Next 7 departures
- TueOct 13
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 64–83°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature St. Louis7 AM CDT Sunny69°F Festus7:30 AM CDT Sunny67°F Cape Girardeau8:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny64°F New Madrid9:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny72°F Missouri–Arkansas line10:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny81°F Memphis11:15 AM CDT Sunny83°F - WedOct 14
CautionChance of thunderstorms near St. Louis around 7 AM CDT. Also at 2 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature St. Louis7 AM CDT Chance of thunderstorms72°F Festus7:30 AM CDT Chance of thunderstorms71°F Cape Girardeau8:45 AM CDT Chance of thunderstorms72°F New Madrid9:30 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers78°F Missouri–Arkansas line10:15 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers82°F Memphis11:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny85°F - ThuOct 15
CautionChance of thunderstorms near St. Louis around 7 AM CDT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature St. Louis7 AM CDT Chance of thunderstorms68°F Festus7:30 AM CDT Chance of thunderstorms66°F Cape Girardeau8:45 AM CDT Slight chance of thunderstorms69°F New Madrid9:30 AM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers75°F Missouri–Arkansas line10:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny81°F Memphis11:15 AM CDT Sunny83°F - FriOct 16
CautionGusts to 30 mph near Missouri–Arkansas line around 10:15 AM CDT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature St. Louis7 AM CDT Partly sunny55°F Festus7:30 AM CDT Partly sunny51°F Cape Girardeau8:45 AM CDT Partly sunny59°F New Madrid9:30 AM CDT Partly sunny65°F Missouri–Arkansas line10:15 AM CDT Partly sunny67°F Memphis11:15 AM CDT Partly sunny71°F - SatOct 17
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 38–59°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature St. Louis7 AM CDT Mostly sunny42°F Festus7:30 AM CDT Sunny38°F Cape Girardeau8:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny46°F New Madrid9:30 AM CDT Sunny51°F Missouri–Arkansas line10:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny55°F Memphis11:15 AM CDT Sunny59°F - SunOct 18
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 36–63°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature St. Louis7 AM CDT Sunny41°F Festus7:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny36°F Cape Girardeau8:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny44°F New Madrid9:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny52°F Missouri–Arkansas line10:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny58°F Memphis11:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny63°F - MonOct 19
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 44–69°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature St. Louis7 AM CDT Partly sunny49°F Festus7:30 AM CDT Partly sunny44°F Cape Girardeau8:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny51°F New Madrid9:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny58°F Missouri–Arkansas line10:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny64°F Memphis11:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny69°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from St. Louis (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- St. Louis, MOStart 462 ftelevation
- Festus, MOMile 33 · 34 min 437 ftelevation
- Cape Girardeau, MOMile 114 · 1 h 47 min 340 ftelevation
- New Madrid, MOMile 165 · 2 h 33 min 291 ftelevation
- Missouri–Arkansas lineState line · Mile 209 · 3 h 13 min 257 ftelevation
- Memphis, TNMile 283 · 4 h 18 min 270 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rain, at St. Louis, Cape Girardeau and Memphis.
| Month | St. Louis Cahokia station · 400 ft | Cape Girardeau Jackson, Missouri station · 440 ft | Memphis 254 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Precip (in) | High / low °F | Precip (in) | High / low °F | Precip (in) | |
| Jan | 41° / 22° | 2.7 | 41° / 24° | 3.3 | 51° / 33° | 4.1 |
| Feb | 46° / 26° | 2.3 | 46° / 27° | 3.7 | 56° / 37° | 4.5 |
| Mar | 56° / 35° | 3.5 | 57° / 35° | 5.0 | 64° / 44° | 5.7 |
| Apr | 68° / 45° | 4.6 | 69° / 46° | 5.5 | 73° / 53° | 5.9 |
| May | 76° / 56° | 4.8 | 78° / 56° | 5.5 | 82° / 62° | 5.3 |
| Jun | 85° / 65° | 4.3 | 87° / 65° | 4.2 | 89° / 70° | 4.0 |
| Jul | 89° / 69° | 5.0 | 90° / 69° | 4.3 | 92° / 74° | 4.8 |
| Aug | 87° / 67° | 3.1 | 89° / 67° | 3.6 | 92° / 73° | 3.4 |
| Sep | 80° / 59° | 3.4 | 82° / 59° | 3.4 | 86° / 66° | 3.0 |
| Oct | 70° / 46° | 3.0 | 70° / 47° | 3.6 | 75° / 54° | 4.0 |
| Nov | 56° / 35° | 3.3 | 55° / 35° | 4.6 | 63° / 43° | 4.7 |
| Dec | 45° / 27° | 2.8 | 45° / 28° | 3.7 | 53° / 36° | 5.5 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: CAHOKIA (USC00111160, 400 ft); JACKSON (USC00234226, 440 ft); MEMPHIS INTL AP (USW00013893, 254 ft). Precipitation is the monthly total of rain and melted snow, in inches. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee rather than repeat them.
- Missouri · MoDOTTraveler information map
- Arkansas · ARDOTIDriveArkansas road conditions
- Tennessee · TDOTSmartWay road conditions
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from St. Louis to Memphis with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from St. Louis to Memphis?
283 miles, about 4½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-55. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the wettest month in Memphis?
April. Memphis averages 5.9 inches of rain and melted snow that month (1991–2020 normals).
How cold is Memphis in January?
Memphis averages a high of 51°F and a low of 33°F in January (1991–2020 normals).