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

The driving distance from St. Louis, MO to Vandalia, MO is about 103.1 miles (166 km), with a travel time of about 02h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 83.9 miles (135 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 16m 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
103.12 mi
02h 08m
Flight
83.89 mi
135.01 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
83.89 mi
Kilometers
135.01 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
103.12 mi
Kilometers
165.96 km
Drive Time
02h 08m

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 02h 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Vandalia
Mon, May 25, 5:00 AM CDT
Return by in St. Louis
Mon, May 25, 7:08 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave St. Louis
2026-05-25T02:52
Arrive Vandalia
Mon, May 25, 5:00 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:08 AM to 12:08 PM CDT

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

Leave by
2:14 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
Moscow Mills
MO

City in Lincoln County, Missouri, United States

From St. Louis
51.5 mi
01h 04m
To Vandalia
51.6 mi
01h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Memorial Day

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph E
Destination
82°F
Memorial Day

Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    74.4 mi · 1 hr 29 min · Avenue of the Saints

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 54: Mexico, Louisiana

    1540 ft · 39 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left

    11.7 mi · 15 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    4.9 mi · 7 min

  9. 9

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    15 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

  10. 10

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
10 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Avenue of the Saints
74.4 mi · 72%
Daniel Boone Expressway
5.72 mi · 6%
US 54
5.17 mi · 5%
Jack Buck Memorial Highway
4.26 mi · 4%
Market Street
1.65 mi · 2%
I 64 West
0.29 mi
Longest Stretch

Avenue of the Saints

Continue on Avenue of the Saints

74.4 mi · 01h 29m

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
02h 08m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.2 mi
83.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Moscow Mills
01h 04m from St. Louis
Leave By
2:14 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving St. Louis and Sunny near Vandalia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 103.1 miles (166 km) and usually takes 02h 08m 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?

Moscow Mills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 51.5 miles from St. Louis and 51.6 miles from Vandalia.

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

The direct path is about 83.9 miles (135 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.2 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 2:14 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.73 one way or $27.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around St. Louis and Sunny near Vandalia.

Stop Ideas Near Moscow Mills

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

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

RAIL

Washington

44 mi away
301 West Front St.
RAIL

Hermann

52 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.
RAIL

Kirkwood

60 mi away
110 West Argonne Dr.
RAIL

Alton

68 mi away
3400 College Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between St. Louis and Vandalia. Straight-line distance: 83.89 mi (135.01 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
Vandalia

#2 Vandalia

City in Audrain and Ralls Counties, Missouri, USA

Population3,496
Coordinates39.3108700, -91.4884900
Altitude232
CountryUnited States
Start: St. Louis (-90.19789, 38.62727)
End: Vandalia (-91.48849, 39.31087)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 166 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.64 gal
13.77 L · about $13.73
Round trip
$27.45
7.28 gal · 27.54 L
Estimated CO2
32.3 kg one way
Round trip: 64.7 kg / 143 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $13.73 $27.45
Mid-grade $4.25 $15.48 $30.96
Premium $4.65 $16.94 $33.88
Diesel $5.30 $19.31 $38.61

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 25, 2026

There is no time difference between St. Louis and Vandalia. The current time is 02:52:30.

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.