The drive from Platte City, MO to Florissant, MO covers 266.5 miles and takes about 5h 6m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, I 435 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 157.4 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.66 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
133.3 miles from Platte City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 6m. Total distance: 266.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 6m drive with frequent turns across 266.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 157.4 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
972 ft446 ft
Total Climb
628 ft
Total Descent
869 ft
Highest Point
972 ft
~38.1 mi in
Elevation Range
527 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in near I 435.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 266.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (I 435): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.3 miles (US 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
5.3 mi into trip|~7m in|I 435
Keep slight right at fork onto I 435 toward I 435 East: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 14
Toward I 435 East: Saint Louis
7
33.3 mi into trip|~37m in|US 24
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24 toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 63
Toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Ka...
7
33.6 mi into trip|~38m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
8
258.1 mi into trip|~4h 53m in
Take the exit toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
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 232
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
8
259 mi into trip|~4h 54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 270 North: Chicago
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Platte City, MO and Florissant, MO, road signs point toward Kansas City and Sports Complex.
Kansas City
33.3 mi in|~37m|via US 24
Sports Complex
33.3 mi in|~37m|via US 24
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
157.4 mi
3h 1m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
I 435
28 mi
30m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
I 29
4.4 mi
4m
I 270
4.2 mi
5m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 157.4 mi, about 3h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Platte City, MO and Florissant, MO.
1
Start on Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
2
Turn right onto North Prairie View Road
373 ft·10 sec·North Prairie View Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
4
Merge onto I 29; US 71
2.2 mi·2 min·I 29; US 71
5
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
2.2 mi·2 min·I 29; I 435; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 435
28 mi·30 min·I 435
Exit 14Toward I 435 East: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24
0.3 mi·23 sec·US 24
Exit 63Toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·1 min
Toward I 70 East: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
469 ft·11 sec
Toward I 70 East: Saint LouisUse the slight left / straight lanes.
The midpoint is around 133.3 miles from Platte City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 157.4 miles.
Arriving in Florissant, MO
The final approach into Florissant, 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 Florissant, 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
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$19
near mile 266.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.66 one way
$83.33 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$45.75
$91.49
premium
$4.89
$51.29
$102.57
diesel
$5.61
$58.84
$117.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80
0
$27.98
$12.79
Efficient EV
66.6
0
$23.32
$10.66
EV Truck/SUV
106.6
1
$37.31
$17.06
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Platte City, MO
Late night
in Platte City on Saturday
Local time
1:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Florissant, MO
Late night
in Florissant on Saturday
Local time
1:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Columbia, MO
133 mi in
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
28 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
5h 6m 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 Platte City, MO to Florissant, MO covers 266.5 miles and takes about 5h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, I 435. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 133.3 miles from Platte City, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.66 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 is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 266.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (I 435): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.3 miles (US 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Platte City, MO and Florissant, MO, road signs point toward Kansas City and Sports Complex.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 446 ft to 972 ft elevation with about 628 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Gateway Arch National Park.
