How far is Saint Charles, MO from Lexington, MO?

The driving distance from Saint Charles, MO to Lexington, MO is about 198.7 miles (319.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 184.6 miles (297.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 51m 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
198.63 mi
03h 55m
Flight
184.62 mi
297.11 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Saint Charles.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
184.62 mi
Kilometers
297.11 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
198.63 mi
Kilometers
319.66 km
Drive Time
03h 55m

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 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lexington
Thu, Apr 30, 11:04 AM CDT
Return by in Saint Charles
Thu, Apr 30, 3:00 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Saint Charles
2026-04-30T07:09
Arrive Lexington
Thu, Apr 30, 11:04 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:56 AM to 11:56 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
9:08 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Saint Charles
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Columbia
MO

The most populous city in the state of Missouri.

From Saint Charles
99.1 mi
01h 57m
To Lexington
99.5 mi
01h 57m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph W
Destination
64°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Charles and Lexington.

  1. 1

    Start on North Second Street

    1551 ft · 1 min · North Second Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto First Capitol Drive

    1.4 km · 2 min · First Capitol Drive

  3. 3

    Turn left onto First Capitol Drive

    1.5 km · 2 min · First Capitol Drive

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 70 West

    1018 ft · 14 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    178.6 mi · 3 hr 24 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg

    1012 ft · 26 sec

  7. 7

    Turn right

    15.5 mi · 21 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 224: Lexington

    1289 ft · 31 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right

    1.8 mi · 4 min

  10. 10

    Turn left onto South 13th Street

    81 m · 9 sec · South 13th Street

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 13th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
11 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 70 West
179 mi · 90%
First Capitol Drive
1.77 mi · 1%
North Second Street
0.29 mi
MO 224
0.24 mi
MO 13
0.19 mi
South 13th Street
0.05 mi
Longest Stretch

I 70 West

Merge slight left

179 mi · 03h 24m

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 55m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.1 mi
184.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Columbia
01h 57m from Saint Charles
Leave By
9:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Saint Charles and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lexington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Saint Charles to Lexington?

The road trip is about 198.7 miles (319.7 km) and usually takes 03h 55m 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?

Columbia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 99.1 miles from Saint Charles and 99.5 miles from Lexington.

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

The direct path is about 184.6 miles (297.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.1 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 9:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.43 one way or $52.87 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 62.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Saint Charles and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lexington.

Stop Ideas Near Columbia

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

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

RAIL

Jefferson City

44 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Sedalia

82 mi away
100 block of Main Street, through parking lot
RAIL

Hermann

83 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Saint Charles and Lexington. Straight-line distance: 184.62 mi (297.11 km).

Saint Charles

#1 Saint Charles

A city in St.

Population71,761
Coordinates38.7839400, -90.4812300
Altitude147
CountryUnited States
Lexington

#2 Lexington

City in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States

Population4,543
Coordinates39.1847300, -93.8799400
Altitude259
CountryUnited States
Start: Saint Charles (-90.48123, 38.78394)
End: Lexington (-93.87994, 39.18473)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 320 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.01 gal
26.53 L · about $26.43
Round trip
$52.87
14.02 gal · 53.06 L
Estimated CO2
62.3 kg one way
Round trip: 124.6 kg / 275 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $26.43 $52.87
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.81 $59.63
Premium $4.65 $32.62 $65.25
Diesel $5.30 $37.18 $74.36

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Saint Charles and Lexington. The current time is 07:09:02.

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.