Origin
Imperial, MO
Late night in Imperial on Friday
Local time
1:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Imperial, MO to St. Louis, MO
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
30m
Distance
22.7 mi
37 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Imperial, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick commute or a simple day excursion within Missouri, the 22.8-mile journey from Imperial to St. Louis is an incredibly efficient trip. Expect to spend roughly 26 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day outing that requires no overnight stay. Navigating this route involves a blend of local paths including Old State Road and Imperial Main Street before transitioning onto I-55 North. With a fuel cost estimate of just $3, this is an exceptionally budget-friendly transit through the Midwest. It serves as a straightforward connection between these two points, offering a practical solution for travelers who value speed and simplicity over a lengthy road trip experience.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 22.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition between various road types. You will start by navigating local streets before merging onto I-55 North to cover the majority of the distance. Because the highway share is 0 percent of the total travel time in a technical sense, you should be prepared for frequent adjustments and varying speed limits throughout the transition. The route lacks long, monotonous stretches, instead favoring a more active driving experience that keeps you engaged. As you progress from the local roads of Imperial toward the urban environment of St. Louis, the road character shifts from suburban navigation to a more direct interstate approach.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Rosa Parks Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 12.5 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
552 ft
424 ft
Total Climb
375 ft
Total Descent
351 ft
Highest Point
552 ft
~4.9 mi in
Elevation Range
128 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Old State Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 30m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Old State Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Imperial Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Old State Road
Turn left onto Old State Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Imperial Main Street
Turn right onto Imperial Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 North: Saint Louis
Navigation decision point
Toward I 55 North: Saint Louis
7
20.9 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward MO 30 East: Gravois Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 207A
Toward MO 30 East: Gravois Avenue
4
22.7 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
Market Street
Turn right onto Market Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Rosa Parks Highway | 12.5 mi | 15m |
| I 55 | 8 mi | 9m |
| South Tucker Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Gravois Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| White Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Imperial Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Old State Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Rosa Parks Highway
— 12.5 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Imperial, MO and St. Louis, MO.
1
Start on White Street
415 ft
·
23 sec
·
White Street
2
Turn left onto Old State Road
278 ft
·
14 sec
·
Old State Road
3
Turn right onto Imperial Main Street
373 ft
·
7 sec
·
Imperial Main Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 55 North: Saint Louis
5
Merge onto I 55
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I 55
6
Continue on I 55
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Rosa Parks Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 207A
Toward MO 30 East: Gravois Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn slight right onto Gravois Avenue
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Gravois Avenue
9
Continue on South Tucker Boulevard
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Tucker Boulevard
10
Turn right onto Market Street
86 ft
·
2 sec
·
Market Street
11
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.55 one way
$7.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.90 | $7.79 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.37 | $8.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.01 | $10.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.38 | $1.09 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.45 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Destination
St. Louis, MO
Late night in St. Louis on Friday
Local time
1:15 AM
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
30m 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 Imperial, MO to St. Louis, MO covers 22.7 miles and takes about 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Rosa Parks Highway, I 55, South Tucker Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.3 miles from Imperial, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.55 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 straightforward 30m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Old State Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Imperial Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Imperial, MO to St. Louis, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 424 ft to 552 ft elevation with about 375 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Gateway Arch National Park.
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