Houston to St Louis road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time
The best road trip stops on the Houston to St Louis drive are Marshall TX, Hot Springs AR and Walnut Ridge AR. The distance from Houston to St Louis is 779 miles, with a 12h driving time.
Planning a Houston to St Louis road trip itinerary
The Houston to St Louis drive connects the biggest city in Texas to the Mississippi River in Missouri.
The top Houston attraction is unquestionably the NASA Space Center, which takes you behind the scenes of the Johnson Space Center. This includes the Mission Briefing Center, and a vast array of high tech exhibitions.
Other attractions include the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Children’s Museum,
For more Houston experiences, try hip hop party bike tours, foodie walks in the Montrose neighbourhood and quirky tours of Houston’s tunnel system.
Top Houston accommodation options include the superb value Club Quarters Houston Downtown and the upscale but boutique Magnolia.
St Louis is one of America’s great crossroads cities. The major landmark is the 630ft-tall Gateway Arch, which visitors can go to the top of. Other top attractions include the Cathedral Basilica of St Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden and Busch Stadium.
Good St Louis experiences include highlight-packed trolley tours, true crime walking tours and small group tours that include going to the top of the St Louis Arch and a Mississippi River cruise.
For St Louis accommodation with personality, try the Last Hotel or the Pennywell.
Houston to St Louis distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Houston to St Louis is 779 miles. That makes for a driving time of around 12 hours. The quickest route goes along the US-59, I-30, US-167, US-67 and I-55.
The best stops to add to a Houston to St Louis road trip itinerary are Marshall TX, Hot Springs AR and Walnut Ridge AR.
Best stops between Houston and St Louis: Marshall TX
The main city in wealthy Harrison County, Marshall, has plenty of heritage on display. The Starr Family Home has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979, and the Harrison County Historical Museum covers the region’s backstory.
The most interesting section delves into the bizarre period where Marshall became the Confederate capital of… Missouri. The Missouri Confederate leadership decamped here to lead a government in exile during the Civil War.
Accommodation in Marshall is almost entirely motel-style. Hunt here for deals.
Houston to St Louis road trip attractions: Hot Springs AR
Hot Springs in the Ouachita Mountains has loads to do. The natural highlight is Hot Springs National Park, which strings thermal springs together on a series of hiking trails. The historic bathhouses are also part of the national park.
There are also several amusement parks, of which Magic Springs is arguably the best as it has a water park.
Other Hot Springs experiences include zip line adventures and the Star Wars and superhero-obsessed Galaxy Connection.
For well-rated Hot Springs accommodation with charm, go for the Hilltop Manor B&B or the Gables Inn.
Houston to St Louis drive: Walnut Ridge AR
Walnut Ridge AR is home to the Wings of Honor Museum. This aviation museum focuses on the Walnut Ridge Army Flying School, which trained numerous pilots during World War II. The focus is on the Second World War, but offers a wider commemoration of American veterans.
Also in Walnut Ridge is Beatles Park, which is full of artwork celebrating the only time the Beatles visited Arkansas.
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