Drive Time
5h 3m
Distance
258.3 mi
416 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
The drive from East Independence, MO to Crystal City, MO covers 258.3 miles and takes about 5h 3m 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 $38.35 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
129.2 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 3m drive with frequent turns across 258.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy — mostly straight driving
Navigation is easy, but the length (5h 3m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from East Independence, MO to Crystal City, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Truman Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Holke Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Jackson Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East R | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Little Blue Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Little Blue Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dwight D | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Crystal City, 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 left toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
Take the exit slight right toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
Keep slight right to continue on I 270 South: Memphis
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Memphis
Merge slight left onto Rosa Parks Highway
Continue on Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
Continue on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right toward Herculaneum
Turn right onto McNutt Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward McNutt Street
Exit the roundabout onto McNutt Street
Turn right onto Commercial Boulevard
Continue on North Truman Boulevard
Turn left onto 8th Street
Turn right onto Jefferson Avenue
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue
Turn right onto North Taylor Avenue
Arrive at your 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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.2 miles or 2h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Crystal City, 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 258.3 miles and 5h 3m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 129.2 mi from East Independence, MO · 2h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
129 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 129.2 miles from East Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Crystal City, 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 Crystal City, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$38.35 one way
$76.70 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $43.25 | $86.50 |
| premium | $4.65 | $47.33 | $94.66 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $53.94 | $107.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.5 | 0 | $27.12 | $12.40 |
| Efficient EV | 64.6 | 0 | $22.60 | $10.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.3 | 1 | $36.16 | $16.53 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in East Independence on Saturday
Local time
12:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Crystal City on Saturday
Local time
12:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
57°F
Alton, IL
129 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
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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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