The drive from Columbia, MO to Sainte Genevieve, MO covers 173.6 miles and takes about 3h 29m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 81 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.14 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
86.8 miles from Columbia, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 29m. Total distance: 173.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 29m drive with frequent turns across 173.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 81 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 84.7 miles in near US 40.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 173.6 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 84.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 210A
Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Ches...
5
85 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
110.1 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
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 25
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
7
110.4 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 270 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 270 South: Memphis
8
122.2 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Columbia, MO and Sainte Genevieve, MO, road signs point toward Memphis and Mo O.
Memphis
110.1 mi in|~2h 12m
Mo O
164.4 mi in|~3h 14m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
81 mi
1h 35m
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
38.1 mi
40m
Avenue of the Saints
25.1 mi
30m
I 270
11.5 mi
14m
US 61
7.3 mi
10m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Rosa Parks Highway
1.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 81 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MO and Sainte Genevieve, MO.
1
Start on MO 163
1.2 mi·2 min·North Providence Road
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
3
Merge onto I 70; US 40
0.5 mi·35 sec·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
4
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
5
Continue on I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6
Take the exit onto US 40
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 40
Exit 210AToward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
7
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
25 mi·30 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 25Toward I 270: Chicago, MemphisUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward I 270 South: MemphisUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 270
11 mi·14 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 1AToward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward I 55 South: Memphis
13
Merge onto I 55
1.5 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
14
Continue on I 55
1.8 mi·2 min·Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
15
Continue on I 55
38 mi·40 min·Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 154Toward MO O
17
Turn left onto MO O
0.3 mi·38 sec·MO O
18
Turn right onto US 61
7.3 mi·10 min·US 61
19
Turn left onto Market Street
1.2 mi·2 min·Market Street
20
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·South Main Street
21
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
435 ft·19 sec·Jefferson Street
22
Arrive at destination
Jefferson Street
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 86.8 miles from Columbia, MO, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81 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 38 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.8 miles or 1h 44m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sainte Genevieve, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Columbia, 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 Columbia, MO
This is one driving day of about 173.6 miles and 3h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Columbia, 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 81 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.8 mi from Columbia, MO
· 1h 44m into the drive
The midpoint is around 86.8 miles from Columbia, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81 miles.
Arriving in Sainte Genevieve, MO
The final approach into Sainte Genevieve, 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 Sainte Genevieve, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$19
near mile 119.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.14 one way
$54.28 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.80
$59.60
premium
$4.89
$33.41
$66.82
diesel
$5.61
$38.33
$76.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
30 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Supercharger
Lake St Louis, Missouri
Tesla
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
O'Fallon, Missouri
Blink
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Columbia, Missouri
Blink
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Kingdom City, Missouri
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Columbia, Missouri
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Rivian Adventure Network
Columbia, Missouri
Rivian
1 DCFC
Flying J EV Charging Station
Warrenton, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Columbia, Missouri
Tesla
1 DCFC
Other: 7
ChargePoint: 7
Blink: 5
Tesla: 4
Tesla Destination: 3
EV Connect: 2
Rivian: 1
EVgo: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.1
0
$18.23
$8.33
Efficient EV
43.4
0
$15.19
$6.94
EV Truck/SUV
69.4
0
$24.30
$11.11
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Columbia, MO
Late night
in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
4:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sainte Genevieve, MO
Late night
in Sainte Genevieve on Saturday
Local time
4:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Chesterfield, MO
87 mi in
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
3h 29m 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 Columbia, MO to Sainte Genevieve, MO covers 173.6 miles and takes about 3h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, Avenue of the Saints. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.8 miles from Columbia, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.14 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 173.6 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 84.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Columbia, MO and Sainte Genevieve, MO, road signs point toward Memphis and Mo O.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
