Skip to main content

Trip from East Independence, MO to Center, MO

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 43m

Distance

191.7 mi

308 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 31m ★
6 AM
3h 44m
8 AM
4h 9m
10 AM
3h 53m
12 PM
3h 50m
3 PM
3h 54m
5 PM
4h 8m
8 PM
3h 36m

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

Downtown Center, MO, MO

Center, MO

Lena Khrupina

Trip Overview

The drive from East Independence, MO to Center, MO covers 191.7 miles and takes about 3h 43m 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, Holke Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.97 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

95.8 miles from East Independence, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 43m drive with frequent turns across 191.7 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.
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 Center, MO is easy. At 3h 43m 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 Center, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Main Road
East Truman Road
Holke Road
South Jackson Drive
East R
South Little Blue Parkway
Little Blue Parkway
Dwight D

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 Center, 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 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 left toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance
9

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

53 mi · 56 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
10

Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

32 mi · 34 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
11

Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

22 mi · 24 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
12

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13

Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

1.6 mi · 1 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
14

Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

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

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

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

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

0.2 mi · 28 sec · US 54: Auxvasse, Mexico, Fulton
17

Turn left

18 mi · 20 min
18

At the end of the road, turn right onto East Liberty Street

10 mi · 13 min · East Liberty Street
19

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Scott's Corner

223 ft · 3 sec · Scott's Corner
20

Exit the rotary

8.1 mi · 11 min
21

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

184 ft · 2 sec · the route
22

Exit the roundabout

19 mi · 21 min
23

Turn sharp right onto South Public Street

308 ft · 14 sec · South Public Street
24

Turn left onto East Lamb Street

102 ft · 5 sec · East Lamb Street
25

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 95.8 miles from East Independence, MO, or about 1h 51m 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 42 miles or 49m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 95.8 miles or 1h 51m 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 3m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Center, 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 191.7 miles and 3h 43m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 95.8 mi from East Independence, MO · 1h 51m into the drive

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marshall, MO

96 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

Oak Grove, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Marshall, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 95.8 miles from East Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Center, MO

The final approach into Center, 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 Center, 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

$29.97 one way

$59.94 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 67 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $32.91 $65.81
premium $4.89 $36.89 $73.78
diesel $5.61 $42.32 $84.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 67.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 57.5 0 $20.13 $9.20
Efficient EV 47.9 0 $16.77 $7.67
EV Truck/SUV 76.7 0 $26.84 $12.27

Gas CO2

67 kg

EV CO2

22 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

East Independence, MO

Evening in East Independence on Wednesday

Local time

8:51 PM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Center, MO

Evening in Center on Wednesday

Local time

8:51 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

71°F

Marshall, MO

96 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

1 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

3h 43m 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 Center, MO covers 191.7 miles and takes about 3h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Main Road, East Truman Road, Holke Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 95.8 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 $29.97 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.
The drive from East Independence, MO to Center, MO is easy. At 3h 43m 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 Center, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from East Independence, MO to Center, 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

Explore More

Explore more options from East Independence, MO or browse trips ending in Center, MO.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.

Explore maps for East Independence, MO or Center, MO on MapSof.net.