How far is St. Louis, MO from Carterville, MO?

The driving distance from St. Louis, MO to Carterville, MO is about 279.3 miles (449.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 253 miles (407.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 31m 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
279.3 mi
05h 15m
Flight
252.97 mi
407.12 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from St. Louis.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
252.97 mi
Kilometers
407.12 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
279.3 mi
Kilometers
449.49 km
Drive Time
05h 15m

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 05h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Carterville
Sat, Apr 18, 5:42 AM CDT
Return by in St. Louis
Sat, Apr 18, 10:58 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave St. Louis
2026-04-18T00:27
Arrive Carterville
Sat, Apr 18, 5:42 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:16 AM to 1:16 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
6:28 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in St. Louis
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
Waynesville
MO

City in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States

From St. Louis
139.5 mi
02h 37m
To Carterville
139.8 mi
02h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph W
Destination
59°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 17 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between St. Louis and Carterville.

  1. 1

    Start on Market Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Market Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Jefferson Avenue

    1.2 mi · 3 min · South Jefferson Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the ramp straight toward I 44 West

    1051 ft · 17 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor

    218.9 mi · 3 hr 58 min · Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 96: Avilla

    2896 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Turn straight

    44.6 mi · 54 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward MO HH: Carterville

    979 ft · 22 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    1 km · 1 min · 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 Carterville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
13 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
219 mi · 78%
Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial H
3.53 mi · 1%
Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway
3.46 mi · 1%
Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
2.75 mi · 1%
Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway
2.28 mi · 1%
South Jefferson Avenue
1.21 mi
Longest Stretch

Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor

Continue on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor

219 mi · 03h 58m

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
05h 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.3 mi
253 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Waynesville
02h 37m from St. Louis
Leave By
6:28 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving St. Louis and Showers And Thunderstorms near Carterville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 279.3 miles (449.5 km) and usually takes 05h 15m 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?

Waynesville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 139.5 miles from St. Louis and 139.8 miles from Carterville.

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

The direct path is about 253 miles (407.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.3 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 6:28 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.18 one way or $74.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around St. Louis and Showers And Thunderstorms near Carterville.

Stop Ideas Near Waynesville

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

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

RAIL

Jefferson City

83 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Hermann

118 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between St. Louis and Carterville. Straight-line distance: 252.97 mi (407.12 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
Carterville

#2 Carterville

City in Jasper County, Missouri, United States of America

Population1,965
Coordinates37.1492300, -94.4430000
Altitude300
CountryUnited States
Start: St. Louis (-90.19789, 38.62727)
End: Carterville (-94.443, 37.14923)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 449 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.86 gal
37.31 L · about $37.18
Round trip
$74.36
19.72 gal · 74.62 L
Estimated CO2
87.6 kg one way
Round trip: 175.3 kg / 386 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $37.18 $74.36
Mid-grade $4.25 $41.93 $83.87
Premium $4.65 $45.89 $91.78
Diesel $5.30 $52.30 $104.59

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between St. Louis and Carterville. The current time is 00:27:12.

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.