How far is Carl Junction, MO from Saint Charles, MO?

The driving distance from Carl Junction, MO to Saint Charles, MO is about 297.9 miles (479.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 248.5 miles (400 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 00m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
297.93 mi
04h 30m
Flight
248.58 mi
400.05 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Carl Junction.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
248.58 mi
Kilometers
400.05 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
297.93 mi
Kilometers
479.47 km
Drive Time
04h 30m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Saint Charles
Sun, Apr 26, 1:00 PM CDT
Return by in Carl Junction
Sun, Apr 26, 5:30 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Carl Junction
2026-04-26T08:30
Arrive Saint Charles
Sun, Apr 26, 1:00 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:30 AM to 12:30 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:00 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Carl Junction
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Richland
MO

City in Missouri parts of witch are in Camden, Laclede, and Pulaski Counties

From Carl Junction
147.6 mi
02h 15m
To Saint Charles
150.4 mi
02h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 15 mph SE
Destination
76°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Carl Junction and Saint Charles.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Carl Junction and Saint Charles.

  1. 1

    Start on West Pennell Street

    1.3 mi · 3 min · West Pennell Street

  2. 2

    Turn right

    3.1 mi · 4 min

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Demott Drive

    40 m · 3 sec · Demott Drive

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto Demott Drive

    2 mi · 3 min · Demott Drive

  5. 5

    Continue on West MacArthur Drive

    1.5 km · 2 min · West MacArthur Drive

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    71 m · 3 sec

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout

    3117 ft · 38 sec

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 249 South: Joplin

    1 km · 42 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Governor Warren E Hearnes Memorial Highway

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Governor Warren E Hearnes Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 66, I 44 Business

    1495 ft · 39 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto East 7th Street

    2 mi · 3 min · East 7th Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Cimarron Road

    1.4 km · 1 min · Cimarron Road

  13. 13

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 44 East, I 49 North, US 71 North: Springfield, Kansas City

    1 km · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

    260.4 mi · 4 hr 43 min · Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis

    871 ft · 19 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 270 North: Chicago

    551 ft · 12 sec

  17. 17

    Continue on I 270 North: Chicago

    2638 ft · 53 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    12.6 mi · 16 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Louis Lambert International Airport

    1 mi · 1 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on I 70 West: Kansas City

    645 ft · 11 sec

  21. 21

    Continue on I 70 West: Kansas City

    1 km · 57 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left

    2.7 mi · 3 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70 Business: Fifth Street

    841 ft · 18 sec

  24. 24

    Keep slight right to continue on I 70 Business: Fifth Street North, Bass Pro Drive, Ameristar Boulevard

    71 m · 5 sec

  25. 25

    Turn slight right onto South Fifth Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · South Fifth Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Jefferson Street

    1093 ft · 44 sec · Jefferson Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto North Second Street

    949 ft · 34 sec · North Second Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Second Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Carl Junction and Saint Charles.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
28 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
4 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
260 mi · 87%
I 270 North
13.2 mi · 4%
I 70 West
3.48 mi · 1%
Governor Warren E Hearnes Memorial Highway
3.36 mi · 1%
Demott Drive
2.01 mi · 1%
East 7th Street
1.97 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

Merge slight left onto Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

260 mi · 04h 43m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 30m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+49.4 mi
248.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Richland
02h 15m from Carl Junction
Leave By
8:00 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Carl Junction and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Saint Charles.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Carl Junction to Saint Charles?

The road trip is about 297.9 miles (479.5 km) and usually takes 04h 30m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Richland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 147.6 miles from Carl Junction and 150.4 miles from Saint Charles.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 248.5 miles (400 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.4 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:00 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.63 one way or $79.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 93.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Carl Junction and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Saint Charles.

Stop Ideas Near Richland

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Richland, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Richland.

RAIL

Jefferson City

83 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Sedalia

119 mi away
100 block of Main Street, through parking lot

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Carl Junction and Saint Charles. Straight-line distance: 248.58 mi (400.05 km).

Carl Junction

#1 Carl Junction

City in Jasper County, Missouri, United States

Population8,430
Coordinates37.1767200, -94.5655100
Altitude273
CountryUnited States
Saint Charles

#2 Saint Charles

A city in St.

Population71,761
Coordinates38.7839400, -90.4812300
Altitude147
CountryUnited States
Start: West Pennell Street (-94.565506, 37.176818)
End: North Second Street (-90.481269, 38.783952)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 479 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.51 gal
39.8 L · about $39.63
Round trip
$79.27
21.02 gal · 79.6 L
Estimated CO2
93.4 kg one way
Round trip: 186.8 kg / 412 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $39.63 $79.27
Mid-grade $4.25 $44.70 $89.40
Premium $4.65 $48.91 $97.83
Diesel $5.30 $55.75 $111.49

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Missouri · Apr 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Carl Junction and Saint Charles. The current time is 08:30:00.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.