Origin
University City, MO
Afternoon in University City on Friday
Local time
1:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from University City, MO to Saint Charles, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
16.9 mi
27 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
University City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Charles, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from University City, MO to Saint Charles, MO covers 16.9 miles and takes about 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 70, North Hanley Road, Inner Belt Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.64 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 16.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 26m highway drive covering 16.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and North Hanley Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 9 miles on I 70.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and North Hanley Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in near I 170 / Inner Belt Expressway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 16.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.6 miles (I 170 / Inner Belt Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 170 / Inner Belt Expressway
Merge onto I 170 / Inner Belt Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 7B
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
5
6.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
15.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 70 Business
Take the exit onto I 70 Business toward I 70 Business: Fifth Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 229B
Toward I 70 Business: Fifth Street
9
15.5 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 Business: Fifth Street North, Bass Pro Drive, Ameristar Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 70 Business: Fifth Street North, Bass...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 9 mi | 11m |
| North Hanley Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Inner Belt Expressway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Olive Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| South Fifth Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Saint Charles Rock Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Midland Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Kingsland Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 9 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between University City, MO and Saint Charles, MO.
1
Start on Kingsland Avenue
173 ft
·
14 sec
·
Kingsland Avenue
2
Continue on Kingsland Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Kingsland Avenue
3
Turn left onto Olive Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Olive Boulevard
4
Turn right onto Midland Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Midland Boulevard
5
Turn slight right onto North Hanley Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Hanley Road
6
Turn left onto MO 180
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Saint Charles Rock Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 170 North
8
Merge onto I 170
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Inner Belt Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 7B
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Merge onto I 70
9.0 mi
·
11 min
·
I 70
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit onto I 70 Business
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 70 Business
Exit 229B
Toward I 70 Business: Fifth Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
231 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 70 Business: Fifth Street North, Bass Pro Drive, Ameristar Boulevard
Use the right lane.
13
Turn slight right onto I 70 Business
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Fifth Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Jefferson Street
15
Turn left onto North Second Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
North Second Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Second Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.64 one way
$5.28 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.90 | $5.80 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.25 | $6.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.73 | $7.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.77 | $0.81 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.48 | $0.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.37 | $1.08 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
Saint Charles, MO
Afternoon in Saint Charles on Friday
Local time
1:20 PM
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
1 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
26m 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 University City, MO to Saint Charles, MO covers 16.9 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, North Hanley Road, Inner Belt Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.5 miles from University City, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.64 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 12 decision points packed into just 16.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.6 miles (I 170 / Inner Belt Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from University City, MO to Saint Charles, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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