Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen
Near the start, ~11 min detour
Independence, Missouri
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+18167955520
Visit websiteLast recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 36m
Distance
287.4 mi
462 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
15 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
Sainte Genevieve, MO
Jermaine Lewis
The drive from East Independence, MO to Sainte Genevieve, MO covers 287.4 miles and takes about 5h 36m 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, Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 135.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.93 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
143.7 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 36m. Total distance: 287.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Expect a 5h 36m drive with frequent turns across 287.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 287.4 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: at 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.5 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 223.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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 onto US 40 toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 270 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from East Independence, MO to Sainte Genevieve, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Memphis
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 135.3 mi | 2h 34m |
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway | 38.1 mi | 40m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 25.1 mi | 30m |
| I 270 | 11.5 mi | 14m |
| US 61 | 7.3 mi | 10m |
| Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Sainte Genevieve, 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 onto US 40
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 270
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 55
Continue on I 55
Continue on I 55
Take the exit
Turn left onto MO O
Turn right onto US 61
Turn left onto Market Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
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 63 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.7 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sainte Genevieve, 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 287.4 miles and 5h 36m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 143.7 mi from East Independence, MO · 2h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
144 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 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 143.7 miles from East Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Sainte Genevieve, 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 Sainte Genevieve, 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.
Near the start, ~11 min detour
Independence, Missouri
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+18167955520
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Lake St Louis, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Columbia, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Warrenton, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18334662474
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
O'Fallon, Missouri
+18554382474
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Higginsville, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
+16602071324
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
O'Fallon, Missouri
+18887584389
Later in the drive, short detour
O'Fallon, Missouri
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18774943833
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Warrenton, 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 Historical Park
Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the B...
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
$44.93 one way
$89.86 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $49.33 | $98.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $55.31 | $110.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $63.45 | $126.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
15 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Tesla Supercharger
Lake St Louis, Missouri
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
O'Fallon, Missouri
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Columbia, Missouri
1 DCFC
Ionna Charging Station
Warrenton, Missouri
1 DCFC
Pilot Flying J Charging Station
Higginsville, Missouri
1 DCFC
EVXY Charging Station
O'Fallon, Missouri
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Wentzville, Missouri
1 DCFC
EVgo Charging Station
O'Fallon, Missouri
1 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.2 | 1 | $30.18 | $13.80 |
| Efficient EV | 71.9 | 0 | $25.15 | $11.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115 | 1 | $40.24 | $18.39 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in East Independence on Thursday
Local time
8:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
Destination
Evening in Sainte Genevieve on Thursday
Local time
8:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°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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Return Trip
Sainte Genevieve, MO to East Independence, MOPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from East Independence, MO or browse trips ending in Sainte Genevieve, MO.
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