The drive from Jefferson City, MO to East Independence, MO covers 147.9 miles and takes about 2h 48m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, US 63 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.12 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
73.9 miles from Jefferson City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 147.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 48m drive with frequent turns across 147.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 54.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Jefferson Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 147.9 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 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|Jefferson Street
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbi...
7
30.1 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint L...
9
30.7 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
8
142.7 mi into trip|~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall E...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jefferson City, MO and East Independence, MO, road signs point toward Mo Pp: Kansas City and Saint Louis.
Mo Pp: Kansas City
30.1 mi in|~34m
Saint Louis
30.1 mi in|~34m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
US 63
27.8 mi
30m
South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
US 54
1.4 mi
1m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.3 mi
1m
South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson City, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on East Wall Way
155 ft·13 sec·East Wall Way
2
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
251 ft·14 sec·Jefferson Street
3
Turn right onto West McCarty Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West McCarty Street
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
5
Merge onto US 54; US 63
1.4 mi·1 min·US 54; US 63
6
Take the exit onto US 63
28 mi·30 min·US 63
Toward US 63 North: Columbia
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint LouisUse the left / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 63 Conn
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 63 Conn
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the left lane.
10
Merge onto I 70; US 40
1.3 mi·1 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth 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
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
52 mi·56 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
17
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
18
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
19
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Holke Road
20
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
21
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
22
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
23
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.9 miles from Jefferson City, MO, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.9 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Independence, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jefferson City, 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 Jefferson City, MO
This is one driving day of about 147.9 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Jefferson City, 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 U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73.9 mi from Jefferson City, MO
· 1h 23m into the drive
The midpoint is around 73.9 miles from Jefferson City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in East Independence, MO
The final approach into East Independence, 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 East Independence, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Thailand Restaurant
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Blue Springs, Missouri
Near the end, short detour
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 137.3
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.12 one way
$46.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.39
$50.78
premium
$4.89
$28.46
$56.92
diesel
$5.61
$32.65
$65.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
28 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Blink Charging Station
Columbia, Missouri
Blink
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Columbia, Missouri
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Rivian Adventure Network
Columbia, Missouri
Rivian
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Columbia, Missouri
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Columbia, Missouri
Tesla
1 DCFC
Pilot EV Charging Station
Boonville, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Columbia, Missouri
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Jefferson City, Missouri
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 8
Other: 6
Tesla: 4
Blink: 3
EV Connect: 3
Tesla Destination: 2
Rivian: 1
Electrify America: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.4
0
$15.53
$7.10
Efficient EV
37
0
$12.94
$5.92
EV Truck/SUV
59.2
0
$20.71
$9.47
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 16, 2026
Origin
Jefferson City, MO
Night
in Jefferson City on Thursday
Local time
11:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Independence, MO
Night
in East Independence on Thursday
Local time
11:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
S 7 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 5:09PM CDT until April 16 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 5:06PM CDT until April 16 at 5:45PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
73°F
Concordia, MO
74 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
9 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
2h 48m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Jefferson City, MO to East Independence, MO covers 147.9 miles and takes about 2h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, US 63. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.9 miles from Jefferson City, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.12 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 147.9 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Jefferson City, MO and East Independence, MO, road signs point toward Mo Pp: Kansas City and Saint Louis.
