Origin
East Independence, MO
Morning in East Independence on Friday
Local time
8:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Independence, MO to Ashland, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 29m
Distance
131.4 mi
211 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 19m
★
6 AM
2h 30m
8 AM
2h 50m
10 AM
2h 37m
12 PM
2h 35m
3 PM
2h 38m
5 PM
2h 49m
8 PM
2h 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
Ashland, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Trip Overview
The drive from East Independence, MO to Ashland, MO covers 131.4 miles and takes about 2h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, US 63 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.54 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.
Midpoint
65.7 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 131.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 29m drive with frequent turns across 131.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 54.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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
6/10
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 131.4 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 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.1 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
117.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 128A
Toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
7
117.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
|
US 63 Conn
Merge onto US 63 Conn
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
117.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward US 63 South: Jefferson City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 63 South: Jefferson City
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from East Independence, MO to Ashland, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Moberly along the way.
Moberly
117.1 mi in
|
~2h 12m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 54.3 mi | 58m |
| US 63 | 13.1 mi | 14m |
| South Little Blue Parkway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| South Jackson Drive | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Holke Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Ashland, 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
53 mi
·
56 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi
·
34 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi
·
24 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 128A
Toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
16
Turn slight right
192 ft
·
4 sec
Toward US 63 South: Jefferson City
17
Merge onto US 63 Conn
521 ft
·
11 sec
·
US 63 Conn
Use the slight right lane.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward US 63 South: Jefferson City
Use the straight lane.
19
Merge onto US 63
13 mi
·
14 min
·
US 63
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
21
Enter roundabout onto East Broadway
46 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Broadway
22
Continue on East Broadway
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
East Broadway
23
Enter roundabout onto MO Y
264 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Broadway
24
Continue on MO Y
33 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Broadway
25
Arrive at destination
MO Y
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 65.7 miles from East Independence, MO, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 29 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.7 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ashland, 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 131.4 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from East Independence, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65.7 mi from East Independence, MO · 1h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.7 miles from East Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ashland, MO
The final approach into Ashland, 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 Ashland, 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
$20.54 one way
$41.09 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.56 | $45.11 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.29 | $50.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.01 | $58.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.4 | 0 | $13.80 | $6.31 |
| Efficient EV | 32.9 | 0 | $11.50 | $5.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.6 | 0 | $18.40 | $8.41 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Ashland, MO
Morning in Ashland on Friday
Local time
8:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Concordia, MO
66 mi in
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
17 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
2h 29m 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 Ashland, MO covers 131.4 miles and takes about 2h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, US 63. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 65.7 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 $20.54 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 131.4 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 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from East Independence, MO to Ashland, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Moberly along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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