Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
2h 5m
Distance
84.6 mi
136 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Charles, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Washington County, MO
Townsend Walton
The drive from Saint Charles, MO to Washington County, MO covers 84.6 miles and takes about 2h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MO 21, Veterans Memorial Highway, I 270 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.7 miles on MO 21. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.23 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.
Midpoint
42.3 miles from Saint Charles, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 84.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 2h 5m highway drive covering 84.6 miles, with most of the trip on MO 21 and Veterans Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 29.7 miles on MO 21.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 21 and Veterans Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.3 miles in.
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 18 significant decision points across 84.6 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 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; at 20.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
Keep slight right at fork toward I 270 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MO 30: Gravois Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 30 West: Fenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MO 141: Fenton, Valley Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Charles, MO and Washington County, MO, road signs point toward Memphis and Valley Park.
Memphis
Valley Park
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MO 21 | 29.7 mi | 47m |
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 19.8 mi | 23m |
| I 270 | 15.6 mi | 19m |
| MO 141 | 4 mi | 5m |
| MO AA | 3.8 mi | 9m |
| I 70 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| MO 30 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| East High Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Charles, MO and Washington County, MO.
Start on North Second Street
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
Turn left onto MO 94
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 70
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 270
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto MO 30
Take the exit
Turn left onto MO 141
Take the exit
Merge onto MO 21
At end of road, turn left onto MO 21; MO B
Continue on MO 21
Turn right onto MO 8
Turn straight onto MO 185
Turn left onto MO AA
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.3 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington County, MO than in the middle of the route.
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 84.6 miles and 2h 5m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.3 mi from Saint Charles, MO · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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.
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42.3 miles from Saint Charles, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Washington County, 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 Washington County, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$13.23 one way
$26.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.52 | $29.04 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.28 | $32.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.68 | $37.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.88 | $4.06 |
| Efficient EV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.40 | $3.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.8 | 0 | $11.84 | $5.41 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Saint Charles on Friday
Local time
12:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Washington County on Friday
Local time
12:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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