Origin
East Independence, MO
Night in East Independence on Wednesday
Local time
10:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Independence, MO to Appleton City, MO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 48m
Distance
82.8 mi
133 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 40m
★
6 AM
1h 48m
8 AM
2h 4m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 52m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Independence, MO
Momo King
Appleton City, MO
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from East Independence, MO to Appleton City, MO covers 82.8 miles and takes about 1h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Main Road, East Truman Road, MO 291 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.94 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
41.4 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 48m drive with frequent turns across 82.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Main Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from East Independence, MO to Appleton City, MO is easy. At 1h 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from East Independence, MO to Appleton City, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Road | — | — |
| East Truman Road | — | — |
| MO 291 South | — | — |
| US 50 West | — | — |
| Cantrell Road | — | — |
| I 49 South | — | — |
| MO 52 East | — | — |
| North Walnut Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Main Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Appleton City, MO.
1
Start on East 9th Street South
79 ft
·
9 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
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East Truman Road
4
Take the ramp slight right toward MO 291 South: Lee's Summit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
MO 291 South: Lee's Summit
5
Merge slight left
10.0 mi
·
13 min
6
Keep slight left to continue on MO 291 South: Harrisonville
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
MO 291 South: Harrisonville
7
Take the ramp right toward US 50 West, MO 291 South: Kansas City
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
US 50 West, MO 291 South: Kansas City
8
Take the exit slight right toward MO 291 South: Jefferson Street, Harrisonville
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
MO 291 South: Jefferson Street, Harrisonville
9
Keep slight left to continue on MO 291 South: Harrisonville
17 mi
·
24 min
·
MO 291 South: Harrisonville
10
Continue on Cantrell Road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Cantrell Road
11
Take the exit straight toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
12
Merge slight left
31 mi
·
32 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward MO 52 East: Appleton City
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
MO 52 East: Appleton City
14
Turn left
19 mi
·
24 min
15
Turn left onto North Walnut Street
13 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Walnut Street
16
Arrive at your 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 41.4 miles from East Independence, MO, or about 54m into the drive.
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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.4 miles or 54m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Appleton City, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from East Independence, MO
This is one driving day of about 82.8 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from East Independence, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.4 mi from East Independence, MO · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.4 miles from East Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Appleton City, MO
The final approach into Appleton City, 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
$12.94 one way
$25.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.21 | $28.43 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.93 | $31.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.28 | $36.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.69 | $3.97 |
| Efficient EV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.24 | $3.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.1 | 0 | $11.59 | $5.30 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Appleton City, MO
Night in Appleton City on Wednesday
Local time
10:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
18 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 48m 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 Appleton City, MO covers 82.8 miles and takes about 1h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Main Road, East Truman Road, MO 291 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.4 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 $12.94 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.
The drive from East Independence, MO to Appleton City, MO is easy. At 1h 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from East Independence, MO to Appleton City, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from East Independence, MO to Appleton City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Appleton City, MO
More trips to Appleton City, MO
Explore more options from East Independence, MO or browse trips ending in Appleton City, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.
Explore maps for East Independence, MO or Appleton City, MO on MapSof.net.