DriveCosts

Road trip cost

How Much Does It Cost to Drive From St. Louis to Denver?

At 938 miles and roughly 15 hr 6 min of driving, the route from St. Louis, MO to Denver, CO is a long-haul trip. Budget for multiple fuel stops, food, and possibly an overnight stay — gas alone can run well over a hundred dollars depending on your vehicle.

Cross-countryLong haul
  • Updated for 2026
  • US avg fuel prices
  • EPA-style MPG
  • EV rates vary by state
  • US units
Distance

938 mi

Driving time

15 hr 6 min

Fuel stops

2

EV charges

4

Route overview938 mi

2 suggested fuel stops

Key takeaway

Plan on about $116 in gas one-way in a 28 MPG sedan, with 2 fuel stops and roughly 15 hr 6 min behind the wheel.

Drive intensity

Cross-country

Consider an overnight stop.

Estimate your trip cost

Pre-filled with the St. Louis → Denver distance.

miles
mpg
$/gal

Estimated Trip Cost

$0.00

Per Person

$0.00

Gallons

0.00gal

Total miles: 938 (one way).

How we estimate this trip

Distance
Great-circle distance between city centers × 1.18 road factor, rounded to whole miles.
Fuel cost formula
(miles ÷ MPG) × price per gallon, computed one-way unless noted.
Gas price assumption
Recent US average retail regular gas (AAA-style baseline).
EV charging assumption
Combined MPGe with average US residential electricity rate.
Tolls & weather
Not included — add manually for I-95, I-90 and mountain routes.
Driving time
Estimated at typical highway average speeds; excludes long breaks.

Sources & assumptions

  • EPA fuel economy data — City / highway / combined MPG and MPGe baselines.
  • U.S. Department of Energy (fueleconomy.gov) — Vehicle efficiency and EV range references.
  • AAA gas price trends — Recent national and regional retail fuel averages.
  • EIA electricity rates — Average residential per-kWh prices used for EV charging.

We summarize publicly available data — no scraping, no external API calls. Figures are calibrated periodically; use the calculators above for your exact inputs.

Fuel cost by vehicle type

Estimated one-way fuel cost at $3.45/gal (US average). Adjust for your local price.

Compact car· 35 MPG · 26.8 gal$92.46
Sedan· 28 MPG · 33.5 gal$115.58
SUV· 22 MPG · 42.6 gal$147.10
Pickup truck· 18 MPG · 52.1 gal$179.78

Cost at different gas prices

Assuming a 28 MPG sedan over the 938-mile route.

Gas at $3.15/gal

$105.52

one way · ~33.5 gal

Gas at $3.45/gal

$115.58

one way · ~33.5 gal

Gas at $3.85/gal

$128.97

one way · ~33.5 gal

Fuel & charging stops

2 fuel stops one-way

A typical 28 MPG sedan with a 12.5-gallon tank covers about 350 miles per fill-up. Plan 2 stops along the way and fuel up before any remote stretches.

4 DC fast-charges for most EVs

Assuming a realistic 230-mile highway range, plan 4 DC fast-charging stops. Tesla Superchargers and Electrify America have strong coverage on most US corridors.

Halfway stop suggestion

Midpoint

Topeka, KS

Roughly halfway between St. Louis and Denver. A natural place to fuel up, grab a meal, swap drivers, or stop overnight on longer drives.

Route personality

Cross-country haulMetro-to-metroScenic mountain driveOvernight-friendly

Mountain West driving context

  • Mountain passes can require chains or AWD from November through April — check CDOT/UDOT before departure.
  • Elevation gain reduces gas MPG and EV range by 10–20% on climbs; you recover some on descents.
  • Cell coverage drops in canyons — download offline maps before you go.

City insights

St. Louis, MO

  • St. Louis traffic is heaviest 7–9 am and 4–7 pm — time your arrival around it.

Denver, CO

  • Denver traffic is heaviest 7–9 am and 4–7 pm — time your arrival around it.
  • Denver draws year-round visitors — book parking and lodging ahead in peak weeks.
  • Government and event-day closures around downtown Denver can reroute traffic.

Best stops along the way

  • Topeka, KS sits near the midpoint — natural fuel, food and restroom stop.
  • Pick a sit-down meal stop around the 2.5-hour mark to reset focus and avoid drive-thru fatigue.
  • Truck-stop plazas (Pilot, Love's, TA) reliably have fuel, food and clean restrooms every 60–90 miles.
  • Mountain pass viewpoints make great photo stops — but check brakes before long descents.

Seasonal notes

Winter

Snow, ice and chain-control zones from late November through March — carry an emergency kit.

Recommendations for this route

  • AWD or all-terrain tires help in winter; check brake pads before long descents.
  • Split the drive across a meal stop or overnight — fatigue starts hurting reaction time after 5 hours.
  • Run tires at the door-jamb PSI and pre-cool the cabin with AC on low — both add 1–3 MPG.

