Origin
East Independence, MO
Afternoon in East Independence on Thursday
Local time
12:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Independence, MO to Ava, MO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 40m
Distance
225.1 mi
362 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 27m
★
6 AM
4h 40m
8 AM
5h 7m
10 AM
4h 50m
12 PM
4h 47m
3 PM
4h 51m
5 PM
5h 6m
8 PM
4h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Independence, MO
Momo King
Ava, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from East Independence, MO to Ava, MO covers 225.1 miles and takes about 4h 40m 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 $35.19 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
112.5 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 20m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 40m. Total distance: 225.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 40m drive with frequent turns across 225.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 40m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from East Independence, MO to Ava, 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 7 South | — | — |
| I 44 East | — | — |
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 Ava, 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
2.8 mi
·
3 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward MO 7 South: Clinton
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
MO 7 South: Clinton
14
Turn slight left onto MO 7 South: Clinton
55 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
MO 7 South: Clinton
15
Continue straight
68 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
16
Take the exit slight left toward I 44 East: Rolla, Saint Louis
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
I 44 East: Rolla, Saint Louis
17
Merge slight left onto Payne Stewart Highway
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Payne Stewart Highway
18
Take the exit slight right toward US 65 South: Branson
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
US 65 South: Branson
19
Merge slight left onto Schoolcraft Freeway
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Schoolcraft Freeway
20
Take the exit slight right toward US 60 East: Cabool
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
US 60 East: Cabool
21
Merge slight left
38 mi
·
45 min
22
Take the exit slight right toward MO EE, MO 5 South, US 60 BUS: Mansfield, Ava
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
MO EE, MO 5 South, US 60 BUS: Mansfield, Ava
23
Turn right
11 mi
·
14 min
24
Continue straight
1.7 mi
·
2 min
25
Turn left onto Springfield Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Springfield Road
26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward North Jefferson Street
16 ft
·
North Jefferson Street
27
Exit the roundabout onto North Jefferson Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Jefferson Street
28
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 112.5 miles from East Independence, MO, or about 2h 20m 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 50 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.5 miles or 2h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ava, 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 225.1 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from East Independence, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 112.5 mi from East Independence, MO · 2h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 112.5 miles from East Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ava, MO
The final approach into Ava, 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 Ava, 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
$35.19 one way
$70.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $38.64 | $77.28 |
| premium | $4.89 | $43.32 | $86.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.70 | $99.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.5 | 0 | $23.64 | $10.80 |
| Efficient EV | 56.3 | 0 | $19.70 | $9.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90 | 1 | $31.51 | $14.41 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Ava, MO
Afternoon in Ava on Thursday
Local time
12:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Warsaw, MO
113 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
2 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
4h 40m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from East Independence, MO to Ava, MO covers 225.1 miles and takes about 4h 40m 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 112.5 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 $35.19 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 40m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from East Independence, MO to Ava, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from East Independence, MO to Ava, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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