Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Palmyra, MO to St. Louis, MO

Drive Time

2h 36m

Distance

126.6 mi

204 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

20 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 26m ★
6 AM
2h 36m
8 AM
2h 57m
10 AM
2h 43m
12 PM
2h 41m
3 PM
2h 44m
5 PM
2h 56m
8 PM
2h 30m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in and county seat of Marion County, Missouri, United States

Palmyra, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Palmyra, MO to St. Louis, MO covers 126.6 miles and takes about 2h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, Jack Buck Memorial Highway, Daniel Boone Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 108.6 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.23 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

63.3 miles from Palmyra, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 36m drive with frequent turns across 126.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 108.6 miles.

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 7.7 miles in near MO W.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 2h 36m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 7.7 miles (MO W): Navigation decision point; at 12.6 miles (County Road 422): Navigation decision point; at 13.1 miles (US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

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

4
7.7 mi into trip | ~9m in | MO W

Turn right onto MO W

Navigation decision point

4
12.6 mi into trip | ~17m in | County Road 422

At end of road, turn left onto County Road 422

Navigation decision point

5
13.1 mi into trip | ~18m in | US 61 / Avenue of the Saints

Merge onto US 61 / Avenue of the Saints

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

Use the right lane.
7
125.9 mi into trip | ~2h 34m in

Take the exit toward 14th Street

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 39A Toward 14th Street
5
126.1 mi into trip | ~2h 34m in | South 14th Street

Turn left onto South 14th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Avenue of the Saints 108.6 mi 2h 9m
Jack Buck Memorial Highway 5.8 mi 7m
Daniel Boone Expressway 5.7 mi 7m
Veterans Road 3.2 mi 5m
MO W 1.7 mi 2m
Paris Gravel Road 0.5 mi 1m
East Ross Street 0.4 mi 1m
South 14th Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 108.6 mi, about 2h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 61 Business

28 ft · 2 sec · South Main Street
2

Turn right onto East Ross Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Ross Street
3

Merge onto US 24; US 61

3.4 mi · 4 min · Avenue of the Saints
4

Continue on US 61

3.9 mi · 4 min · Avenue of the Saints
Toward US 61 South: Hannibal
5

Turn right onto MO W

1.7 mi · 2 min · MO W
6

Turn right onto Veterans Road

3.2 mi · 5 min · Veterans Road
7

At end of road, turn left onto County Road 422

279 ft · 6 sec · County Road 422
8

Continue on Paris Gravel Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Paris Gravel Road
9

Take the ramp

120 ft · 3 sec
10

Merge onto US 61

101 mi · 2 hr 1 min · Avenue of the Saints
Use the right lane.
11

Continue on I 64; US 40

5.7 mi · 7 min · Daniel Boone Expressway
Use the straight lane.
12

Continue on I 64; US 40

5.8 mi · 7 min · Jack Buck Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec
Exit 39A Toward 14th Street Use the slight right lane.
14

Turn left onto South 14th Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · South 14th Street
Use the left lane.
15

Turn right onto Market Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Market Street
16

Arrive at destination

Market Street

Trip Plan

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.3 miles from Palmyra, MO, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108.6 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 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 63.3 miles or 1h 18m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 7m

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 Palmyra, 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 Palmyra, MO

This is one driving day of about 126.6 miles and 2h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Palmyra, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 108.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 63.3 mi from Palmyra, MO · 1h 18m into the drive

city in Madison County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Alton, IL

63 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

Alton, IL

Fuel and coffee

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

Alton, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 63.3 miles from Palmyra, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 108.6 miles.

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.

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...

0 mi from route ~1 min detour $19 near mile 126.6
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.23 one way

$38.46 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 44 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $21.20 $42.40
premium $4.80 $23.90 $47.80
diesel $5.64 $28.13 $56.25

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 44.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

20 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

The District - Tesla Supercharger

Chesterfield, MO

Tesla

12 DCFC

The Promenade at Brentwood - Tesla Supercharger

Brentwood, MO

Tesla

12 DCFC

Casey's General Store - Tesla Supercharger

Hannibal, MO

Tesla

8 DCFC

Dierbergs Market - Tesla Supercharger

Lake St Louis, MO

Tesla

8 DCFC

Simon St. Louis Premium Outlets (Chesterfield, MO)

Chesterfield, MO

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Lou Fusz Ford - DCFC

Chesterfield, MO

Blink Network

6 DCFC

Huck Finn Shopping Center - Hannibal

Hannibal, MO

FCN

4 DCFC

Olympic Oaks Village

Des Peres, MO

Blink Network

4 DCFC

Tesla: 4 eVgo Network: 4 FCN: 3 Blink Network: 3 EV Connect: 2 NOODOE: 1 Electrify America: 1 ChargePoint Network: 1 SYNERGEV: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38 0 $13.29 $6.08
Efficient EV 31.7 0 $11.08 $5.06
EV Truck/SUV 50.6 0 $17.72 $8.10

Gas CO2

44 kg

EV CO2

15 kg (66% 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 1 day ago

Origin

Palmyra, MO

Evening in Palmyra on Monday

Local time

5:22 PM

CDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

St. Louis, MO

Evening in St. Louis on Monday

Local time

5:22 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

18 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

2h 36m 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 Palmyra, MO to St. Louis, MO covers 126.6 miles and takes about 2h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, Jack Buck Memorial Highway, Daniel Boone Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 63.3 miles from Palmyra, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.23 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 36m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.7 miles (MO W): Navigation decision point; at 12.6 miles (County Road 422): Navigation decision point; at 13.1 miles (US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Palmyra, MO to St. Louis, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

St. Louis, MO to Palmyra, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

126 mi 2h 36m

Continue From St. Louis, MO

Savannah, MO 315.8 mi · 6h 2m Anderson, MO 309.2 mi · 5h 42m Rich Hill, MO 293 mi · 5h 51m Joplin, MO 284.3 mi · 5h 21m

More from Palmyra, MO

Joplin, MO 312.8 mi · 6h 13m Lee's Summit, MO 222.1 mi · 4h 20m Kansas City, MO 208 mi · 4h 1m Blue Springs, MO 206.9 mi · 4h 6m East Independence, MO 206.5 mi · 4h 6m Independence, MO 205.9 mi · 4h 6m

More trips to St. Louis, MO

Stanberry, MO 323.1 mi Noel, MO 318.8 mi Albany, MO 316.4 mi Savannah, MO 316.3 mi Bethany, MO 309.9 mi Anderson, MO 308.8 mi

Explore more options from Palmyra, MO or browse trips ending in St. Louis, MO.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.

Explore maps for Palmyra, MO or St. Louis, MO on MapSof.net.