Is it cheaper to fly or drive?

Flying is often cheaper for one person at this distance. Driving makes sense for families, road-trippers, or anyone bringing gear.

A one-way drive uses about $116 in gas (28 MPG, $3.45/gal). A typical short domestic flight costs $80–$220 per person plus $30–$60/day for airport parking and any baggage fees.

Weather & best time

Late spring through early fall — winter snow can close passes and add hours to the drive.

  • • Mountain passes can see snow or ice from November through April — check road conditions before you leave.

Tolls

Mostly toll-free — you can drive this without a transponder.

Best vehicle

Comfort matters more than MPG on this distance. A larger sedan, hybrid SUV, or full-size SUV for families works well.

Driving difficulty

Cross-country · 15 hr 6 min

Very high — strongly consider an overnight stop rather than pushing through in a single day.

Overnight stop recommended

At 15 hr 6 min of driving, splitting the trip across two days is safer and more enjoyable. Budget hotels along the route typically run $70–$130/night.

About the drive from St. Louis to Denver

This 938-mile route between St. Louis, MO and Denver, CO is a popular drive in the region. Expect roughly 15 hr 6 min behind the wheel under normal traffic conditions.

Fuel-saving tips

  • Keep your speed near 65 mph — fuel economy drops sharply above 70.
  • Fill up before mountain or desert stretches; remote stations charge a premium.
  • Use GasBuddy or AAA to spot cheap stations along your route before you leave.
  • Use cruise control on flat sections only — long climbs benefit from light, steady throttle.
  • Plan to avoid rush hour in both cities — stop-and-go traffic can cut highway MPG by 20%.

Frequently asked questions

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

The drive is about 938 miles and takes roughly 15 hr 6 min under normal traffic. Add buffer for stops, construction, and rush hour around either city.

How much gas does the trip use?

In a 28 MPG sedan, expect about 33.5 gallons one way. A 22 MPG SUV would use roughly 42.6 gallons.

What's the typical fuel cost?

At the US average of $3.45/gal, a 28 MPG vehicle costs about $115.58 one way. Round trip roughly doubles that. Use the calculator above for your exact MPG and local gas price.

How many fuel or charging stops will I need?

A typical gas sedan needs about 2 fuel stops one way. A modern EV with ~230 miles of highway range needs about 4 DC fast-charges.

Is it cheaper to drive or fly from St. Louis to Denver?

Flying is often cheaper for one person at this distance. Driving makes sense for families, road-trippers, or anyone bringing gear.

What's the best time of year to drive this route?

Late spring through early fall — winter snow can close passes and add hours to the drive.

Where's a good halfway stop?

Topeka, KS is roughly halfway and makes a natural fuel, food, or overnight break.

Best vehicles for this route

Estimated 938-mile fuel cost for each pick at average US prices. Tap any vehicle for a full cost breakdown.

Cheapest to drive

Toyota Prius

57 MPG · hybrid

~$57

est. one-way fuel cost

See full breakdown

Best EV

Lucid Air

134 MPGe · ev

~$38

est. one-way charging cost

See full breakdown

Best sedan

Hyundai Elantra

37 MPG · sedan

~$87

est. one-way fuel cost

See full breakdown

Best SUV for comfort

Nissan Rogue

33 MPG · suv

~$98

est. one-way fuel cost

See full breakdown

Best truck for cargo

Ford Maverick

26 MPG · truck

~$124

est. one-way fuel cost

See full breakdown

Related routes

More routes like St. Louis to Denver

Reverse drives, connecting routes and regional alternatives — each with distance and driving cost at current US gas prices.

Reverse drive

Denver to St. Louis driving cost

938 mi · 15.1 h

Related road trips

More routes from St. Louis, Denver, and the surrounding region.

Denver → St. Louis

~938 mi · 15 hr 6 min

See cost

Shreveport → Denver

~944 mi · 15 hr 12 min

See cost

Reno → Denver

~930 mi · 15 hr

See cost

San Antonio → Denver

~947 mi · 15 hr 18 min

See cost

Little Rock → Denver

~918 mi · 14 hr 48 min

See cost

Austin → Denver

~911 mi · 14 hr 42 min

See cost

Bakersfield → Denver

~973 mi · 15 hr 42 min

See cost

Spokane → Denver

~975 mi · 15 hr 42 min

See cost

Fresno → Denver

~978 mi · 15 hr 48 min

See cost

Los Angeles → Denver

~979 mi · 15 hr 48 min

See cost
More MO road trips →More CO road trips →Cheapest road trips →Weekend road trips →Long-distance drives →EV-friendly routes →Browse all routes →Custom trip calculator →