Origin
Saint Paul, MO
Night in Saint Paul on Thursday
Local time
10:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Paul, MO to Saint Charles, MO
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
26m
Distance
17.7 mi
29 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Paul, MO
RalfGeorg Feltes
Saint Charles, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Paul, MO to Saint Charles, MO covers 17.7 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, Hackmann Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7.7 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 17.7 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 (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 26m highway drive covering 17.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and MO 79. The longest continuous stretch is about 7.7 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 7.7 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 1.5 miles in near MO 79.
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 17.7 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 1.5 miles (MO 79): Navigation decision point; at 7.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 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.
4
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
MO 79
At end of road, turn right onto MO 79
Navigation decision point
5
7.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 70 East
5
7.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
15.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 70 Business, MO 94: First Capitol Drive, Lewis and Clark Trail
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 228
Toward I 70 Business, MO 94: First Capitol Driv...
9
15.5 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 Business, MO 94 East: First Capitol Drive, Lindenwood University, SSM Health Saint Joseph Hospital
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70 Business, MO 94 East: First Capitol...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Paul, MO and Saint Charles, MO, road signs point toward Lindenwood University and Ssm Health Saint Joseph Hospital.
Lindenwood University
15.5 mi in
|
~21m
Ssm Health Saint Joseph Hospital
15.5 mi in
|
~21m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| MO 79 | 5.9 mi | 7m |
| Hackmann Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| First Capitol Drive | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| I 70 Business | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South Second Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Second Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 7.7 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Paul, MO and Saint Charles, MO.
1
Start on Hackmann Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Hackmann Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto MO 79
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
MO 79
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 70 East
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 70
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 228
Toward I 70 Business, MO 94: First Capitol Drive, Lewis and Clark Trail
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 70 Business, MO 94 East: First Capitol Drive, Lindenwood University, SSM Health Saint Joseph Hospital
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Turn straight onto I 70 Business; MO 94
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
First Capitol Drive
8
Turn slight right onto I 70 Business; MO 94
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 70 Business; MO 94
Toward MO 94
9
Turn left onto South Second Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
South Second Street
10
Arrive at destination
North Second Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.77 one way
$5.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.04 | $6.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.41 | $6.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.91 | $7.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.2 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 | 5.3 | 0 | $1.86 | $0.85 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.55 | $0.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
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 Charles, MO
Night in Saint Charles 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 Paul, MO to Saint Charles, MO covers 17.7 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, Hackmann Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.9 miles from Saint Paul, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.77 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 17.7 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 1.5 miles (MO 79): Navigation decision point; at 7.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Saint Paul, MO and Saint Charles, MO, road signs point toward Lindenwood University and Ssm Health Saint Joseph Hospital.
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