Origin
St. Louis, MO
Night in St. Louis on Thursday
Local time
9:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from St. Louis, MO to Appleton City, MO
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
5h 31m
Distance
261.4 mi
421 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 19m
★
6 AM
5h 32m
8 AM
5h 59m
10 AM
5h 41m
12 PM
5h 39m
3 PM
5h 43m
5 PM
5h 57m
8 PM
5h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Appleton City, MO
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from St. Louis, MO to Appleton City, MO covers 261.4 miles and takes about 5h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64 West, Jack Buck Memorial Highway, Daniel Boone Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.87 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
130.7 miles from St. Louis, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 45m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 31m. Total distance: 261.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 31m drive with frequent turns across 261.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 64 West 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 31m 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 Appleton City, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 West | — | — |
| Jack Buck Memorial Highway | — | — |
| Daniel Boone Expressway | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| I 70 West | — | — |
| Dwight D Eisenhower Highway | — | — |
| Sheriff Roger I | — | — |
| Highway Patrol Sgt | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 64 West
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between St. Louis, MO and Appleton City, MO.
1
Start on Market Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Market Street
2
Take the ramp slight left toward I 64 West, US 40 West: Wentzville
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
I 64 West, US 40 West: Wentzville
3
Merge slight left onto Jack Buck Memorial Highway
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Jack Buck Memorial Highway
4
Continue on Daniel Boone Expressway
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Daniel Boone Expressway
5
Continue on Avenue of the Saints
28 mi
·
33 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
6
Take the exit slight left toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
7
Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
81 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
8
Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
9
Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
10
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
11
Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
46 mi
·
48 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 65 South: Sedalia
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 65 South: Sedalia
13
Merge slight left
31 mi
·
38 min
14
Take the exit right toward MO 52 West: Windsor
187 ft
·
5 sec
·
MO 52 West: Windsor
15
Turn right onto Whiteman Road
30 mi
·
45 min
·
Whiteman Road
16
Take the ramp left
9.2 mi
·
12 min
17
Take the exit slight right toward MO 52 West: Montrose
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
MO 52 West: Montrose
18
Turn right
12 mi
·
20 min
19
Turn slight left
6.9 mi
·
12 min
20
Turn right onto North Walnut Street
13 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Walnut Street
21
Arrive at your destination
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 130.7 miles from St. Louis, MO, or about 2h 45m 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 58 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.7 miles or 2h 45m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Appleton City, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 261.4 miles and 5h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from St. Louis, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 130.7 mi from St. Louis, MO · 2h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
131 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 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 130.7 miles from St. Louis, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Appleton City, MO
The final approach into Appleton City, 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 Appleton City, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.87 one way
$81.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
92 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $44.87 | $89.74 |
| premium | $4.89 | $50.30 | $100.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $57.71 | $115.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.4 | 0 | $27.45 | $12.55 |
| Efficient EV | 65.4 | 0 | $22.87 | $10.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 104.6 | 1 | $36.60 | $16.73 |
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Appleton City, MO
Night in Appleton City on Thursday
Local time
9:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Washington, MO
131 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 31m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from St. Louis, MO to Appleton City, MO covers 261.4 miles and takes about 5h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64 West, Jack Buck Memorial Highway, Daniel Boone Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 130.7 miles from St. Louis, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.87 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 31m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from St. Louis, MO to Appleton City, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from St. Louis, MO to Appleton City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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