Cajun Crab House Seafood Restaurant
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Columbia, Missouri
Hours: 3–8 pm
+15732346277
Visit websiteLast recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 29m
Distance
229.7 mi
370 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
23 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Independence, MO
Momo King
Bel-Nor, MO
Valeria Boltneva
The drive from East Independence, MO to Bel-Nor, MO covers 229.7 miles and takes about 4h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 164.8 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.91 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
114.8 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 29m. Total distance: 229.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Expect a 4h 29m drive with frequent turns across 229.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Road.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 229.7 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Road): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 228 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto Main Road
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward North Hanley Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto North Hanley Road
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto Hatherly Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 164.8 mi | 3h 10m |
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| South Little Blue Parkway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| South Jackson Drive | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Holke Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Truman Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Bel-Nor, MO.
Start on East 9th Street South
Turn left onto Main Road
Turn left onto East Truman Road
Turn right onto Holke Road
Turn straight onto South Jackson Drive
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
Take the ramp
Continue on I 70
Continue on I 70; US 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Take the exit
Turn right onto North Hanley Road
Turn left onto MO 115
Turn right onto Clearview Drive
Keep slight left at fork onto Hatherly Drive
Continue on Hatherly Drive
Turn right onto Audrain Drive
Arrive at destination
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.
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 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.8 miles or 2h 9m 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 Bel-Nor, MO than in the middle of the route.
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 229.7 miles and 4h 29m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 114.8 mi from East Independence, MO · 2h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
115 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.
A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 114.8 miles from East Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 164.8 miles.
The final approach into Bel-Nor, 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 Bel-Nor, MO.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Columbia, Missouri
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Hours: 3–8 pm
+15732346277
Chuck-A-Burger Drive-In Restaurant
St. Louis, Missouri
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Columbia, Missouri
Hours: 3–8 pm
+15732346277
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
St. Louis, Missouri
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+13144279524
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Independence, Missouri
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+18167955520
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Wentzville, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18774943833
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Warrenton, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18334662474
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbia, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbia, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18337484267
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Warrenton, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbia, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbia, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbia, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$35.91 one way
$71.82 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $39.43 | $78.86 |
| premium | $4.89 | $44.20 | $88.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.71 | $101.43 |
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: 80.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
23 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Blink Charging Station
Columbia, Missouri
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Kingdom City, Missouri
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Columbia, Missouri
1 DCFC
Rivian Adventure Network
Columbia, Missouri
1 DCFC
Flying J EV Charging Station
Warrenton, Missouri
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Columbia, Missouri
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Columbia, Missouri
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Columbia, Missouri
1 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.9 | 0 | $24.12 | $11.03 |
| Efficient EV | 57.4 | 0 | $20.10 | $9.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 91.9 | 1 | $32.16 | $14.70 |
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in East Independence on Thursday
Local time
7:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Bel-Nor on Thursday
Local time
7:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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