St Louis to Philadelphia drive: Distance, time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the St Louis to Philadelphia drive are Indianapolis, Columbus OH and Pittsburgh. The distance from St Louis to Philadelphia is 886 miles, with a 13h18m driving time.
Planning a St Louis to Philadelphia road trip itinerary
The St Louis to Philadelphia drive takes you from the Mississippi River in Missouri to the history-drenched biggest city in Pennsylvania.
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.
Historic Philadelphia has a series of absolutely stellar attractions. Independence Hall, the Eastern State Penitentiary and the National Constitution Center are all utterly engrossing.
Other key attractions in Philadelphia include the Museum of the American Revolution, the Independence Seaport Museum and the Penn Museum. For great Philadelphia tour options, try the Old City historic walking tour, a night tour exploring the city’s dark side or an It’s Always Sunny-themed tour of South Philadelphia.
If looking for Philadelphia accommodation, the Club Quarters Rittenhouse Square is often great value, while the Kimpton Hotel Monaco has style and personality.
St Louis to Philadelphia distance and driving time
By car, the distance from St Louis to Philadelphia is 886 miles. That makes for a driving time of around 13 hours and 18 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-70 and I-86.
The best road trip stops on the St Louis to Philadelphia drive are Indianapolis, Columbus OH and Pittsburgh.
For more suggestions, see the guides to the individual sections of the journey.
- St Louis to Indianapolis drive.
- Indianapolis to Columbus OH drive.
- Columbus OH to Pittsburgh drive.
- Pittsburgh to Philadelphia drive.
St Louis to Philadelphia road trip itinerary: Indianapolis
The capital of Indiana marries big city energy with country charm.
Top attractions in Indianapolis include the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
Worthwhile Indianapolis experiences include a Fountain Square food tour and a walking tour around the city’s highlights.
Best stops between St Louis and Philadelphia: Columbus, Ohio
In Columbus, a three day attractions pass covers most of the top sights. These include the Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. For other Columbus experiences, try scavenger hunts, a town tour aboard the Trolley Pub and the Legoland Discovery Center.
St Louis to Philadelphia drive: Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania is a monstrously underrated city, with a series of stellar attractions. Get great views from the top of the Duquesne Incline, enjoy the globally-themed rooms at the unmissable Cathedral of Learning and become immersed in pop art at the Warhol Museum.
You can explore Pittsburgh with a hop-on, hop-off bus pass. Pittsburgh experiences include bike tours full of stories, guided whiskey-themed walks and craft beer sampling on a multi-brewery tour.
For Pittsburgh hotels with great reviews, try the Italian villa-style Priory Hotel or the often good value Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh Downtown.
More St Louis road trips
St Louis to Atlanta | Boston to St Louis | St Louis to Branson MO | St Louis to Chicago | St Louis to Cleveland | St Louis to Columbus | Dallas to St Louis | Denver to St Louis | Detroit to St Louis | Houston to St Louis | Indianapolis to St Louis | St Louis to Joplin MO | Kansas City to St Louis | St Louis to Knoxville | St Louis to Milwaukee | Nashville to St Louis | St Louis to New York City | St Louis to Oklahoma City | Omaha to St Louis | St Louis to Pittsburgh | St Louis to Springfield MO | St Louis to Tampa | St Louis to Tulsa | St Louis to Washington DC | Wichita to St Louis.
More Philadelphia road trips
Philadelphia to Baltimore | Boston to Philadelphia | Philadelphia to Charlotte | Chicago to Philadelphia | Philadelphia to Cincinnati | Cleveland to Philadelphia | Columbus to Philadelphia | Dallas to Philadelphia | Philadelphia to Denver | Philadelphia to Detroit | Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale | Harrisburg to Philadelphia | Hartford to Philadelphia | Houston to Philadelphia | Indianapolis to Philadelphia | Philadelphia to Myrtle Beach | New Haven to Philadelphia | New York City to Philadelphia | Pittsburgh to Philadelphia | Raleigh NC to Philadelphia | Philadelphia to Richmond VA | Philadelphia to Tampa | Philadelphia to Washington DC | Philadelphia to Wilmington NC.