Origin
East Independence, MO
Afternoon in East Independence on Friday
Local time
3:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Independence, MO to Albany, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 11m
Distance
94.8 mi
153 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 2m
★
6 AM
2h 12m
8 AM
2h 30m
10 AM
2h 18m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 29m
8 PM
2h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Independence, MO
Momo King
Albany, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Trip Overview
East Independence, MO to Albany, MO is 94.8 miles and takes about 2h 11m via Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and MO A, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest drive stays within Missouri, offering a straightforward journey between two points. It's a good option if you're looking for a relatively short, uncomplicated trip. Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of the drive, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.4 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 11m. Total distance: 94.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 72% of the route utilizing major highways. You'll experience the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for a significant portion, including a longest stretch of 48 miles without needing to turn off. The journey transitions to smaller state routes like MO A and MO 291 as you get closer to Albany, offering a slight change in pace. Overall, expect a consistent driving experience that prioritizes speed and directness.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 48 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and MO A. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Road.
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 2h 11m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East Truman Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (MO 291): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Road
Turn left onto Main Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East Truman Road
Turn right onto East Truman Road
Navigation decision point
3
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
MO 291
Merge onto MO 291
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
15.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
I 35; MO 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Merge onto I 35; MO 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
63.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Kansas City Expressway | 48 mi | 51m |
| MO A | 11.5 mi | 20m |
| MO 291 | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| Dilley Street | 8 mi | 14m |
| US 69 | 7.2 mi | 10m |
| MO 85 | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| Lightburne Street | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| East Truman Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 48 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Albany, MO.
1
Start on East 9th Street South
79 ft
·
8 sec
·
East 9th Street South
2
Turn left onto Main Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Road
3
Turn right onto East Truman Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Truman Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
5
Merge onto MO 291
9.9 mi
·
14 min
·
MO 291
6
Turn slight right
409 ft
·
8 sec
7
Turn slight right onto South Leonard Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Leonard Street
8
Continue on Lightburne Street
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Lightburne Street
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
10
Merge onto I 35; MO 110
48 mi
·
51 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
12
Turn left onto US 69
7.2 mi
·
10 min
·
US 69
13
Turn left onto MO Z
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street
14
Turn slight left onto MO Z
8.0 mi
·
14 min
·
Dilley Street
15
Turn right onto MO A
12 mi
·
20 min
·
MO A
16
Continue on MO 85
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
MO 85
17
Turn right onto East Jackson Street
193 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Jackson Street
18
Arrive at destination
East Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 11m duration and 94.8-mile distance, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim for a morning departure to give yourself plenty of daylight and flexibility. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, it's a budget-friendly excursion. While there are no designated stops in the data, you'll find opportunities for fuel and rest along the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. Pay attention to the transition from highway to state roads around MO 291 for a smoother arrival in Albany.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.4 miles from East Independence, MO, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48 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 21 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.4 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albany, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving East Independence, 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 East Independence, MO
This is one driving day of about 94.8 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from East Independence, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for about 48 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.4 mi from East Independence, MO · 1h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47.4 miles from East Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Albany, MO
The final approach into Albany, 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 Albany, 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
$14.82 one way
$29.64 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.27 | $32.55 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.24 | $36.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.93 | $41.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.95 | $4.55 |
| Efficient EV | 23.7 | 0 | $8.30 | $3.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.9 | 0 | $13.27 | $6.07 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% 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
Albany, MO
Afternoon in Albany on Friday
Local time
3:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Gallatin, MO
47 mi in
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
20 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
2h 11m 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 East Independence, MO to Albany, MO covers 94.8 miles and takes about 2h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, MO A, MO 291. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.4 miles from East Independence, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.82 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 2h 11m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East Truman Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (MO 291): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from East Independence, MO to Albany, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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