Origin
East Independence, MO
Morning in East Independence on Friday
Local time
7:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Independence, MO to La Monte, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
70 mi
113 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Independence, MO
Momo King
La Monte, MO
Anatolii Maks
Trip Overview
East Independence, MO to La Monte, MO is 70 miles and takes about 1 hour 27 minutes via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, MO 13, and US 50, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, making it a straightforward journey between two points in Missouri. The drive is characterized as a mixed experience, suggesting you'll encounter different types of roads rather than a single monotonous stretch. It's a short enough drive that you can easily complete it in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time and potential for spontaneous stops.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 70 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
You'll experience a mixed drive on this route, with a significant portion, 47%, being highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 32.3 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This means you'll have periods of faster travel before transitioning to other roads. Expect the character of the drive to change as you progress, moving from interstate-style highways to potentially more local or state routes as you approach your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 32.3 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
892 ft
731 ft
Total Climb
372 ft
Total Descent
342 ft
Highest Point
892 ft
~10 mi in
Elevation Range
161 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 70 miles you will encounter 15 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 37.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 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
8
5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 17
Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall E...
6
37.6 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 49
Toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg
5
49.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
MO 13
Enter roundabout onto MO 13
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
54.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East: Sedalia, Jefferson City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 East: Sedalia, Jefferson City
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between East Independence, MO and La Monte, MO, road signs point toward Mall Entrance, Warrensburg and Jefferson City.
Mall Entrance
5 mi in
|
~10m
Warrensburg
37.6 mi in
|
~46m
Jefferson City
54.9 mi in
|
~1h 8m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 32.3 mi | 35m |
| MO 13 | 17.2 mi | 21m |
| US 50 | 13.7 mi | 15m |
| South Little Blue Parkway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| South Jackson Drive | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Holke Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Truman Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 32.3 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and La Monte, 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 left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Truman Road
4
Turn right onto Holke Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Holke Road
5
Turn straight onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Jackson Drive
6
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
East R.D. Mize Road
7
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South Little Blue Parkway
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 17
Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on I 70
32 mi
·
35 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 49
Toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg
11
Turn right onto MO 13
12 mi
·
15 min
·
MO 13
12
Enter roundabout onto MO 13
206 ft
·
3 sec
·
MO 13
13
Continue on MO 13
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
MO 13
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 50 East: Sedalia, Jefferson City
15
Merge onto US 50
14 mi
·
15 min
·
US 50
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
17
Turn left
84 ft
·
4 sec
18
Turn right onto MO 127
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Front Street
19
Turn left onto MO 127
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
20
Turn left onto West Pine Street
219 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Pine Street
21
Arrive at destination
West Pine Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35 mi from East Independence, MO · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35 miles from East Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in La Monte, MO
The final approach into La Monte, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.94 one way
$21.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.02 | $24.03 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.47 | $26.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.46 | $30.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21 | 0 | $7.35 | $3.36 |
| Efficient EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.13 | $2.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28 | 0 | $9.80 | $4.48 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
La Monte, MO
Morning in La Monte on Friday
Local time
7:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 13 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 2:14AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 1:42AM CDT until April 18 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
72°F
Odessa, MO
35 mi in
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
6 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 27m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 La Monte, MO covers 70 miles and takes about 1h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, MO 13, US 50. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35 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 $10.94 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 70 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 37.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between East Independence, MO and La Monte, MO, road signs point toward Mall Entrance, Warrensburg and Jefferson City.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 731 ft to 892 ft elevation with about 372 ft of total climbing.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Elevation is sampled from USGS 3DEP. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Explore more options from East Independence, MO or browse trips ending in La Monte, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.