Origin
Saint Charles, MO
Night in Saint Charles on Thursday
Local time
10:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Charles, MO to Saint Paul, MO
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
26m
Distance
17.3 mi
28 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Charles, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Paul, MO
RalfGeorg Feltes
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Charles, MO to Saint Paul, MO covers 17.3 miles and takes about 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 70, MO 79, First Capitol Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7.5 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.70 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 17.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 26m highway drive covering 17.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and MO 79. The longest continuous stretch is about 7.5 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 10 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 7.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and MO 79. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near First Capitol Drive.
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 17.3 miles you will encounter 6 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 0.3 miles (First Capitol Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
First Capitol Drive
Turn right onto First Capitol Drive
Navigation decision point
3
2.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West
Navigation decision point
Toward I 70 West
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.
8
9.8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward MO 79: Elsberry, Louisiana
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 220
Toward MO 79: Elsberry, Louisiana
9
9.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 79: Elsberry, Clarksville, Louisiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MO 79: Elsberry, Clarksville, Louisiana
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Charles, MO and Saint Paul, MO, road signs point toward Louisiana and Clarksville.
Louisiana
9.8 mi in
|
~14m
Clarksville
9.9 mi in
|
~15m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 7.5 mi | 9m |
| MO 79 | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| First Capitol Drive | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Hackmann Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| North Second Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 7.5 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Charles, MO and Saint Paul, 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
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 220
Toward MO 79: Elsberry, Louisiana
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
Toward MO 79: Elsberry, Clarksville, Louisiana
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto MO 79
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
MO 79
9
Turn left onto Hackmann Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Hackmann Road
10
Arrive at destination
Hackmann Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.70 one way
$5.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.97 | $5.94 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.33 | $6.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.82 | $7.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.82 | $0.83 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.51 | $0.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.42 | $1.11 |
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.
Destination
Saint Paul, MO
Night in Saint Paul on Thursday
Local time
10:45 PM
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
26m 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 Saint Paul, MO covers 17.3 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, MO 79, First Capitol Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.6 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 $2.70 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 17.3 miles you will encounter 6 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 0.3 miles (First Capitol Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Saint Charles, MO and Saint Paul, MO, road signs point toward Louisiana and Clarksville.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Gateway Arch National Park.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Saint Paul, MO
More trips to Saint Paul, MO
Explore more options from Saint Charles, MO or browse trips ending in Saint Paul, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.