Origin
Polk, MO
Evening in Polk on Tuesday
Local time
7:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Polk, MO to Chesterfield, MO
Data updated 3 hours ago
Drive Time
3h 55m
Distance
189.2 mi
304 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 42m
★
6 AM
3h 55m
8 AM
4h 21m
10 AM
4h 4m
12 PM
4h 2m
3 PM
4h 5m
5 PM
4h 20m
8 PM
3h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Polk, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Chesterfield, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Polk, MO to Chesterfield, MO covers 189.2 miles and takes about 3h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 44, MO 64, Manchester Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 123.9 miles on I 44. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.58 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
94.6 miles from Polk, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 55m highway drive covering 189.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 44 and MO 64. The longest continuous stretch is about 123.9 miles on I 44.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 44 is the longest continuous segment at about 123.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and MO 64. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in near MO 64.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 55m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (MO 64): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 166.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
MO 64
Turn right onto MO 64
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
42.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 44 East: Rolla
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 44 East: Rolla
8
166.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 18m in
Take the exit toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray Summit
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 253
Toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray Summit
5
166.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 19m in
|
MO 100 / Manchester Road
Turn left onto MO 100 / Manchester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
183.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 43m in
|
MO 340 / Clarkson Road
Turn left onto MO 340 / Clarkson Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 44 | 123.9 mi | 2h 13m |
| MO 64 | 40.3 mi | 59m |
| Manchester Road | 16.8 mi | 24m |
| Clarkson Road | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| MO D | 2.1 mi | 5m |
| Baxter Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Santa Maria Drive | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Wild Horse Creek Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 123.9 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Polk, MO and Chesterfield, MO.
1
Start on MO D
2.1 mi
·
5 min
·
MO D
2
Turn right onto MO 64
40 mi
·
59 min
·
MO 64
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 44 East: Rolla
4
Merge onto I 44
124 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
·
I 44
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 253
Toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray Summit
Use the slight right lane.
6
Turn left onto MO 100
17 mi
·
24 min
·
Manchester Road
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn left onto MO 340
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Clarkson Road
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto Baxter Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Baxter Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto Wild Horse Creek Road
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Wild Horse Creek Road
10
Turn left onto Santa Maria Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Maria Drive
11
Arrive at destination
Santa Maria Drive
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 94.6 miles from Polk, MO, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.9 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 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.6 miles or 2h 1m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chesterfield, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Polk, 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 Polk, MO
This is one driving day of about 189.2 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Polk, 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 I 44 for about 123.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94.6 mi from Polk, MO · 2h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
95 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 94.6 miles from Polk, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 44 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 123.9 miles.
Arriving in Chesterfield, MO
The final approach into Chesterfield, 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 Chesterfield, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.58 one way
$59.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
66 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.48 | $64.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.41 | $72.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.77 | $83.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.8 | 0 | $19.87 | $9.08 |
| Efficient EV | 47.3 | 0 | $16.56 | $7.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75.7 | 0 | $26.49 | $12.11 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Chesterfield, MO
Evening in Chesterfield on Tuesday
Local time
7:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°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
25 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 55m 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 Polk, MO to Chesterfield, MO covers 189.2 miles and takes about 3h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 44, MO 64, Manchester Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 94.6 miles from Polk, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.58 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 55m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (MO 64): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 166.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Polk, MO to Chesterfield, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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