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Trip from East Independence, MO to Bowling Green, MO

Data updated 0 seconds ago

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

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 46m ★
6 AM
3h 59m
8 AM
4h 25m
10 AM
4h 8m
12 PM
4h 5m
3 PM
4h 9m
5 PM
4h 23m
8 PM
3h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown East Independence, MO, MO

East Independence, MO

Momo King

city in and county seat of Pike County, Missouri, United States

Bowling Green, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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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Drive Character

Expect a 3h 58m drive with frequent turns across 198.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 72.9 miles.

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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Road.

Route Complexity 3/10

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These 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

4
3 mi into trip | ~7m in | East R.D. Mize Road

Turn left onto East R.D. Mize 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
136.2 mi into trip | ~2h 36m in

Take the exit toward US 54: Auxvasse, Mexico, Fulton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 148 Toward US 54: Auxvasse, Mexico, Fulton
5
164.8 mi into trip | ~3h 11m in | US 54; MO 19

Enter roundabout onto US 54; MO 19

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

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 Bowling Green, MO, road signs point toward Mexico and Fulton.

Mexico

136.2 mi in | ~2h 36m

Fulton

136.2 mi in | ~2h 36m

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 72.9 mi, about 1h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Bowling Green, 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

1.9 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
15

Continue on I 70; US 40

19 mi · 23 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 148 Toward US 54: Auxvasse, Mexico, Fulton
17

Turn left onto US 54

18 mi · 20 min · US 54
18

At end of road, turn right onto US 54

10 mi · 13 min · East Liberty Street
19

Enter roundabout onto US 54; MO 19

221 ft · 2 sec · US 54; MO 19
20

Continue on US 54; MO 19

8.1 mi · 11 min · US 54; MO 19
21

Enter roundabout onto US 54

48 ft · 0 sec · US 54
22

Continue on US 54

23 mi · 31 min · US 54
23

Turn right

1.5 mi · 2 min
24

Turn right onto US 61 Business

0.6 mi · 56 sec · US 61 Business
25

Turn left onto West Main Street

0.4 mi · 59 sec · West Main Street
26

Arrive at destination

West Main Street

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 99.4 miles from East Independence, MO, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.9 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 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.

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 198.9 miles and 3h 58m.

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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 72.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Missouri, United States, that is one of two county seats of Jackson County and the largest city in Missouri

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kansas City, MO

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Kansas City, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Quincy, IL

Meal break

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 check

Top up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.9 miles.

Arriving in Bowling Green, MO

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.10 one way

$62.19 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 70 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

East Independence, MO

Night in East Independence on Tuesday

Local time

10:12 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bowling Green, MO

Night in Bowling Green on Tuesday

Local time

10:12 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 58m 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 Bowling Green, MO covers 198.9 miles and takes about 3h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, US 54. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 99.4 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 $31.10 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 58m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
Between East Independence, MO and Bowling Green, MO, road signs point toward Mexico and Fulton.

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