Origin
East Independence, MO
Night in East Independence on Tuesday
Local time
9:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Independence, MO to Bethany, MO
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
1h 45m
Distance
88.5 mi
142 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 38m
★
6 AM
1h 46m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 51m
12 PM
1h 50m
3 PM
1h 52m
5 PM
2h 1m
8 PM
1h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Independence, MO
Momo King
Bethany, MO
Lena Khrupina
Trip Overview
The drive from East Independence, MO to Bethany, MO covers 88.5 miles and takes about 1h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, MO 291, Lightburne Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 71.7 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.84 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
44.2 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 45m highway drive covering 88.5 miles, with most of the trip on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and MO 291. The longest continuous stretch is about 71.7 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 71.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and MO 291. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Road.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 45m 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 87.4 miles (US 136 / Miller Street): Navigation decision point.
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
4
87.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
|
US 136 / Miller Street
Turn left onto US 136 / Miller Street
Navigation decision point
5
88.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
|
MO W / Main Street
Turn left onto MO W / Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
88.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Kansas City Expressway | 71.7 mi | 1h 16m |
| MO 291 | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| Lightburne Street | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| East Truman Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Miller Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Leonard Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Main Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| South 25th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 71.7 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Bethany, 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
72 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
12
Turn left onto US 136
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Miller Street
13
Turn right onto US 69
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South 25th Street
14
Turn left onto MO W
139 ft
·
11 sec
·
Main Street
15
Turn sharp left
32 ft
·
1 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 44.2 miles from East Independence, MO, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.7 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.2 miles or 57m 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 30m
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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from East Independence, MO
This is one driving day of about 88.5 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from East Independence, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for about 71.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.2 mi from East Independence, MO · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.2 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 Chicago-Kansas City Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.7 miles.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.84 one way
$27.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $15.19 | $30.38 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.03 | $34.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.54 | $39.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.29 | $4.25 |
| Efficient EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.4 | 0 | $12.39 | $5.66 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Bethany, MO
Night in Bethany on Tuesday
Local time
9:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
30 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
1h 45m 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 Bethany, MO covers 88.5 miles and takes about 1h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, MO 291, Lightburne Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.2 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 $13.84 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 1h 45m 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 87.4 miles (US 136 / Miller Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from East Independence, MO to Bethany, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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