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Trip from Saint Charles, MO to Potosi, MO

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 50m

Distance

78.4 mi

126 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 43m ★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 57m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 46m

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

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Charles, MO to Potosi, MO covers 78.4 miles and takes about 1h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Jefferson Street, South Fifth Street, I 70 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.26 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.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

39.2 miles from Saint Charles, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 50m drive with frequent turns across 78.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jefferson Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Saint Charles, MO to Potosi, MO is easy. At 1h 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Saint Charles, MO to Potosi, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Jefferson Street
South Fifth Street
I 70 East
I 270
I 270 South
MO 30
MO 30 West
MO 141

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Jefferson Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Second Street

0.2 mi · 38 sec · North Second Street
2

Turn right onto Jefferson Street

0.2 mi · 45 sec · Jefferson Street
3

Turn left onto South Fifth Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · South Fifth Street
4

Take the ramp slight left toward I 70 East

0.2 mi · 14 sec · I 70 East
5

Merge slight left

2.7 mi · 3 min
6

Take the exit slight right toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis

0.2 mi · 12 sec · I 270: Chicago, Memphis
7

Keep slight right to continue on I 270 South: Memphis

0.4 mi · 33 sec · I 270 South: Memphis
8

Continue on I 270 South: Memphis

0.1 mi · 10 sec · I 270 South: Memphis
9

Merge slight left

16 mi · 19 min
10

Take the exit slight right toward MO 30: Gravois Road

0.3 mi · 34 sec · MO 30: Gravois Road
11

Keep slight right to continue on MO 30 West: Fenton

305 ft · 8 sec · MO 30 West: Fenton
12

Merge slight left

2.4 mi · 3 min
13

Take the exit slight right toward MO 141: Fenton, Valley Park

0.2 mi · 27 sec · MO 141: Fenton, Valley Park
14

Turn left

4.0 mi · 5 min
15

Take the exit slight right toward MO 21 South: Hillsboro

0.2 mi · 14 sec · MO 21 South: Hillsboro
16

Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Highway

20 mi · 23 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
17

At the end of the road, turn left

0.5 mi · 49 sec
18

Continue straight

29 mi · 46 min
19

Turn right onto East High Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · East High Street
20

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.2 miles from Saint Charles, MO, or about 55m into the drive.

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 17 miles or 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39.2 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 34m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Potosi, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Saint Charles, MO

This is one driving day of about 78.4 miles and 1h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Saint Charles, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39.2 mi from Saint Charles, MO · 55m into the drive

Downtown Byrnes Mill, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Byrnes Mill, MO

39 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

Kirkwood, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Byrnes Mill, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.2 miles from Saint Charles, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Potosi, MO

The final approach into Potosi, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.26 one way

$24.51 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.46 $26.92
premium $4.89 $15.09 $30.17
diesel $5.61 $17.31 $34.62

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.5 0 $8.23 $3.76
Efficient EV 19.6 0 $6.86 $3.14
EV Truck/SUV 31.4 0 $10.98 $5.02

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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

Evening in Saint Charles on Wednesday

Local time

7:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Potosi, MO

Evening in Potosi on Wednesday

Local time

7:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

56°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

1 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 50m 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 Potosi, MO covers 78.4 miles and takes about 1h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jefferson Street, South Fifth Street, I 70 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.2 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 $12.26 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.
The drive from Saint Charles, MO to Potosi, MO is easy. At 1h 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Saint Charles, MO to Potosi, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Saint Charles, MO to Potosi, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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