Trip from Kirkwood, MO to St. Louis, MO

Drive Time

21m

Distance

13.9 mi

22 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good 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 20m ★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m

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

Downtown Kirkwood, MO, MO

Kirkwood, MO

Valeria Boltneva

Trip Overview

Traveling from Kirkwood to St. Louis is a quick, 13.9-mile journey that typically takes about 21 minutes under normal traffic conditions. Because this is a short trip within the Midwest, you can easily complete it in a single day, making it an ideal choice for a casual local excursion. Budgeting about $2 for fuel is more than sufficient for this commute. Since the route involves no scheduled stops, you have the freedom to manage your own timeline. It serves as a straightforward connection between these two Missouri locations, perfect for those who prefer a brief, efficient drive.

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

7 miles from Kirkwood, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than a monotonous interstate haul. With zero percent of the route consisting of major highway miles, you will navigate through local roads that shift frequently. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is just 3.5 miles along the Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway. You will also spend time navigating the Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway and the Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway. This path offers a localized experience that demands your attention at intersections and turns.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 3.5 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

659 ft 453 ft

Total Climb

91 ft

Total Descent

286 ft

Highest Point

659 ft

Elevation Range

207 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near North Berry Road.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 21m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (North Berry Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 44 / Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

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

5
1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in | North Berry Road

At end of road, turn right onto North Berry Road

Navigation decision point

3
2.1 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward I 44 East: Saint Louis

Navigation decision point

Toward I 44 East: Saint Louis
3
2.3 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 44 / Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway

Merge onto I 44 / Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining

7
11.5 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the exit toward Jefferson Avenue

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 289 Toward Jefferson Avenue
3
12.9 mi into trip | ~20m in | Market Street

Turn right onto Market Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway 3.5 mi 4m
Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway 2.7 mi 3m
Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway 2.3 mi 3m
South Jefferson Avenue 1.3 mi 2m
Market Street 1 mi 1m
West Adams Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
West Lockwood Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway 0.7 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway — 3.5 mi, about 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kirkwood, MO and St. Louis, MO.

1

Start on West Adams Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Adams Avenue
2

Continue on West Lockwood Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Lockwood Avenue
3

At end of road, turn right onto North Berry Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Berry Road
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 13 sec
Toward I 44 East: Saint Louis
5

Merge onto I 44

0.7 mi · 52 sec · Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway
6

Continue on I 44

2.7 mi · 3 min · Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
7

Continue on I 44

3.5 mi · 4 min · Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway
8

Continue on I 44

2.3 mi · 3 min · Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 289 Toward Jefferson Avenue Use the slight right lane.
10

Turn left onto South Jefferson Avenue

1.3 mi · 2 min · South Jefferson Avenue
11

Turn right onto Market Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · Market Street
12

Arrive at destination

Market Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a short, 21-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won’t need to worry about long-distance pacing or planning extensive rest breaks, as the entire drive is quite manageable. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of these local roads means you should stay alert for navigation changes throughout the 13.9-mile distance. Because the fuel cost is a negligible $2, you don't need to stress about gas station logistics before you head out. Focus on planning your arrival time in St. Louis rather than worrying about the logistics of the drive itself.

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 7 miles from Kirkwood, MO, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 3.5 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 13.9 miles or 21m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 7 miles or 11m 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 St. Louis, MO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Kirkwood, 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 Kirkwood, MO

This is one driving day of about 13.9 miles and 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kirkwood, 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 Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway for about 3.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 7 mi from Kirkwood, MO · 11m into the drive

Downtown East Saint Louis, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

East Saint Louis, IL

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.

Pacing Suggestions

East Saint Louis, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

East Saint Louis, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 7 miles from Kirkwood, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in St. Louis, MO

The final approach into St. Louis, 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 St. Louis, 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

$2.11 one way

$4.22 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 5 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $2.33 $4.65
premium $4.80 $2.62 $5.25
diesel $5.64 $3.09 $6.18

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: 4.9 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 4.2 0 $1.46 $0.67
Efficient EV 3.5 0 $1.22 $0.56
EV Truck/SUV 5.6 0 $1.95 $0.89

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Kirkwood, MO

Evening in Kirkwood on Sunday

Local time

5:19 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

St. Louis, MO

Evening in St. Louis on Sunday

Local time

5:19 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°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

4 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

21m 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 Kirkwood, MO to St. Louis, MO covers 13.9 miles and takes about 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway, Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway, Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7 miles from Kirkwood, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.11 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 21m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (North Berry Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 44 / Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from Kirkwood, MO to St. Louis, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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