Trip from Florissant, MO to Clayton, MO

Drive Time

20m

Distance

12.8 mi

21 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min
4 AM
0h 19m ★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 24m
8 PM
0h 20m

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

Downtown Florissant, MO, MO

Florissant, MO

Yaroslav Shuraev

Downtown Clayton, MO, MO

Clayton, MO

cottonbro studio

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Florissant to Clayton, Missouri, you are looking at a quick 12.8-mile transit through the Midwest. Expect a brief 20-minute drive that serves perfectly as a simple day trip, requiring no overnight stays. With a fuel cost estimated at just $2, this is an incredibly economical route to navigate. The path keeps you entirely within the state of Missouri, moving between these two suburban hubs with minimal fuss. Because the entire journey is so short, you have total flexibility in your schedule, making it an easy commute or errand run. Whether you are traveling for business or local exploration, this straightforward connection is designed for efficiency rather than a long-haul experience.

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

6.4 miles from Florissant, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience that transitions between local thoroughfares and faster transit options. You will spend about 37% of your travel time on highways, primarily utilizing the Inner Belt Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 4.7-mile segment on the Inner Belt, providing a brief period of steady cruising. Outside of that expressway portion, the remainder of the route relies on North Hanley Road and North New Florissant Road to bridge the gap. You will find that the personality of the drive shifts from typical suburban surface streets to a more direct, high-speed highway flow before settling back into local traffic as you reach your destination.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Inner Belt Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 4.7 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

646 ft 524 ft

Total Climb

349 ft

Total Descent

364 ft

Highest Point

646 ft

~8 mi in

Elevation Range

122 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 2.1 miles in.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 12.8 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 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

7
2.1 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the exit toward I 170 South: Clayton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 26A Toward I 170 South: Clayton
7
7.3 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 5 Toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road
8
7.5 mi into trip | ~10m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road
6
8.3 mi into trip | ~12m in | North Hanley Road

Turn right onto North Hanley Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
12.2 mi into trip | ~19m in | Wydown Boulevard

Turn left onto Wydown Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Inner Belt Expressway 4.7 mi 5m
North Hanley Road 3.9 mi 6m
North New Florissant Road 1.2 mi 2m
Saint Charles Rock Road 0.7 mi 1m
Wydown Boulevard 0.6 mi 1m
Rosemary Straub Davison Highway 0.5 mi <1m
Dunn Road 0.2 mi <1m
Hillvale Drive <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Inner Belt Expressway — 4.7 mi, about 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Florissant, MO and Clayton, MO.

1

Start on North New Florissant Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · North New Florissant Road
Use the none lane.
2

Turn right onto Dunn Road

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Dunn Road
Use the right lane.
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 270 West
4

Merge onto I 270

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
5

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 46 sec
Exit 26A Toward I 170 South: Clayton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on I 170

4.7 mi · 5 min · Inner Belt Expressway
Use the none lane.
7

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Exit 5 Toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork

426 ft · 11 sec
Toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9

Turn left onto MO 180

0.7 mi · 1 min · Saint Charles Rock Road
Use the none lane.
10

Turn right onto North Hanley Road

3.9 mi · 6 min · North Hanley Road
Use the right lane.
11

Turn left onto Wydown Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · Wydown Boulevard
Use the left lane.
12

Turn right onto Hillvale Drive

178 ft · 7 sec · Hillvale Drive
13

Arrive at destination

Hillvale Drive

Trip Plan

Since this is a short 12.8-mile trip with zero mandatory stops, you have the advantage of total departure flexibility. You won't need to worry about complex refueling strategies or rest breaks given the low $2 fuel cost and the brief 20-minute duration. To ensure the smoothest travel, keep an eye on traffic patterns along the Inner Belt Expressway, as that 4.7-mile stretch is your primary opportunity to make up time. Because there are no scheduled stops required for a trip of this length, feel free to head out whenever it best fits your agenda. Planning your departure to avoid peak transit hours on the expressway will help you maintain that estimated 20-minute arrival time consistently.

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 6.4 miles from Florissant, MO, or about 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.7 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 12.8 miles or 20m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 6.4 miles or 9m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 17m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Florissant, 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 Florissant, MO

This is one driving day of about 12.8 miles and 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Florissant, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Inner Belt Expressway for about 4.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 6.4 mi from Florissant, MO · 9m into the drive

Downtown East Saint Louis, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

East Saint Louis, IL

6 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

East Saint Louis, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

East Saint Louis, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 6.4 miles from Florissant, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Clayton, MO

The final approach into Clayton, 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 Clayton, MO.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.94 one way

$3.89 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 5 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $2.14 $4.29
premium $4.80 $2.42 $4.83
diesel $5.64 $2.84 $5.69

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: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.8 0 $1.34 $0.61
Efficient EV 3.2 0 $1.12 $0.51
EV Truck/SUV 5.1 0 $1.79 $0.82

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 data refreshed 6 hours ago

Origin

Florissant, MO

Afternoon in Florissant on Sunday

Local time

3:53 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clayton, MO

Afternoon in Clayton on Sunday

Local time

3:53 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°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

35 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

20m 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 Florissant, MO to Clayton, MO covers 12.8 miles and takes about 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Inner Belt Expressway, North Hanley Road, North New Florissant Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.4 miles from Florissant, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.94 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 demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 12.8 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 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Florissant, MO to Clayton, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 524 ft to 646 ft elevation with about 349 ft of total climbing.

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Return Trip

Clayton, MO to Florissant, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

13.2 mi 20m

Explore more options from Florissant, MO or browse trips ending in Clayton, MO.

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