How far is La Plata, MO from St. Louis, MO?

The driving distance from La Plata, MO to St. Louis, MO is about 193.1 miles (310.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 156 miles (251 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 20m 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
193.07 mi
03h 10m
Flight
155.98 mi
251.03 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from La Plata.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
155.98 mi
Kilometers
251.03 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
193.07 mi
Kilometers
310.72 km
Drive Time
03h 10m

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 03h 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in St. Louis
Fri, Apr 17, 12:16 PM CDT
Return by in La Plata
Fri, Apr 17, 3:26 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave La Plata
2026-04-17T09:06
Arrive St. Louis
Fri, Apr 17, 12:16 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:10 AM to 11:10 AM CDT

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

Leave by
10:40 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in La Plata
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
Frankford
MO

City in Pike County, Missouri, United States

From La Plata
97.5 mi
01h 35m
To St. Louis
95.6 mi
01h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 20 mph S
Destination
87°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 13 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between La Plata and St. Louis.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between La Plata and St. Louis.

  1. 1

    Start on East Moore Street

    6 m · 6 sec · East Moore Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Gex Street

    844 ft · 42 sec · South Gex Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Clark Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · East Clark Street

  4. 4

    Turn right

    19 mi · 22 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit left toward US 36 East, MO 110 East: Hannibal

    929 ft · 12 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    52.9 mi · 1 hr 1 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  7. 7

    Continue on V.F.W. Memorial Highway

    5.8 mi · 7 min · V.F.W. Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Veterans Road

    1167 ft · 30 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Veterans Road

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Veterans Road

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn left onto County Road 422

    85 m · 7 sec · County Road 422

  11. 11

    Continue on Paris Gravel Road

    2539 ft · 1 min · Paris Gravel Road

  12. 12

    Take the ramp right

    37 m · 3 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    101.3 mi · 2 hr 1 min · Avenue of the Saints

  14. 14

    Continue on Daniel Boone Expressway

    5.7 mi · 7 min · Daniel Boone Expressway

  15. 15

    Continue on Jack Buck Memorial Highway

    5.8 mi · 7 min · Jack Buck Memorial Highway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward 14th Street

    1115 ft · 34 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto South 14th Street

    1715 ft · 42 sec · South 14th Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Market Street

    956 ft · 25 sec · Market Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Market Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between La Plata and St. Louis.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
19 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Avenue of the Saints
101 mi · 52%
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
52.9 mi · 27%
V.F.W. Memorial Highway
5.85 mi · 3%
Jack Buck Memorial Highway
5.77 mi · 3%
Daniel Boone Expressway
5.68 mi · 3%
Veterans Road
2.33 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Avenue of the Saints

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

101 mi · 02h 01m

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
03h 10m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.1 mi
156 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Frankford
01h 35m from La Plata
Leave By
10:40 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving La Plata and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near St. Louis.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from La Plata to St. Louis?

The road trip is about 193.1 miles (310.7 km) and usually takes 03h 10m 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?

Frankford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 97.5 miles from La Plata and 95.6 miles from St. Louis.

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

The direct path is about 156 miles (251 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.1 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 10:40 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.68 one way or $51.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 60.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around La Plata and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near St. Louis.

Stop Ideas Near Frankford

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Frankford, 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 Frankford.

RAIL

Quincy

52 mi away
North 30th St. and Wisman Lane
RAIL

Hermann

88 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.
RAIL

Washington

107 mi away
301 West Front St.
RAIL

La Plata

116 mi away
535 N. Owensby St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between La Plata and St. Louis. Straight-line distance: 155.98 mi (251.03 km).

La Plata

#1 La Plata

City in Macon County, Missouri

Population1,303
Coordinates40.0233700, -92.4915800
Altitude285
CountryUnited States
St. Louis

#2 St. Louis

The second most populous city in Missouri and the center of the St.

Population315,685
Coordinates38.6272700, -90.1978900
Altitude142
CountryUnited States
Start: East Moore Street (-92.491579, 40.023406)
End: Market Street (-90.197859, 38.627348)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 311 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.81 gal
25.79 L · about $25.68
Round trip
$51.36
13.62 gal · 51.58 L
Estimated CO2
60.5 kg one way
Round trip: 121 kg / 267 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $25.68 $51.36
Mid-grade $4.25 $28.96 $57.93
Premium $4.65 $31.69 $63.39
Diesel $5.30 $36.12 $72.24

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between La Plata and St. Louis. The current time is 09:06:02.

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.