How Much Will It Cost to Drive from Carmel, IN to St. Louis, MO?
If you're planning a road trip from Carmel, Indiana to St. Louis, Missouri, you'll want to budget for the cost of the trip. Gas prices can fluctuate, and there are multiple routes from which to choose, each with their own cost in gas and tolls. Here's a breakdown of the costs for a few different routes from Carmel to St. Louis, based on current gas prices.
Option 1: I-70 through Indianapolis and Terre Haute
The most direct route from Carmel to St. Louis is to take I-70 west through Indianapolis and Terre Haute. This route is approximately 260 miles long, and it takes about 4 hours to drive. If you're driving an average car that gets around 25 miles per gallon and gas is $3.00 a gallon, you can expect to spend around $62 on gas for the round trip. There are no tolls on this route, so the total cost for the trip would be $62.
Option 2: I-74 through Champaign, IL
Another option is to take I-74 through Champaign, IL. This route is approximately 290 miles long, and it takes around 4 and a half hours to drive. If you're driving an average car that gets around 25 miles per gallon and gas is $3.00 a gallon, you can expect to spend around $69 on gas for the round trip. There are no tolls on this route, so the total cost for the trip would be $69.
Option 3: I-65 to I-64 through Louisville
If you want to take a slightly longer route, you can take I-65 south to Louisville, and then take I-64 west to St. Louis. This route is approximately 325 miles long, and it takes around 5 and a half hours to drive. If you're driving an average car that gets around 25 miles per gallon and gas is $3.00 a gallon, you can expect to spend around $78 on gas for the round trip. There are no tolls on I-65, but you'll need to pay a toll of $4.10 each way to cross the Abraham Lincoln Bridge and the Kennedy Bridge on I-64. The total cost for the trip would be around $87.
Option 4: US-41 to I-57
Finally, you could take US-41 south to I-57, and then take I-64 west to St. Louis. This route is approximately 300 miles long, and it takes around 5 hours to drive. If you're driving an average car that gets around 25 miles per gallon and gas is $3.00 a gallon, you can expect to spend around $72 on gas for the round trip. There are no tolls on US-41, but you'll need to pay a toll of $5.00 each way to cross the Wabash Memorial Bridge on I-64. The total cost for the trip would be around $82.
Conclusion
No matter which route you choose, the cost of driving from Carmel, Indiana to St. Louis, Missouri will depend on gas prices and any tolls you encounter. By budgeting ahead of time and choosing the most cost-effective route, you can make your road trip as affordable as possible.