Origin
Center, MO
Evening in Center on Wednesday
Local time
7:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Center, MO to East Independence, MO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 6m
Distance
193 mi
311 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 55m
★
6 AM
3h 6m
8 AM
3h 29m
10 AM
3h 14m
12 PM
3h 12m
3 PM
3h 16m
5 PM
3h 28m
8 PM
2h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Center, MO
Lena Khrupina
East Independence, MO
Momo King
Trip Overview
The drive from Center, MO to East Independence, MO covers 193 miles and takes about 3h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Public Street, the route, Scott's Corner for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.17 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
96.5 miles from Center, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 6m drive with frequent turns across 193 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Public Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Center, MO to East Independence, MO is easy. At 3h 6m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Center, MO to East Independence, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Public Street | — | — |
| the route | — | — |
| Scott's Corner | — | — |
| US 54 West | — | — |
| I 70 West | — | — |
| Dwight D | — | — |
| Sheriff Roger I | — | — |
| Highway Patrol Sgt | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Public Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Center, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on East Lamb Street
102 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Lamb Street
2
Turn right onto South Public Street
308 ft
·
16 sec
·
South Public Street
3
Turn sharp left
19 mi
·
21 min
4
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
125 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
5
Exit the roundabout
8.1 mi
·
11 min
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Scott's Corner
62 ft
·
1 sec
·
Scott's Corner
7
Exit the rotary
10 mi
·
13 min
8
Turn left onto US 54 West: Jefferson City
18 mi
·
20 min
·
US 54 West: Jefferson City
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
10
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
19 mi
·
23 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
11
Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
12
Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
13
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
14
Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54 mi
·
58 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
15
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
52 mi
·
56 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16
Take the exit slight right toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance
17
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Little Blue Parkway
18
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
East R.D. Mize Road
19
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Jackson Drive
20
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Holke Road
21
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Truman Road
22
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Road
23
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft
·
3 sec
·
East 9th Street South
24
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 96.5 miles from Center, MO, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 42 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.5 miles or 1h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Independence, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Center, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Center, MO
This is one driving day of about 193 miles and 3h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Center, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 96.5 mi from Center, MO · 1h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 96.5 miles from Center, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in East Independence, MO
The final approach into East Independence, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around East Independence, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.17 one way
$60.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $33.13 | $66.26 |
| premium | $4.89 | $37.14 | $74.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.61 | $85.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.9 | 0 | $20.26 | $9.26 |
| Efficient EV | 48.3 | 0 | $16.89 | $7.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.2 | 0 | $27.02 | $12.35 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
East Independence, MO
Evening in East Independence on Wednesday
Local time
7:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 6m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Center, MO to East Independence, MO covers 193 miles and takes about 3h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Public Street, the route, Scott's Corner. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 96.5 miles from Center, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.17 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Center, MO to East Independence, MO is easy. At 3h 6m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Center, MO to East Independence, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Center, MO to East Independence, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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