Origin
St. Louis, MO
Afternoon in St. Louis on Sunday
Local time
2:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
4h 17m
Distance
214.2 mi
345 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
The drive from St. Louis, MO to Ava, MO covers 214.2 miles and takes about 4h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Jefferson Avenue, I 44 West, Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.53 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
107.1 miles from St. Louis, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 17m drive with frequent turns across 214.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 17m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from St. Louis, MO to Ava, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Jefferson Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 44 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Police Officer Ernest M | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MO E | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between St. Louis, MO and Ava, MO.
Start on Market Street
Turn left onto South Jefferson Avenue
Take the ramp straight toward I 44 West
Merge slight left onto Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway
Continue on Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway
Continue on Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
Continue on Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway
Continue on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Take the exit slight right toward MO E: Rolla
Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward Tim Bradley Way
Exit the roundabout onto Tim Bradley Way
Turn slight right onto North Bishop Avenue
Keep slight right to continue on North Bishop Avenue
Continue on North Bishop Avenue
Turn right
Turn left onto South Elm Street
Continue on Peabody Avenue
Take the ramp right toward US 60 West: Mountain Grove
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 60 BUS, MO 5 South, MO EE: Mansfield, Ava
Turn left
Continue straight
Turn left onto Springfield Road
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward North Jefferson Street
Exit the roundabout onto North Jefferson Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.1 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ava, MO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving St. Louis, 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 St. Louis, MO
This is one driving day of about 214.2 miles and 4h 17m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 107.1 mi from St. Louis, MO · 2h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
107 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 107.1 miles from St. Louis, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Ava, 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 Ava, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$32.53 one way
$65.07 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $35.87 | $71.73 |
| premium | $4.80 | $40.44 | $80.87 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $47.59 | $95.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.3 | 0 | $22.49 | $10.28 |
| Efficient EV | 53.6 | 0 | $18.74 | $8.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 85.7 | 1 | $29.99 | $13.71 |
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in St. Louis on Sunday
Local time
2:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Ava on Sunday
Local time
2:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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