The best road trip stops on the St Louis to Cleveland drive are Casey IL, Indianapolis and Columbus OH. The distance from St Louis to Cleveland is 562 miles, with an 8h22m driving time.
Planning a St Louis to Cleveland road trip itinerary
The drive from St Louis to Cleveland takes you from the Mississippi River in Missouri to Lake Erie in Ohio. And there are plenty of things to do on the way.
5 great St Louis experiences to book
- 🌆 Take a small group tour of the Gateway Arch – including tickets to the top.
- 🚢 Combine a visit to the Gateway Arch with a river cruise.
- 📸 At the Museum of Illusions, get reels of cool social media photos.
- 👻 Discover the dark side of St Louis on an evening ghost tour.
- 🍽️ On a food and history walking tour, learn about the flavours and stories of St Louis.
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 Saint Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park, plus the Pulitzer Arts Foundation and Old Courthouse in the city.
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.
Top attractions in Cleveland include the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Science Center and Cleveland History Center. Alternatively, try the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Cleveland tour options focus on neighbourhood food scenes and ghostly tales after dark.
5 Great Cleveland Experiences to Book
- 👻 Cleveland Ghost Tour: Hear spooky stories from the city’s past and explore haunted landmarks on a guided evening walking tour.
- 🌲 Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Link together the best viewpoints and trails on a self-drive visit with a comprehensive smartphone audio guide.
- 🎸 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Explore the history of music legends through iconic artifacts and immersive exhibits at this world-famous lakeside museum.
- 🌮 Ohio City Neighborhood Food Tour: Experience one of the city’s trendiest districts through multiple food tastings and expert drink pairings.
- 🍎 West Side Market Food Tour: Get to know the best local stalls and the history of Cleveland’s oldest operating indoor/outdoor market.
St Louis to Cleveland distance and driving time
By car, the distance from St Louis to Cleveland is 562 miles. You can expect a driving time of around eight hours and 22 minutes. The quickest route largely follows the I-70 and I-71.
The best stops to add to a St Louis to Cleveland road trip itinerary are Casey IL, Indianapolis and Columbus OH.
St Louis to Cleveland road trip attractions: Casey, Illinois
Casey, Illinois, is possibly the silliest town in the US. It has decided that its niche is going to be making Big Things, and displaying them by the side of the road. That means you can see the World’s Largest Rocking Chair, the World’s Largest Pitchfork, the World’s Largest Golf Tee and several other record-breakers.
Not all are officially the biggest on the planet, but you can also see the Big Rocking Horse, the Big Taco and the Big Anvil.
Best stops between St Louis and Cleveland: 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.
St Louis to Cleveland drive: 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.
- Find more attractions on the Columbus to Cleveland drive.
More Ohio road trips
- Road trips from Columbus, Ohio: Guides to the Columbus to Chicago drive, Columbus to Detroit drive, Columbus to Indianapolis drive, Columbus to Philadelphia drive and Columbus to Pittsburgh drive.
- Road trips from Toledo, Ohio: Guides to the Toledo to Chicago drive and Toledo to Detroit drive.
- Getting to Cincinnati: The best stops on the Columbus to Cincinnati drive, Louisville to Cincinnati drive, Nashville to Cincinnati drive and Pittsburgh to Cincinnati drive.
- Getting to Cleveland: The best stops on the Cincinnati to Cleveland drive, Columbus to Cleveland drive, Indianapolis to Cleveland drive, Toledo to Cleveland drive and Pittsburgh to Cleveland drive.
