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Trip from Sullivan, MO to Chesterfield, MO

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 9m

Distance

51.5 mi

83 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 4m ★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Sullivan, MO, MO

Sullivan, MO

Chris Duan

city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States

Chesterfield, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Connecting Sullivan to Chesterfield, this 51.5-mile journey is a straightforward trek across the Missouri Midwest. You can comfortably complete the drive in about 1 hour and 9 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $8 for fuel covers the trip, allowing you to focus on the transition from the quieter stretches near Sullivan to the suburban landscape of Chesterfield. Because the route is short, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. It serves as a practical link between these two Missouri locales without the need for extensive planning or multiple days on the road.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 51.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience as you navigate the 53% highway portion of this route. You will begin with a significant 27.1-mile stretch on I-44, which provides the most consistent pace of the trip. As you transition off the interstate, the character shifts significantly when you move onto Manchester Road and Clarkson Road. This change moves you from high-speed travel into the more localized flow of the suburban corridor. By blending these fast highway segments with local road segments, the drive offers a balanced pace that keeps you engaged behind the wheel.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 44 is the longest continuous segment at about 27.1 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

982 ft 472 ft

Total Climb

657 ft

Total Descent

1,167 ft

Highest Point

982 ft

Elevation Range

510 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Washington Street.

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 51.5 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (West Washington Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (West Vine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.6 miles (US Historic 66 / West Springfield Road): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Washington Street

Turn right onto West Washington Street

Navigation decision point

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Vine Street

Enter roundabout onto West Vine Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | US Historic 66 / West Springfield Road

At end of road, turn right onto US Historic 66 / West Springfield Road

Navigation decision point

5
1.5 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp toward I 44 East: Saint Louis

Navigation decision point

Toward I 44 East: Saint Louis
8
28.8 mi into trip | ~32m in

Take the exit toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray Summit

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 253 Toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray Summit

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 44 27.1 mi 29m
Manchester Road 16.8 mi 24m
Clarkson Road 3.6 mi 6m
Baxter Road 1.6 mi 2m
West Springfield Road 0.8 mi 1m
South Church Street 0.4 mi <1m
Santa Maria Drive 0.3 mi 1m
MO 185 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 44 — 27.1 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sullivan, MO and Chesterfield, MO.

1

Start on this road

55 ft · 6 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto West Washington Street

115 ft · 3 sec · West Washington Street
3

Enter roundabout onto West Vine Street

176 ft · 6 sec · West Vine Street
4

Continue on West Vine Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · West Vine Street
5

Turn left onto South Church Street

0.4 mi · 56 sec · South Church Street
6

At end of road, turn right onto US Historic 66

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Springfield Road
7

Turn left onto MO 185

0.2 mi · 23 sec · MO 185
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Toward I 44 East: Saint Louis
9

Merge onto I 44

27 mi · 29 min · I 44
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 253 Toward I 44 Business, MO 100 East: Gray Summit Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn left onto MO 100

17 mi · 24 min · Manchester Road
Use the straight lane.
12

Turn left onto MO 340

3.6 mi · 6 min · Clarkson Road
Use the left lane.
13

Turn left onto Baxter Road

1.6 mi · 2 min · Baxter Road
Use the left lane.
14

Turn right onto Wild Horse Creek Road

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Wild Horse Creek Road
15

Turn left onto Santa Maria Drive

0.3 mi · 1 min · Santa Maria Drive
16

Arrive at destination

Santa Maria Drive

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 25.7 mi from Sullivan, MO · 29m into the drive

Downtown Gray Summit, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gray Summit, MO

26 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

Saint Clair, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gray Summit, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 25.7 miles from Sullivan, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Chesterfield, MO

The final approach into Chesterfield, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.05 one way

$16.10 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $8.84 $17.68
premium $4.89 $9.91 $19.82
diesel $5.61 $11.37 $22.74

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.5 0 $5.41 $2.47
Efficient EV 12.9 0 $4.51 $2.06
EV Truck/SUV 20.6 0 $7.21 $3.30

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 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.

Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026

Origin

Sullivan, MO

Evening in Sullivan on Thursday

Local time

6:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers

S 8 to 17 mph 35% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:21AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:46PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Destination

Chesterfield, MO

Evening in Chesterfield on Thursday

Local time

6:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers

S 7 to 16 mph 28% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:21AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:46PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

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

3 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 9m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Sullivan, MO to Chesterfield, MO covers 51.5 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 44, Manchester Road, Clarkson Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.7 miles from Sullivan, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.05 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 51.5 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (West Washington Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (West Vine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.6 miles (US Historic 66 / West Springfield Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Sullivan, MO to Chesterfield, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 472 ft to 982 ft elevation with about 657 ft of total climbing.

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