Origin
Lake Saint Louis, MO
Morning in Lake Saint Louis on Friday
Local time
11:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Saint Louis, MO to Saint Charles, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
27m
Distance
18.4 mi
30 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Saint Louis, MO
Amicia Short
Saint Charles, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short, 18.4-mile drive from Lake Saint Louis to Saint Charles, Missouri, is easily manageable in about 27 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route is predominantly highway, with 87% of the journey on interstates and parkways. Your fuel cost is estimated at a low $3, reflecting the minimal distance. Given its brevity and focus on major roads, this trip is best suited for a single, straightforward drive rather than an overnight split. You'll spend most of your time on I-70, a familiar Midwest corridor, so expect a practical and efficient transit.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 27m. Total distance: 18.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this short hop. With 87% of the route on major roads like I-70 and Veterans Memorial Parkway, the pace is generally brisk. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 13.9 miles on I-70, offering a consistent driving experience. While the profile is highway-centric, the transition to First Capitol Drive as you near Saint Charles will introduce you to a more local road feel. Overall, this is a quick and efficient transit between two points in the Midwest.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 13.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Veterans Memorial Parkway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Veterans Memorial Parkway.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.4 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Veterans Memorial Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.1 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Veterans Memorial Parkway
At end of road, turn right onto Veterans Memorial Parkway
Navigation decision point
6
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Enter roundabout toward I 70 East
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward I 70 East
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
16.1 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward I 70 Business, MO 94: First Capitol Drive, Lewis and Clark Trail
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 228
Toward I 70 Business, MO 94: First Capitol Driv...
9
16.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 Business, MO 94 East: First Capitol Drive, Lindenwood University, SSM Health Saint Joseph Hospital
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70 Business, MO 94 East: First Capitol...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lake Saint Louis, MO and Saint Charles, MO, road signs point toward Lindenwood University and Ssm Health Saint Joseph Hospital.
Lindenwood University
16.2 mi in
|
~22m
Ssm Health Saint Joseph Hospital
16.2 mi in
|
~22m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 13.9 mi | 17m |
| Veterans Memorial Parkway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| First Capitol Drive | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| I 70 Business | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Savoy Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South Second Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| De Loire Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Second Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 13.9 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Saint Louis, MO and Saint Charles, MO.
1
Start on Savoy Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Savoy Drive
2
Turn right onto De Loire Drive
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
De Loire Drive
3
At end of road, turn right onto Veterans Memorial Parkway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Veterans Memorial Parkway
4
Enter roundabout
265 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 70 East
5
Continue
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
Toward I 70 East
6
Merge onto I 70
14 mi
·
17 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 228
Toward I 70 Business, MO 94: First Capitol Drive, Lewis and Clark Trail
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 70 Business, MO 94 East: First Capitol Drive, Lindenwood University, SSM Health Saint Joseph Hospital
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto I 70 Business; MO 94
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
First Capitol Drive
10
Turn slight right onto I 70 Business; MO 94
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 70 Business; MO 94
Toward MO 94
11
Turn left onto South Second Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
South Second Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Second Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.88 one way
$5.75 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.16 | $6.32 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.54 | $7.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.06 | $8.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.93 | $0.88 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.58 | $1.18 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
Saint Charles, MO
Morning in Saint Charles on Friday
Local time
11:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
27m 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 Lake Saint Louis, MO to Saint Charles, MO covers 18.4 miles and takes about 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, Veterans Memorial Parkway, First Capitol Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.2 miles from Lake Saint Louis, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.88 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.4 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Veterans Memorial Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.1 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Lake Saint Louis, MO and Saint Charles, MO, road signs point toward Lindenwood University and Ssm Health Saint Joseph Hospital.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Gateway Arch National Park.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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