Origin
Kansas City, MO
Late night in Kansas City on Wednesday
Local time
4:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kansas City, MO to East Independence, MO
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
27m
Distance
14.3 mi
23 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kansas City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
East Independence, MO
Momo King
Trip Overview
The drive from Kansas City, MO to East Independence, MO covers 14.3 miles and takes about 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East 23rd Street South, East 23rd Trafficway, George Brett Super Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 4.9 miles on East 23rd Street South. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.24 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
7.2 miles from Kansas City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 27m drive with frequent turns across 14.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East 23rd Street South is the longest continuous segment at about 4.9 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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 12th Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 14.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 (East 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.6 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 12th Street
Turn right onto East 12th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East, US 40 East
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
2.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward East 23rd Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4C
Toward East 23rd Street
5
12.9 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
East Truman Road
At end of road, turn left onto East Truman Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East 23rd Street South | 4.9 mi | 9m |
| East 23rd Trafficway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| George Brett Super Highway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| East 23rd Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| East Truman Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| MO 291 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Main Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| East 12th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East 23rd Street South
— 4.9 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas City, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on Oak Street
20 ft
·
4 sec
·
Oak Street
2
Turn right onto East 12th Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
East 12th Street
3
Turn right onto Charlotte Street
476 ft
·
11 sec
·
Charlotte Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East
5
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
George Brett Super Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 4C
Toward East 23rd Street
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn left onto East 23rd Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East 23rd Street
8
Continue on East 23rd Trafficway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East 23rd Trafficway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on MO 78
4.9 mi
·
9 min
·
East 23rd Street South
10
Turn left onto MO 291
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
MO 291
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward East Truman Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto East Truman Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Truman Road
13
Turn left onto Main Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Road
14
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft
·
3 sec
·
East 9th Street South
15
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 7.2 miles from Kansas City, MO, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.9 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 14.3 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 7.2 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 22m
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 Kansas 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 Kansas City, MO
This is one driving day of about 14.3 miles and 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kansas City, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on East 23rd Street South for about 4.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 7.2 mi from Kansas City, MO · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 7.2 miles from Kansas 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.24 one way
$4.47 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.45 | $4.91 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.75 | $5.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.16 | $6.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.50 | $0.69 |
| Efficient EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.25 | $0.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.7 | 0 | $2.00 | $0.92 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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.
Destination
East Independence, MO
Late night in East Independence on Wednesday
Local time
4:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
25 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
27m 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 Kansas City, MO to East Independence, MO covers 14.3 miles and takes about 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 23rd Street South, East 23rd Trafficway, George Brett Super Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.2 miles from Kansas City, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.24 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 14.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 (East 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.6 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Kansas City, MO to East Independence, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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