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

The driving distance from St. Louis, MO to Macon, MO is about 178.9 miles (287.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 144.2 miles (232 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 04m 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
178.87 mi
03h 32m
Flight
144.13 mi
231.96 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
144.13 mi
Kilometers
231.96 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
178.87 mi
Kilometers
287.86 km
Drive Time
03h 32m

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 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Macon
Thu, Apr 23, 4:14 PM CDT
Return by in St. Louis
Thu, Apr 23, 7:46 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave St. Louis
2026-04-23T12:42
Arrive Macon
Thu, Apr 23, 4:14 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:32 AM to 11:32 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
9:56 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
Montgomery City
MO

City in Missouri, United States

From St. Louis
89.4 mi
01h 46m
To Macon
89.5 mi
01h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 17 mph S
Destination
77°F
Thursday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 21 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    27.8 mi · 34 min · Avenue of the Saints

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight left toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City

    3047 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

    80.7 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly

    1058 ft · 23 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto US 63 North: Moberly

    53 m · 4 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    1 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    55.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  12. 12

    Turn left onto South Rollins Street

    1.3 mi · 3 min · South Rollins Street

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East Washington Street

    47 m · 11 sec · East Washington Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Walker Street

    48 m · 7 sec · Walker Street

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Walker Street

Car Route Details

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

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
15 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi · 45%
US 63 North
56.3 mi · 31%
Avenue of the Saints
27.8 mi · 16%
Daniel Boone Expressway
5.72 mi · 3%
Jack Buck Memorial Highway
4.26 mi · 2%
Market Street
1.65 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

80.7 mi · 01h 35m

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 32m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.7 mi
144.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Montgomery City
01h 46m from St. Louis
Leave By
9:56 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving St. Louis and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Macon.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 178.9 miles (287.9 km) and usually takes 03h 32m 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?

Montgomery City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 89.4 miles from St. Louis and 89.5 miles from Macon.

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

The direct path is about 144.2 miles (232 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.7 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 9:56 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.80 one way or $47.59 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 56.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Montgomery City

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

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

RAIL

Hermann

31 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.
RAIL

Washington

63 mi away
301 West Front St.
RAIL

Jefferson City

73 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Kirkwood

105 mi away
110 West Argonne Dr.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between St. Louis and Macon. Straight-line distance: 144.13 mi (231.96 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
Macon

#2 Macon

City in Missouri, United States of America

Population5,341
Coordinates39.7422600, -92.4726900
Altitude265
CountryUnited States
Start: St. Louis (-90.19789, 38.62727)
End: Macon (-92.47269, 39.74226)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 288 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.31 gal
23.89 L · about $23.80
Round trip
$47.59
12.62 gal · 47.78 L
Estimated CO2
56.1 kg one way
Round trip: 112.2 kg / 247 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.80 $47.59
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.84 $53.67
Premium $4.65 $29.37 $58.73
Diesel $5.30 $33.47 $66.94

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between St. Louis and Macon. The current time is 12:42:04.

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.