How far is St. Louis, MO from Bowling Green, MO?

The driving distance from St. Louis, MO to Bowling Green, MO is about 85.8 miles (138.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 72.8 miles (117.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
85.81 mi
01h 46m
Flight
72.85 mi
117.24 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from St. Louis.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
72.85 mi
Kilometers
117.24 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
85.81 mi
Kilometers
138.09 km
Drive Time
01h 46m

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 01h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bowling Green
Tue, May 12, 11:06 PM CDT
Return by in St. Louis
Wed, May 13, 12:53 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave St. Louis
2026-05-12T21:20
Arrive Bowling Green
Tue, May 12, 11:06 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:46 AM to 11:46 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:58 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in St. Louis
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Wentzville
MO

A city in St.

From St. Louis
42.9 mi
00h 53m
To Bowling Green
42.9 mi
00h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 12 mph S
Destination
81°F
Tuesday

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 16 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between St. Louis and Bowling Green.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between St. Louis and Bowling Green.

  1. 1

    Start on Market Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Market Street

  2. 2

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 64 West, US 40 West: Wentzville

    1531 ft · 24 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left onto Jack Buck Memorial Highway

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Jack Buck Memorial Highway

  4. 4

    Continue on Daniel Boone Expressway

    5.7 mi · 7 min · Daniel Boone Expressway

  5. 5

    Continue on Avenue of the Saints

    72.1 mi · 1 hr 27 min · Avenue of the Saints

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right

    1215 ft · 35 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left

    1602 ft · 27 sec

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    38 m · 2 sec

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout

    1 km · 57 sec

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South Court Street

    7 m · 1 sec · South Court Street

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto South Court Street

    3066 ft · 1 min · South Court Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    13 m · 1 sec · West Main Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between St. Louis and Bowling Green.

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
13 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Avenue of the Saints
73 mi · 85%
Daniel Boone Expressway
5.72 mi · 7%
Jack Buck Memorial Highway
4.26 mi · 5%
Market Street
1.65 mi · 2%
South Court Street
0.58 mi · 1%
I 64 West
0.29 mi
Longest Stretch

Avenue of the Saints

Continue on Avenue of the Saints

72.1 mi · 01h 27m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 46m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13 mi
72.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wentzville
00h 53m from St. Louis
Leave By
2:58 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving St. Louis and Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Bowling Green.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from St. Louis to Bowling Green?

The road trip is about 85.8 miles (138.1 km) and usually takes 01h 46m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Wentzville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 42.9 miles from St. Louis and 42.9 miles from Bowling Green.

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

The direct path is about 72.8 miles (117.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 13 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:58 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.43 one way or $22.85 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 26.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around St. Louis and Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Bowling Green.

Stop Ideas Near Wentzville

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Wentzville and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Hall Park
Scenic stop 8.1 mi away

City Hall Park

Dardenne Prairie , MO
Dardenne Prairie, MO 63368
Rating 4.8/5 294 reviews Tourist attraction,Park
City of O'Fallon
Meeting point 9.3 mi away

City of O'Fallon

O'Fallon , MO
100 N Main St, O'Fallon, MO 63366
Rating 3.3/5 22 reviews City Hall,Water utility company

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Washington

31 mi away
301 West Front St.
RAIL

Kirkwood

46 mi away
110 West Argonne Dr.
RAIL

Hermann

52 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.
RAIL

Gateway Transportation Center

60 mi away
551 South 16th St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between St. Louis and Bowling Green. Straight-line distance: 72.85 mi (117.24 km).

St. Louis

#1 St. Louis

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

Population315,685
Coordinates38.6272700, -90.1978900
Altitude142
CountryUnited States
Bowling Green

#2 Bowling Green

City in Missouri

Population4,759
Coordinates39.3419900, -91.1951400
Altitude272
CountryUnited States
Start: St. Louis (-90.19789, 38.62727)
End: Bowling Green (-91.19514, 39.34199)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 138 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.03 gal
11.46 L · about $11.43
Round trip
$22.85
6.06 gal · 22.92 L
Estimated CO2
26.9 kg one way
Round trip: 53.9 kg / 119 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $11.43 $22.85
Mid-grade $4.25 $12.89 $25.77
Premium $4.65 $14.10 $28.20
Diesel $5.30 $16.07 $32.14

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 · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between St. Louis and Bowling Green. The current time is 21:20:38.

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.