Origin
Dellwood, MO
Afternoon in Dellwood on Saturday
Local time
2:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dellwood, MO to East Independence, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 30m
Distance
231.1 mi
372 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 17m
★
6 AM
4h 30m
8 AM
4h 57m
10 AM
4h 39m
12 PM
4h 37m
3 PM
4h 41m
5 PM
4h 55m
8 PM
4h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dellwood, MO
Momo King
East Independence, MO
Momo King
Trip Overview
The drive from Dellwood, MO to East Independence, MO covers 231.1 miles and takes about 4h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 70, Airport Road, South Little Blue Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 221.4 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.13 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
115.6 miles from Dellwood, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 221.4 mi | 4h 12m |
| Airport Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| South Little Blue Parkway | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| South Jackson Drive | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Holke Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Inner Belt Expressway | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Chambers Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Truman Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 221.4 mi, about 4h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dellwood, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on Chambers Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Chambers Road
2
Continue on Hereford Avenue
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Hereford Avenue
3
Continue on Airport Road
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Airport Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 170 South
5
Merge onto I 170
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
Inner Belt Expressway
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 7B
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 70
221 mi
·
4 hr 12 min
·
I 70
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 17
Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Little Blue Parkway
10
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
East R.D. Mize Road
11
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Jackson Drive
12
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Holke Road
13
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Truman Road
14
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Road
15
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft
·
3 sec
·
East 9th Street South
16
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
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 115.6 miles from Dellwood, MO, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 221.4 miles.
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 51 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.6 miles or 2h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 37m
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 Dellwood, 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 Dellwood, MO
This is one driving day of about 231.1 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Dellwood, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 221.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 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 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 115.6 miles from Dellwood, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 221.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 231.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 170 South
Navigation decision point
Toward I 170 South
7
4.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7B
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
5
4.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
225.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 18m in
Take the exit toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall E...
5
231.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 30m in
|
East 9th Street South
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.13 one way
$72.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
81 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $39.67 | $79.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $44.47 | $88.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.02 | $102.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.3 | 0 | $24.27 | $11.09 |
| Efficient EV | 57.8 | 0 | $20.22 | $9.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 92.4 | 1 | $32.35 | $14.79 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Afternoon in East Independence on Saturday
Local time
2:43 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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 30m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
$19
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
231.1 mi in 4h 30m, mostly highway — 221.4 mi of that is on I 70.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 221.4 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Airport Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 30m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 30m. Total distance: 231.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 221.4 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at East Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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