Origin
Saint Peters, MO
Afternoon in Saint Peters on Saturday
Local time
12:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Peters, MO to Carterville, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 24m
Distance
277.8 mi
447 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 11m
★
6 AM
5h 24m
8 AM
5h 51m
10 AM
5h 34m
12 PM
5h 31m
3 PM
5h 35m
5 PM
5h 50m
8 PM
5h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Peters, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Peters, MO to Carterville, MO covers 277.8 miles and takes about 5h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 44, MO 96, MO 100 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 194.9 miles on I 44. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.43 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
138.9 miles from Saint Peters, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 44 | 194.9 mi | 3h 30m |
| MO 96 | 44.6 mi | 54m |
| MO 100 | 13.3 mi | 18m |
| MO K | 6.5 mi | 11m |
| MO 109 | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| I 70 | 3 mi | 3m |
| North Eatherton Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 194.9 mi, about 3h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Peters, MO and Carterville, MO.
1
Start on I 70
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
2
Take the exit
390 ft
·
8 sec
Exit 218
Toward MO K: O'Fallon, Main Street
Use the slight right lane.
3
Turn straight onto East Terra Lane
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Terra Lane
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn slight left
61 ft
·
1 sec
5
Continue on MO K
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
MO K
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on MO K
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
MO K
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 14
Toward Chesterfield Airport Road
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on Chesterfield Airport Road
361 ft
·
6 sec
·
Chesterfield Airport Road
11
Turn right
211 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Olive Street Road
12
Turn right onto Olive Street Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Olive Street Road
13
Continue on North Eatherton Road
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
North Eatherton Road
14
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
70 ft
·
1 sec
·
MO 109
15
Continue on MO 109
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
MO 109
16
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
94 ft
·
2 sec
·
MO 109
17
Continue on MO 109
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
MO 109
18
Enter roundabout
76 ft
·
1 sec
Toward MO 100 West: Gray Summit
19
Continue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward MO 100 West: Gray Summit
20
Merge onto MO 100
13 mi
·
18 min
·
MO 100
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: St. Clair
22
Merge onto I 44; US 50
195 mi
·
3 hr 30 min
·
I 44; US 50
Use the straight lane.
23
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 57
Toward MO 96: Avilla
24
Turn straight onto MO 96
45 mi
·
54 min
·
MO 96
Use the straight lane.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward MO HH: Carterville
26
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
27
Arrive at destination
US Historic 66
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 138.9 miles from Saint Peters, MO, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 194.9 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 61 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.9 miles or 2h 46m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carterville, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Peters, 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 Peters, MO
This is one driving day of about 277.8 miles and 5h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Saint Peters, 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 I 44 for about 194.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
139 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 138.9 miles from Saint Peters, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 44 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 194.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 36.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward MO K: O'Fallon, Main Street
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 218
Toward MO K: O'Fallon, Main Street
6
10.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the ramp toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South
7
14.5 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward Chesterfield Airport Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 14
Toward Chesterfield Airport Road
5
23.1 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Enter roundabout toward MO 100 West: Gray Summit
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward MO 100 West: Gray Summit
5
36.7 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward I 44 West, US 50 West: St. Clair
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: St. Clair
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.43 one way
$86.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
97 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $47.69 | $95.37 |
| premium | $4.89 | $53.46 | $106.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $61.33 | $122.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.3 | 1 | $29.17 | $13.33 |
| Efficient EV | 69.5 | 0 | $24.31 | $11.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 111.1 | 1 | $38.89 | $17.78 |
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Carterville, MO
Afternoon in Carterville on Saturday
Local time
12:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
N 20 mph
96% chance
Live forecast
74°F
Washington, MO
139 mi in
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
12 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
5h 24m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 220.3
Caution: BE AWARE OF HIGH-WATER DANGER
George Washington Carver National Monument
National Monument
The young child known as the "Plant Doctor" tended his secret garden while observing the day-to-day operations of a 19th century farm. Nature and nurture ultimately influenced George on his quest for...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 277.8
View on nps.gov
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
$19
near mile 19.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
277.8 mi in 5h 24m, mostly highway — 194.9 mi of that is on I 44.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 194.9 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and MO 96. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 277.8 miles you will encounter 20 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 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 24m. Total distance: 277.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 194.9 miles on I 44. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Carterville, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, George Washington Carver National Monument and Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Carterville, MO before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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