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Trip from Oakville, MO to Polk, MO

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

4h 2m

Distance

200.1 mi

322 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 49m ★
6 AM
4h 2m
8 AM
4h 28m
10 AM
4h 11m
12 PM
4h 9m
3 PM
4h 13m
5 PM
4h 27m
8 PM
3h 54m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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census-designated place in St. Louis County, Missouri

Oakville, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Polk, MO, MO

Polk, MO

Valeria Boltneva

Trip Overview

The drive from Oakville, MO to Polk, MO covers 200.1 miles and takes about 4h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, North Jefferson Street, I 270 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 146.1 miles on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.28 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

100 miles from Oakville, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 2m drive with frequent turns across 200.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor is the longest continuous segment at about 146.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Cliff Cave Road.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 200.1 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (Cliff Cave Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 255; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Cliff Cave Road

Turn left onto Cliff Cave Road

Navigation decision point

5
2.1 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 255; US 50

Merge onto I 255; US 50

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
10.1 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the exit toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Tulsa

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Exit 5B Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Tulsa
7
11.3 mi into trip | ~17m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 44 West: Tulsa

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 5B Toward I 44 West: Tulsa
6
157.6 mi into trip | ~2h 57m in

Take the exit toward MO 32, MO 5, MO 64: Hartville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 129 Toward MO 32, MO 5, MO 64: Hartville

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor 146.1 mi 2h 39m
North Jefferson Street 38 mi 55m
I 270 5.9 mi 7m
South Jefferson Avenue 2.2 mi 3m
I 255 2.2 mi 2m
MO D 2.1 mi 5m
Telegraph Road 1.7 mi 3m
Cliff Cave Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor — 146.1 mi, about 2h 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oakville, MO and Polk, MO.

1

Start on this road

120 ft · 13 sec · this road
2

Turn left

130 ft · 15 sec
3

Turn left onto Cliff Cave Road

171 ft · 7 sec · Cliff Cave Road
4

Turn slight right

160 ft · 3 sec
Toward MO 231
5

Turn slight right onto MO 231

1.7 mi · 3 min · Telegraph Road
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 55 sec
Toward I 255 West, US 50 West: Memphis
7

Merge onto I 255; US 50

2.2 mi · 2 min · I 255; US 50
Use the straight lane.
8

Continue on I 270

5.9 mi · 7 min · I 270
Use the straight lane.
9

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 2 min
Exit 5B Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Tulsa Use the right lane.
10

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 22 sec · this road
Exit 275 Toward Soccer Park Road, North Highway Drive
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 9 sec
Exit 5B Toward I 44 West: Tulsa
12

Merge onto I 44; US 50

146 mi · 2 hr 39 min · Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 129 Toward MO 32, MO 5, MO 64: Hartville
14

Turn right onto MO 5; MO 32; MO 64

2.2 mi · 3 min · South Jefferson Avenue
Use the straight lane.
15

Continue on MO 64

38 mi · 55 min · North Jefferson Street
16

Turn left onto MO D

2.1 mi · 5 min · MO D
17

Arrive at destination

MO D

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 100 miles from Oakville, MO, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 146.1 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 100 miles or 1h 54m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 7m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Oakville, 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 Oakville, MO

This is one driving day of about 200.1 miles and 4h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Oakville, 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 Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor for about 146.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 100 mi from Oakville, MO · 1h 54m into the drive

archaeological site near East St. Louis, Illinois, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cahokia, IL

100 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

Cahokia, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cahokia, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 100 miles from Oakville, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 146.1 miles.

Arriving in Polk, MO

The final approach into Polk, 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 Polk, MO.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Gateway Arch National Park

Gateway Arch National Park

National Park

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...

12 mi from route ~31 min detour $19
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.28 one way

$62.57 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 70 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $34.35 $68.70
premium $4.89 $38.51 $77.01
diesel $5.61 $44.18 $88.36

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 70 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 60 0 $21.01 $9.60
Efficient EV 50 0 $17.51 $8.00
EV Truck/SUV 80 1 $28.01 $12.81

Gas CO2

70 kg

EV CO2

23 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Oakville, MO

Evening in Oakville on Tuesday

Local time

6:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Polk, MO

Evening in Polk on Tuesday

Local time

6:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

79°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

34 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

4h 2m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Oakville, MO to Polk, MO covers 200.1 miles and takes about 4h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, North Jefferson Street, I 270. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 100 miles from Oakville, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.28 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 200.1 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (Cliff Cave Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 255; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Oakville, MO to Polk, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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