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Trip from Saint Charles, MO to Anderson, MO

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

5h 47m

Distance

310.7 mi

500 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 34m ★
6 AM
5h 47m
8 AM
6h 14m
10 AM
5h 57m
12 PM
5h 54m
3 PM
5h 58m
5 PM
6h 12m
8 PM
5h 40m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in and county seat of St. Charles County, Missouri, United States

Saint Charles, MO

Wikimedia Commons

city in McDonald County, Missouri, United States

Anderson, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Charles, MO to Anderson, MO covers 310.7 miles and takes about 5h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, I 49, I 270 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 260 miles on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.57 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

155.3 miles from Saint Charles, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 57m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 5h 47m drive with frequent turns across 310.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor is the longest continuous segment at about 260 miles.

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 18 significant decision points across 310.7 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 18 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
7
16 mi into trip | ~22m in

Take the exit toward Dougherty Ferry Road

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 8 Toward Dougherty Ferry Road
6
280.8 mi into trip | ~5h 13m in | I 49; US 71

Take the exit onto I 49; US 71 toward I 49 South, US 71 South, MO 249 North: Neosho, Fort Smith

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

Exit 11 Toward I 49 South, US 71 South, MO 249 North: N...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Saint Charles, MO to Anderson, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.

Fort Smith

280.8 mi in | ~5h 13m | via I 49; US 71

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor 260 mi 4h 41m
I 49 24.3 mi 26m
I 270 10.9 mi 13m
US 71 Business 4.9 mi 6m
I 70 2.7 mi 3m
Dougherty Ferry Road 2.5 mi 4m
South Fifth Street 1.1 mi 2m
Forest Avenue 1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor — 260 mi, about 4h 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

11 mi · 13 min · I 270
Use the straight lane.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 28 sec
Exit 8 Toward Dougherty Ferry Road Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn right onto Dougherty Ferry Road

2.5 mi · 4 min · Dougherty Ferry Road
Use the straight lane.
12

Continue on Forest Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · Forest Avenue
13

Turn left onto MO 141

0.7 mi · 1 min · MO 141
14

Take the exit

105 ft · 3 sec
15

Turn right onto North Highway Drive

0.1 mi · 14 sec · North Highway Drive
16

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 13 sec
Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Rolla
17

Merge onto I 44; US 50

260 mi · 4 hr 41 min · Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Use the straight lane.
18

Take the exit onto I 49; US 71

0.3 mi · 24 sec · I 49; US 71
Exit 11 Toward I 49 South, US 71 South, MO 249 North: Neosho, Fort Smith
19

Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 71

24 mi · 26 min · I 49; US 71
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Neosho, Fort Smith
20

Take the exit onto US 71 Business

0.3 mi · 31 sec · US 71 Business
Exit 16 Toward MO 59, US 71 Business: Goodman, Anderson
21

Continue on US 71 Business; MO 59

4.7 mi · 5 min · US 71 Business; MO 59
22

Turn right onto MO 59; MO 76

0.5 mi · 53 sec · North State Highway 59
23

Turn left onto Jefferson Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Jefferson Street
24

Arrive at destination

East Street

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 155.3 miles from Saint Charles, MO, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 260 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 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 155.3 miles or 2h 57m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 45m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anderson, 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 310.7 miles and 5h 47m.

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 Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor for about 260 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 155.3 mi from Saint Charles, MO · 2h 57m into the drive

archaeological site near East St. Louis, Illinois, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cahokia, IL

155 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.

Cahokia, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 155.3 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 Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 260 miles.

Arriving in Anderson, MO

The final approach into Anderson, 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 Anderson, 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

$48.57 one way

$97.15 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 109 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $53.33 $106.67
premium $4.89 $59.79 $119.58
diesel $5.61 $68.60 $137.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$49

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$74–$99

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 108.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 93.2 1 $32.62 $14.91
Efficient EV 77.7 0 $27.19 $12.43
EV Truck/SUV 124.3 1 $43.50 $19.88

Gas CO2

109 kg

EV CO2

36 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 5 days ago

Origin

Saint Charles, MO

Night in Saint Charles on Tuesday

Local time

10:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Anderson, MO

Night in Anderson on Tuesday

Local time

10:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

82°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

27 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

5h 47m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Anderson, MO covers 310.7 miles and takes about 5h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, I 49, I 270. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 155.3 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 $48.57 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 310.7 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 Anderson, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.

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