Origin
East Independence, MO
Night in East Independence on Tuesday
Local time
11:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Independence, MO to Taos, MO
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
53.4 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Independence, MO
Momo King
Trip Overview
The drive from East Independence, MO to Taos, MO covers 53.4 miles and takes about 1h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 29, MO 291, MO 152 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.4 miles on I 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.35 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
26.7 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 38m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 13m highway drive covering 53.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 29 and MO 291. The longest continuous stretch is about 20.4 miles on I 29.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 29 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and MO 291. 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.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.4 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 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.3 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
5
25.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
6
33.3 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
I 29; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71 toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
6
46.3 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward MO H, MO Z: New Market, Dearborn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 30
Toward MO H, MO Z: New Market, Dearborn
7
46.4 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Turn left toward MO H, MO Z: New Market, Dearborn
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 30
Toward MO H, MO Z: New Market, Dearborn
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 Taos, MO, road signs point toward Mo H, Mo Z: New Market and Dearborn.
Mo H
46.3 mi in
|
~59m
Mo Z: New Market
46.3 mi in
|
~59m
Dearborn
46.3 mi in
|
~59m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 20.4 mi | 21m |
| MO 291 | 11.6 mi | 17m |
| MO 152 | 11.1 mi | 13m |
| 371 Highway | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Southeast 116 Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| MO CC | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| East Truman Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| MO H | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 20.4 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Taos, 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
12 mi
·
17 min
·
MO 291
6
Turn left onto West Kansas Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Kansas Street
7
Continue on MO 152
11 mi
·
13 min
·
MO 152
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
9
Merge onto I 29; US 71
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
I 29; US 71
10
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
I 29; I 435; US 71
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71
13 mi
·
13 min
·
I 29; US 71
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 30
Toward MO H, MO Z: New Market, Dearborn
13
Turn left
92 ft
·
6 sec
Exit 30
Toward MO H, MO Z: New Market, Dearborn
14
Turn left onto MO H; MO Z
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
MO H; MO Z
15
At end of road, turn right onto MO 371
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
371 Highway
16
Turn left onto MO 116
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast 116 Highway
17
Turn right onto MO CC
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
MO CC
18
Turn right onto Southeast Taos Road
18 ft
·
0 sec
·
Southeast Taos Road
19
Arrive at destination
Southeast Taos Road
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 26.7 miles from East Independence, MO, or about 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.4 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 53.4 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 26.7 miles or 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Taos, 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 53.4 miles and 1h 13m.
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 I 29 for about 20.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.7 mi from East Independence, MO · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 53.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.7 miles from East Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Taos, MO
The final approach into Taos, 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 Taos, 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
$8.35 one way
$16.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.17 | $18.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.28 | $20.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.79 | $23.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.56 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Taos, MO
Night in Taos on Tuesday
Local time
11:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 13m 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 Taos, MO covers 53.4 miles and takes about 1h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 29, MO 291, MO 152. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.7 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 $8.35 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 53.4 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 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.3 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between East Independence, MO and Taos, MO, road signs point toward Mo H, Mo Z: New Market and Dearborn.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Taos, MO
Explore more options from East Independence, MO or browse trips ending in Taos, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.
Explore maps for East Independence, MO or Taos, MO on MapSof.net.