Trip from Saint Charles, MO to Lake Saint Louis, MO

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are I 70, First Capitol Drive, Veterans Memorial Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 9.2 miles from Saint Charles, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.89 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Q: What towns show up on signs driving from Saint Charles, MO to Lake Saint Louis, MO?

The route from Saint Charles, MO to Lake Saint Louis, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Q: Are there national parks near the route from Saint Charles, MO to Lake Saint Louis, MO?

Yes. Nearby national parks include Gateway Arch National Park.

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

28m

Distance

18.5 mi

30 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min

4 AM

0h 26m ★

6 AM

0h 28m

8 AM

0h 33m

10 AM

0h 30m

12 PM

0h 29m

3 PM

0h 30m

5 PM

0h 33m

8 PM

0h 27m

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

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Charles, MO to Lake Saint Louis, MO covers 18.5 miles and takes about 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 70, First Capitol Drive, Veterans Memorial Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.89 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 18.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

28m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 28m highway drive covering 18.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and First Capitol Drive. The longest continuous stretch is about 14 miles on I 70.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 14 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and First Capitol Drive. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near I 70.

Driving Effort 5/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.5 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 2.3 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles (Lake Saint Louis Boulevard): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

5

2.3 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 70

Merge onto I 70

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

7

16.3 mi into trip | ~23m in

Take the exit toward Lake Saint Louis Boulevard

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 214 Toward Lake Saint Louis Boulevard

5

16.4 mi into trip | ~23m in | Lake Saint Louis Boulevard

Turn left onto Lake Saint Louis Boulevard

Navigation decision point

5

16.5 mi into trip | ~23m in | Veterans Memorial Parkway

Enter roundabout onto Veterans Memorial Parkway

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

4

18 mi into trip | ~26m in | Savoy Drive

At end of road, turn left onto Savoy Drive

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 70	14 mi	17m
First Capitol Drive	1.8 mi	4m
Veterans Memorial Parkway	1.2 mi	2m
Savoy Drive	0.4 mi	1m
North Second Street	0.3 mi	1m
De Loire Drive	0.3 mi	1m
Lake Saint Louis Boulevard	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 70 — 14 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Second Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · North Second Street

2

Turn right onto First Capitol Drive

0.9 mi · 2 min · First Capitol Drive

3

Turn left onto I 70 Business; MO 94

0.9 mi · 2 min · First Capitol Drive

4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 14 sec

Toward I 70 West

5

Merge onto I 70

14 mi · 17 min · I 70

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Exit 214 Toward Lake Saint Louis Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.

7

Turn left onto Lake Saint Louis Boulevard

434 ft · 11 sec · Lake Saint Louis Boulevard

8

Enter roundabout onto Veterans Memorial Parkway

85 ft · 1 sec · Veterans Memorial Parkway

9

Continue on Veterans Memorial Parkway

1.2 mi · 2 min · Veterans Memorial Parkway

Use the left lane.

10

Turn left onto De Loire Drive

0.3 mi · 1 min · De Loire Drive

11

At end of road, turn left onto Savoy Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · Savoy Drive

12

Arrive at destination

Savoy Drive

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.89 one way

$5.78 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$3.18	$6.35
premium	$4.89	$3.56	$7.12
diesel	$5.61	$4.08	$8.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	5.6	$1.94	$0.89
Efficient EV	4.6	$1.62	$0.74
EV Truck/SUV	7.4	$2.59	$1.18

Gas CO2

6 kg

EV CO2

2 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Saint Charles, MO

Late night in Saint Charles on Friday

Local time

12:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lake Saint Louis, MO

Late night in Lake Saint Louis on Friday

Local time

12:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

28m 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 Saint Charles, MO to Lake Saint Louis, MO covers 18.5 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 70, First Capitol Drive, Veterans Memorial Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 9.2 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 $2.89 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.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.5 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 2.3 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles (Lake Saint Louis Boulevard): Navigation decision point.

The route from Saint Charles, MO to Lake Saint Louis, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Gateway Arch National Park.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500