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Trip from Saint Charles, MO to Caruthersville, MO

Drive Time

3h 54m

Distance

207.3 mi

334 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Caruthersville, MO, MO

Photo: Renegade Lenz

Trip Overview

Traveling from Saint Charles to Caruthersville covers 207.3 miles through the heart of Missouri. You should budget approximately 3 hours and 54 minutes of driving time, making this a manageable day trip for most travelers. With fuel costs estimated at $31, the journey is relatively affordable for a solo driver or a small group. You will navigate via I-270 and the Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway before concluding on MO-84. While you could technically complete this drive in one go, planning for at least one stop will help you stay fresh behind the wheel. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, you can expect a consistent regional feel as you head south.

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

103.7 miles from Saint Charles, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate haul. Only 13% of your journey consists of highway driving, meaning you will spend most of your time navigating regional roads. You will spend the vast majority of your time—specifically 173.9 miles—traveling along the Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway. Expect the road conditions to shift as you transition from the suburban corridors of Saint Charles onto the more localized stretches required to reach Caruthersville. Staying attentive to the frequent turns is essential, as the route demands more engagement than a standard multi-lane highway trek.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 173.9 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

614 ft 276 ft

Total Climb

565 ft

Total Descent

780 ft

Highest Point

614 ft

~95 mi in

Elevation Range

338 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 0.4 miles in near MO 94 / South Fifth Street.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 207.3 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 0.4 miles (MO 94 / South Fifth Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

6
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | MO 94 / South Fifth Street

Turn left onto MO 94 / South Fifth Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
8
4.3 mi into trip | ~7m 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
7
4.5 mi into trip | ~8m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 270 South: Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 270 South: Memphis
8
24.1 mi into trip | ~32m in

Take the exit toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 1A Toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis...
6
202.1 mi into trip | ~3h 44m in

Take the exit toward MO 84: Hayti, Caruthersville

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

Exit 19 Toward MO 84: Hayti, Caruthersville

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Saint Charles, MO to Caruthersville, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.

Memphis

24.1 mi in | ~32m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway 173.9 mi 3h 6m
I 270 19 mi 23m
MO 84 5.1 mi 9m
I 70 2.7 mi 3m
Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway 1.8 mi 2m
Rosa Parks Highway 1.5 mi 1m
South Fifth Street 1.1 mi 2m
Jefferson Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway — 173.9 mi, about 3h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Charles, MO and Caruthersville, MO.

1

Start on North Second Street

0.2 mi · 38 sec · North Second Street
2

Turn right onto Jefferson Street

0.2 mi · 44 sec · Jefferson Street
3

Turn left onto MO 94

1.1 mi · 2 min · South Fifth Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 14 sec
Toward I 70 East Use the left / straight lanes.
5

Merge onto I 70

2.7 mi · 3 min · I 70
Use the none lane.
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 12 sec
Exit 232 Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis Use the slight right lane.
7

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 270 South: Memphis Use the slight right lane.
8

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 10 sec · this road
Exit 232 Toward I 270 South: Memphis
9

Merge onto I 270

19 mi · 23 min · I 270
Use the none lane.
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 27 sec
Exit 1A Toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Toward I 55 South: Memphis
12

Merge onto I 55

1.5 mi · 1 min · Rosa Parks Highway
Use the none lane.
13

Continue on I 55

1.8 mi · 2 min · Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
14

Continue on I 55

174 mi · 3 hr 6 min · Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 19 Toward MO 84: Hayti, Caruthersville
16

Turn left onto MO 84

5.1 mi · 9 min · MO 84
17

Turn right

45 ft · 3 sec
18

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 3 hour and 54 minute trip, try to depart early in the morning to beat local traffic congestion. Since the route requires one planned stop, use that time to stretch your legs and refuel, as the $31 fuel estimate assumes a steady pace. Keep a close eye on your navigation during the non-highway portions of the drive, given the high volume of turns involved. Because the route is quite flexible, you have the freedom to adjust your pace based on how you feel throughout the day. Prioritize checking your tire pressure before leaving, as the length of the longest stretch on the Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway makes consistent vehicle performance a priority.

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 103.7 miles from Saint Charles, MO, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 173.9 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 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 103.7 miles or 1h 58m 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 9m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Saint Charles, 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 Saint Charles, MO

This is one driving day of about 207.3 miles and 3h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Saint Charles, 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 Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway for about 173.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 103.7 mi from Saint Charles, MO · 1h 58m into the drive

Downtown Cahokia, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cahokia, IL

104 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.

Campton, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 103.7 miles from Saint Charles, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 173.9 miles.

Arriving in Caruthersville, MO

The final approach into Caruthersville, 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 Caruthersville, 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

$31.49 one way

$62.97 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 73 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $34.71 $69.42
premium $4.80 $39.13 $78.27
diesel $5.64 $46.05 $92.11

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: 72.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 62.2 0 $21.77 $9.95
Efficient EV 51.8 0 $18.14 $8.29
EV Truck/SUV 82.9 1 $29.02 $13.27

Gas CO2

73 kg

EV CO2

24 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 23 hours ago

Origin

Saint Charles, MO

Afternoon in Saint Charles on Sunday

Local time

1:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

SE 8 mph 23% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Destination

Caruthersville, MO

Afternoon in Caruthersville on Sunday

Local time

1:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°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

5 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

3h 54m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Saint Charles, MO to Caruthersville, MO covers 207.3 miles and takes about 3h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, I 270, MO 84. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 103.7 miles from Saint Charles, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.49 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 demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 207.3 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 0.4 miles (MO 94 / South Fifth Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Saint Charles, MO to Caruthersville, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 276 ft to 614 ft elevation with about 565 ft of total climbing.

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