Origin
Clayton, MO
Afternoon in Clayton on Sunday
Local time
3:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
20m
Distance
13.2 mi
21 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clayton, MO
cottonbro studio
Florissant, MO
Yaroslav Shuraev
If you are looking for a quick connection between Clayton and Florissant, this 13.2-mile trek is a straightforward commute across the Missouri suburbs. You can expect to spend about 20 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of just $2, it is a highly economical route for those traveling within the Midwest region. You will primarily utilize the Inner Belt Expressway, North Hanley Road, and West Saint Anthony Lane to reach your destination. Because the journey is so short, you have complete flexibility to depart whenever your schedule allows without worrying about complex travel logistics.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
6.6 miles from Clayton, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
This 20-minute drive is heavily highway-focused, with 66% of the journey spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest stretch of your trip covers 8.3 miles on the Inner Belt Expressway. The experience transitions from the expressway's fast-paced flow to the more local feel of North Hanley Road and West Saint Anthony Lane as you approach Florissant. While you won't encounter the winding scenery of rural backroads, the route offers a reliable and efficient path for getting across the region. Expect a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and direct navigation over recreational cruising.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
295 ft
Total Descent
280 ft
Highest Point
651 ft
~5.9 mi in
Elevation Range
139 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Inner Belt Expressway and North Hanley Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near Shaw Park Drive.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 13.2 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 0.9 miles (Shaw Park Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (Forest Park Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto Shaw Park Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto Forest Park Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 170 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward North Hanley Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto South New Florissant Road
Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Clayton, MO to Florissant, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Forest Park Parkway West along the way.
Forest Park Parkway West
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Inner Belt Expressway | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| North Hanley Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Saint Anthony Lane | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South New Florissant Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Wydown Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Graham Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Forest Park Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Shaw Park Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Clayton, MO and Florissant, MO.
Start on Hillvale Drive
Turn left onto Wydown Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto South Hanley Road
Turn left onto Shaw Park Drive
Take the ramp
Merge onto Forest Park Parkway
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 170
Take the exit
Turn left onto North Hanley Road
Continue on Graham Road
Turn right onto West Saint Anthony Lane
Turn left onto South New Florissant Road
Arrive at destination
Since this is a short, 13.2-mile trip with no planned stops, you can easily fit this into any part of your day. Keep in mind that the majority of your time will be spent on the Inner Belt Expressway, so check local traffic reports before you leave to ensure your 20-minute estimate holds up. Because the fuel cost is a modest $2, you don’t need to worry about planning for extra gas budget or refueling breaks along the way. Use the simplicity of this route to your advantage by traveling during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the expressway. Your best strategy is to stay focused on the transition from the highway to the local roads once you exit toward Florissant.
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.
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 13.2 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.6 miles or 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florissant, MO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Clayton, 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 Clayton, MO
This is one driving day of about 13.2 miles and 20m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.6 mi from Clayton, MO · 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 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.
A short stop after about 13.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 6.6 miles from Clayton, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Florissant, 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 Florissant, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.00 one way
$4.01 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $2.21 | $4.42 |
| premium | $4.80 | $2.49 | $4.98 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.93 | $5.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4 | 0 | $1.39 | $0.63 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.15 | $0.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.84 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Clayton on Sunday
Local time
3:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Florissant on Sunday
Local time
3:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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