Trip from East Independence, MO to Bethany, MO

Drive Time

Distance

383.9 mi

618 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$58

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

12 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min

4 AM

7h 52m ★

6 AM

8h 0m

8 AM

8h 18m

10 AM

8h 6m

12 PM

8h 5m

3 PM

8h 7m

5 PM

8h 17m

8 PM

7h 55m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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East Independence, MO

Ankit Rainloure

Bethany, MO

Mikhail Nilov

Trip Overview

The drive from East Independence, MO to Bethany, MO covers 383.9 miles and takes about 8h behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on US 60, MO 13, MO 7 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 177.3 miles on US 60. At current regular gas prices, budget about $58.31 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

191.9 miles from East Independence, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 56m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 8h highway drive covering 383.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 60 and MO 13. The longest continuous stretch is about 177.3 miles on US 60.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 60 is the longest continuous segment at about 177.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and MO 13. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Road.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 383.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Road): Navigation decision point; at 12 miles (MO 291): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles (MO 291): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 23 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Main Road

Turn left onto Main Road

Navigation decision point

12 mi into trip | ~18m in | MO 291

Keep slight left at fork onto MO 291 toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 10B Toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville

15.3 mi into trip | ~23m in | MO 291

Take the ramp onto MO 291 toward US 50 West, MO 291 South: Kansas City

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 50 West, MO 291 South: Kansas City

33.1 mi into trip | ~50m in

Take the exit toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin

255.4 mi into trip | ~5h 10m in | US 60

Keep slight left at fork onto US 60 toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff

Towns Along This Route

Between East Independence, MO and Bethany, MO, road signs point toward Saint Louis and Poplar Bluff.

Saint Louis

159.8 mi in | ~3h 17m

Poplar Bluff

255.4 mi in | ~5h 10m | via US 60

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 60	177.3 mi	3h 28m
MO 13	68 mi	1h 19m
MO 7	55.6 mi	1h 4m
MO 291	31 mi	45m
MO 53	19.6 mi	29m
Schoolcraft Freeway	8.3 mi	10m
MO J	5.2 mi	9m
Payne Stewart Highway	4.3 mi	5m

Longest stretch: US 60 — 177.3 mi, about 3h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Bethany, MO.

Start on East 9th Street South

79 ft · 8 sec · East 9th Street South

Turn left onto Main Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Main Road

Turn right onto East Truman Road

1.4 mi · 3 min · East Truman Road

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Toward MO 291 South: Lee's Summit

Merge onto MO 291

10.0 mi · 13 min · MO 291

Keep slight left at fork onto MO 291

3.3 mi · 5 min · MO 291

Exit 10B Toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp onto MO 291

0.6 mi · 53 sec · MO 291

Toward US 50 West, MO 291 South: Kansas City

Take the exit onto MO 291

0.1 mi · 18 sec · MO 291

Toward MO 291 South: Jefferson Street, Harrisonville

Keep slight left at fork onto MO 291

17 mi · 24 min · MO 291

Toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville

Continue on Cantrell Road

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Cantrell Road

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin

Merge onto I 49; US 71

2.8 mi · 3 min · I 49; US 71

Take the exit onto MO 7

0.2 mi · 19 sec · MO 7

Exit 157 Toward MO 7 South: Clinton

Turn slight left onto MO 7

55 mi · 1 hr 3 min · MO 7

Exit 157 Toward MO 7 South: Clinton Use the left lane.

Continue on MO 13

68 mi · 1 hr 19 min · MO 13

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Toward I 44 East: Rolla, Saint Louis

Merge onto I 44

4.3 mi · 5 min · Payne Stewart Highway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Exit 82A Toward US 65 South: Branson

Merge onto US 65

8.3 mi · 10 min · Schoolcraft Freeway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 52 sec

Toward US 60 East: Cabool

Merge onto US 60

82 mi · 1 hr 35 min · US 60

Keep slight left at fork onto US 60

90 mi · 1 hr 46 min · US 60

Toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff

Keep slight right at fork onto US 60

4.8 mi · 6 min · US 60

Turn straight onto US 60 Business; US 67 Business

1.6 mi · 2 min · North Westwood Boulevard

Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business

0.3 mi · 25 sec · State Street

Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business

2.3 mi · 3 min · North Westwood Boulevard

Turn slight left

133 ft · 7 sec

Turn slight left onto MO 53

20 mi · 29 min · MO 53

Turn left onto MO J

5.2 mi · 9 min · MO J

Turn left onto MO H

3.5 mi · 8 min · MO H

Turn right onto County Road 102

0.8 mi · 3 min · County Road 102

Arrive at destination

County Road 102

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 191.9 miles from East Independence, MO, or about 3h 56m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 177.3 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 84 miles or 1h 49m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 191.9 miles or 3h 56m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 191.9 miles or 3h 56m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 31m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethany, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from East Independence, MO

Aim for roughly 192 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Bethany, MO

Aim for roughly 192 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from East Independence, MO.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on US 60 for about 177.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 191.9 mi from East Independence, MO · 3h 56m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Bentonville, AR

192 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Bentonville, AR

Overnight Options

Night 1

Bentonville, AR

192 mi · about 4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Bentonville, AR after about 192 miles or 4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Warsaw, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 84 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bentonville, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 191.9 miles from East Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 60 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 177.3 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 192 miles or 4 hours on the road.

Arriving in Bethany, MO

The final approach into Bethany, 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 Bethany, MO.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Bethany, MO with some flexibility left in the schedule.

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

National Battlefield

Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...

11 mi from route ~26 min detour Free near mile 172.1

Caution: BE AWARE OF HIGH-WATER DANGER

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$58.31 one way

$116.62 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 134 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$64.28	$128.56
premium	$4.80	$72.47	$144.94
diesel	$5.64	$85.29	$170.58

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$58

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$188–$298

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 134.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

12 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Buc-ee's - Tesla Supercharger

Springfield, MO

Tesla

16 DCFC

Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center - Tesla Supercharger

Independence, MO

Tesla

14 DCFC

Macadoodles Fine Wine & Spirits - Tesla Supercharger

Springfield, MO

Tesla

10 DCFC

Target T1201 (Independence, MO)

Independence, MO

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Flying J 672

Peculiar, MO

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

Price Chopper - Harrisonville

Harrisonville, MO

FCN

4 DCFC

Port In The Storm

Osceola, MO

SYNERGEV

4 DCFC

Pilot Travel Center 1061

Springfield, MO

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

Tesla: 3 eVgo Network: 2 ChargePoint Network: 2 Electrify America: 1 Blink Network: 1 FORD_CHARGE: 1 FCN: 1 SYNERGEV: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	115.2	1	$40.31	$18.43
Efficient EV	96	1	$33.59	$15.36
EV Truck/SUV	153.6	1	$53.75	$24.57

Gas CO2

134 kg

EV CO2

45 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

East Independence, MO

Morning in East Independence on Monday

Local time

6:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bethany, MO

Morning in Bethany on Monday

Local time

6:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

10 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

8h on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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 Bethany, MO covers 383.9 miles and takes about 8h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 60, MO 13, MO 7. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 192 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 191.9 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 $58.31 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between East Independence, MO and Bethany, MO, road signs point toward Saint Louis and Poplar Bluff.

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Trip from East Independence, MO to Bethany, MO

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Bethany, MO

National Parks Near This Route

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

East Independence, MO

Bethany, MO

Same local time

10 degrees warmer at arrival

8h on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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