Origin
East Independence, MO
Night in East Independence on Tuesday
Local time
10:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
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Drive Time
3h 58m
Distance
198.9 mi
320 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Independence, MO
Momo King
Bowling Green, MO
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from East Independence, MO to Bowling Green, MO covers 198.9 miles and takes about 3h 58m 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, US 54 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 72.9 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.10 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
99.4 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .
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Expect a 3h 58m drive with frequent turns across 198.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Road.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 58m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Road): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (East R.D. Mize Road): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles: 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.
Turn left onto Main Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
Navigation decision point
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 toward US 54: Auxvasse, Mexico, Fulton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Enter roundabout onto US 54; MO 19
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between East Independence, MO and Bowling Green, MO, road signs point toward Mexico and Fulton.
Mexico
Fulton
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 72.9 mi | 1h 22m |
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| US 54 | 49.7 mi | 1h 3m |
| East Liberty Street | 10.3 mi | 13m |
| Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| South Little Blue Parkway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| South Jackson Drive | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Bowling Green, 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
Turn left onto US 54
At end of road, turn right onto US 54
Enter roundabout onto US 54; MO 19
Continue on US 54; MO 19
Enter roundabout onto US 54
Continue on US 54
Turn right
Turn right onto US 61 Business
Turn left onto West Main 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.4 miles or 1h 52m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bowling Green, 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 198.9 miles and 3h 58m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 99.4 mi from East Independence, MO · 1h 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
99 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 99.4 miles from East Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.9 miles.
The final approach into Bowling Green, 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 Bowling Green, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$31.10 one way
$62.19 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $34.14 | $68.28 |
| premium | $4.89 | $38.28 | $76.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.91 | $87.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.7 | 0 | $20.88 | $9.55 |
| Efficient EV | 49.7 | 0 | $17.40 | $7.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.6 | 0 | $27.85 | $12.73 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in East Independence on Tuesday
Local time
10:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Bowling Green on Tuesday
Local time
10:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
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.
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