel $5.61 $8.01 $16.03

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.9 0 $3.81 $1.74
Efficient EV 9.1 0 $3.18 $1.45
EV Truck/SUV 14.5 0 $5.08 $2.32

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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

Chesterfield, MO

Afternoon in Chesterfield on Wednesday

Local time

4:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Washington, MO

Afternoon in Washington on Wednesday

Local time

4:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

17 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

54m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Chesterfield, MO to Washington, MO covers 36.3 miles and takes about 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MO D, Avenue of the Saints, MO TT. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.2 miles from Chesterfield, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.68 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 36.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (Boone's Crossing): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Chesterfield, MO to Washington, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Charles along the way.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Washington, MO to Chesterfield, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

36.2 mi 54m

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