Looking for good hotel btwn Columbia, MO & St Louis

[disneygrandma]

The last time we drove to WDW we stayed our 1st nite in Columbia. This time we want to get a little farther down the road. However, we don't want to stay in St Louis, or the other side of it. Our 2 grand children want to see the Arch as we drive by, and they can get a much better look in daylight.

Since we'll be leaving home in the evening, we're only looking for a place to sleep, and have a quick breakfast. (so not interested in a pool, or nearby restaurants) We normally like to stay in places that are fairly new, or recently renovated, but really we just want nice & clean. Also, we don't want to stay in "bad" or questionable areas.

I've tried searching on Trip Advisor, but there's so much area to cover. I'm hoping someone here on the Dis will know of a good place they would recommend.

Thanks!

 

[NotUrsula]

Essentially, the Wentzville/St. Peters/St.Charles area is the gateway to greater St. Louis when you are approaching on 70 from the west. However, that is an established route, and the majority of the near-highway lodgings along there are not new. The newest of them are probably going to be the ones nearest downtown St. Charles (5th St., exits 229)

I'll mention something about the Arch: if you approach it from I70 you will not be able to see it for very long with the sun rising behind it, because you will approach it closely from the north. If you approach it directly from the west on I-64 then you will be able to see it for a long time. The catch to this is that if you are driving EB on I-64 through St. Louis county on a weekday morning you will get caught in traffic, because that is the main commuter route into downtown.

Now, then, the reason that I said all that is that if you want to come in on I-64 (known locally as Hwy.40), then you can swing south from I-70 at Wentzville on I-64. There are several new lodgings on the I-64 service road near Hwy. K in O'Fallon.

PS: I was assuming that you mean to cross the river into Illinois; if you don't, and are continuing south on I-55, then I recommend that you do come in on I70, or you will only see the Arch in the distance, because the exit from I-64 to I-55 is well south of downtown.

 

[disneygrandma]

Yes, we do plan to cross in to Illinois. Thanks for all the info. I'll take a look at that route on the map.

We are worried about the commuter traffic in the morning. Originally, we had hoped to leave several hours earlier & then get to the other side of St Louis before dark. However, due to work & school schedules, that won't be possible.

Thanks again.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Wish I had someplace specific to recommend for you. I know there's hotels at the New Florence/Montgomery City exit (hwy 19) and a bit further East in Warrenton (hwy 47), and just a hair further East in Foristell. You're still in "small town" territory with either of these stops, and then you get into more suburban areas with Wentzville & St Peters. Busier area, but still the "good" part of town. St. Charles is going to be probably pricier, and I wouldn't go any further East than that. If you're coming through on a weekday, you'll want to get East of I-270 no later than 7:00 a.m. to avoid the worst of the traffic. Once on the Illinois side after all the lanes merge back together, you'll want to be in the right lane or one lane from the far right so you can make the I-64 exit. It's only about a mile from the bridge.

 

[disneygrandma]

We've looked at the map, and for sure will get off I-70 and take I-64 thru St Louis. As I said earlier, we're worried about the traffic in the morning, so if we need to be at I-270 by 7 AM, then maybe staying in Chesterfield would be a possibility. Trip Advisor had good ratings for the Hampton Inn there, and it looks to be about 5 mi W of I-270.

However, we'd have to travel late to get there, and I'm not so sure that we'd be on the road again by 7 AM. In addition, it's about $45 more than the hotel we're considering in Columbia. Not a big deal if that would be the better location for us.

But let's say we don't leave until 7:30 that morning, and it is a week day. Which would be better for us to do, considering time & experience.....leave at 7:30 from Columbia, and getting to St Louis later, maybe after the rush hour, or leave from Chesterfield at 7:30 and be in the rush hour traffic???

I'm guessing that Chesterfield is about 1 1/2 hrs from Columbia. We're hoping to get way south of Macon, GA (Tifton for sure, but would love to get to Valdosta) that next day. Will we loose the time we gained, by driving further the night before to Chesterfield, due to heavier traffic at that time in the morning? Also, does this traffic stay heavy all the way thru past the arch?

Any help you can give us on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

If you leave Columbia at 7:30, you should miss the bulk of STL rush hour. But, you'll be that much further behind in your effort to make it past Macon. Not too far out of your path is the Drury Inn at Olive & 270. Olive runs East/West (may be listed as 340 or Clarkson on some maps) is just North of I64/Hwy 40. It's one of the few places along your route I can comment on as I used to work right up the street from there for several years. Might be an option. Chesterfield would work as well, but I would definitely try to be on the road early. Another option might be to head even further South and approach the city on I44 instead of 64/40. Granted, it's probably 10-12 miles out of your way, but I find traffic lighter on 44 than 64/40 and the road is straighter. Once again, you'll want to get East of 270 as early as possible. Seems like there are some places to stay on Lindbergh just off 44, so you'd be starting out East of 270 if you were to stay there.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

BTW, our normal Florida route starts out about an hour West of STL, and we circle completely South (way out of your way, and no good view of the arch - well, it's a good view, but distant LOL) by taking 270 South to 255 into IL, and then to 64 East. If we can get out of the house by 8 or so, that usually puts us into Chattanooga in time to see the aquarium & retire there for the night.