Origin
Saint Peters, MO
Morning in Saint Peters on Saturday
Local time
10:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Peters, MO to Saint Charles, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
17m
Distance
11.8 mi
19 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 16m
★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 21m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 19m
3 PM
0h 19m
5 PM
0h 21m
8 PM
0h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Peters, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Charles, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 11.8-mile drive from Saint Peters to Saint Charles, Missouri, will only take about 17 minutes to complete. It's an easy hop within the Midwest region, perfect for a quick trip or as part of a larger itinerary. With a low fuel cost estimated at $2, this route is very budget-friendly. The highway-focused profile means you'll spend most of your time on interstates, making it a fast and efficient journey. Since it's so short, it's definitely not an overnight trip; you can easily tackle it in a single day.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 17m. Total distance: 11.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-centric experience on this route, with 84% of the journey taking place on major interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.9 miles on I-70, offering a period of consistent driving. You'll navigate primarily via I-70, First Capitol Drive, and I-70 Business, a mix that balances interstate speeds with some local access. The overall feel is one of efficiency and directness, designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 8.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and First Capitol Drive. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 11.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 17m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
1.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward MO 79: Elsberry, Louisiana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 220
Toward MO 79: Elsberry, Louisiana
6
1.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 79
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MO 79
6
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 70 East
8
9.4 mi into trip
|
~12m 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
9.6 mi into trip
|
~12m 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 Peters, MO and Saint Charles, MO, road signs point toward Louisiana, Lindenwood University and Ssm Health Saint Joseph Hospital.
Louisiana
1.2 mi in
|
~1m
Lindenwood University
9.6 mi in
|
~12m
Ssm Health Saint Joseph Hospital
9.6 mi in
|
~12m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 8.9 mi | 11m |
| First Capitol Drive | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| I 70 Business | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South Second Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| MO 79 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Second Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 8.9 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Peters, MO and Saint Charles, MO.
1
Start on I 70
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 70
2
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 220
Toward MO 79: Elsberry, Louisiana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Keep slight left at fork
384 ft
·
14 sec
Toward MO 79
4
Turn left onto MO 79
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
MO 79
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 70 East
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 70
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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.
8
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.
9
Turn straight onto I 70 Business; MO 94
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
First Capitol Drive
10
Turn slight right onto I 70 Business; MO 94
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 70 Business; MO 94
Toward MO 94
11
Turn left onto South Second Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
South Second Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Second Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.84 one way
$3.69 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.03 | $4.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.27 | $4.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.61 | $5.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.24 | $0.57 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.03 | $0.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.76 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Morning in Saint Charles on Saturday
Local time
10:11 AM
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
17m 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 Peters, MO to Saint Charles, MO covers 11.8 miles and takes about 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, First Capitol Drive, I 70 Business. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.9 miles from Saint Peters, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.84 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 is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 11.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 17m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Between Saint Peters, MO and Saint Charles, MO, road signs point toward Louisiana, Lindenwood University and Ssm Health Saint Joseph Hospital.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Gateway Arch National Park.
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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