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Trip from New Franklin, MO to East Independence, MO

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

1h 55m

Distance

96.7 mi

156 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 47m ★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 13m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m

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

Downtown New Franklin, MO, MO

New Franklin, MO

Tima Miroshnichenko

Downtown East Independence, MO, MO

East Independence, MO

Momo King

Trip Overview

This 96.7-mile drive from New Franklin to East Independence, Missouri, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 55 minutes. You'll spend 93% of your time on highways, making it a focused, efficient journey through the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $15, this route is budget-friendly for a quick excursion. The primary roads guiding your way include US 40 and MO 5, with East Ashley Road also playing a part. This straightforward drive is perfect for those looking to cover ground without extensive planning.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

48.4 miles from New Franklin, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 96.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 96.7-mile trip, with 93% of the journey on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 84.9 miles on US 40, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your drive. While largely highway, the inclusion of MO 5 and East Ashley Road suggests some transitions that may offer a slight change in scenery or speed. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than leisurely exploration.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 84.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 40 and MO 5. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 5.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 55m drive. You will face about 9 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 (MO 5): Navigation decision point; at 91.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.5 miles (East R.D. Mize Road): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | MO 5

Turn right onto MO 5

Navigation decision point

8
91.6 mi into trip | ~1h 44m 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...
4
93.5 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in | East R.D. Mize Road

Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road

Navigation decision point

4
93.7 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in | South Jackson Drive

Turn right onto South Jackson Drive

Navigation decision point

5
96.7 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in | East 9th Street South

Turn right onto East 9th Street South

Navigation decision point

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from New Franklin, MO to East Independence, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Mall Entrance along the way.

Mall Entrance

91.6 mi in | ~1h 44m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 40 84.9 mi 1h 31m
MO 5 3.6 mi 7m
East Ashley Road 3 mi 5m
South Little Blue Parkway 1.6 mi 3m
South Jackson Drive 1.2 mi 2m
Holke Road 0.9 mi 2m
East Truman Road 0.7 mi 1m
Main Road 0.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 40 — 84.9 mi, about 1h 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New Franklin, MO and East Independence, MO.

1

Start on MO 5

41 ft · 5 sec · MO 5
2

Turn right onto MO 5

3.6 mi · 7 min · MO 5
3

Turn slight right

129 ft · 4 sec
4

Turn slight right onto I 70 Bus; US 40; MO 5

3.0 mi · 5 min · East Ashley Road
5

Turn slight right onto US 40

85 mi · 1 hr 31 min · US 40
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 17 Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance Use the slight right lane.
7

Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway

1.6 mi · 3 min · South Little Blue Parkway
8

Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road

0.2 mi · 37 sec · East R.D. Mize Road
9

Turn right onto South Jackson Drive

1.2 mi · 2 min · South Jackson Drive
10

Turn straight onto Holke Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · Holke Road
11

Turn left onto East Truman Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Truman Road
12

Turn right onto Main Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Main Road
13

Turn right onto East 9th Street South

79 ft · 3 sec · East 9th Street South
14

Arrive at destination

East 9th Street South

Trip Plan

Given its short duration of under two hours, this 96.7-mile drive from New Franklin to East Independence offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart anytime, but an early start will allow you to maximize your day at your destination. With only a $15 fuel cost, you won't need to worry much about frequent stops for gas. The longest stretch on US 40 is over 80 miles, so plan for a break before or after that segment if needed, perhaps around the halfway point. This is a route where you can easily make it to your destination and back in the same day with minimal fuss.

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 48.4 miles from New Franklin, MO, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.9 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 21 miles or 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 48.4 miles or 58m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 31m

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 New Franklin, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from New Franklin, MO

This is one driving day of about 96.7 miles and 1h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from New Franklin, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 40 for about 84.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 48.4 mi from New Franklin, MO · 58m into the drive

Downtown Concordia, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Concordia, MO

48 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.

Popular next leg

Concordia, MO to East Independence, MO

47.5 mi · 58m

Pacing Suggestions

Sweet Springs, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Concordia, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 48.4 miles from New Franklin, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84.9 miles.

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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.12 one way

$30.24 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $16.60 $33.20
premium $4.89 $18.61 $37.22
diesel $5.61 $21.35 $42.70

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29 0 $10.15 $4.64
Efficient EV 24.2 0 $8.46 $3.87
EV Truck/SUV 38.7 0 $13.54 $6.19

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (68% 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

New Franklin, MO

Late night in New Franklin on Friday

Local time

12:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

East Independence, MO

Late night in East Independence on Friday

Local time

12:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

73°F

Concordia, MO

48 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 warmer at arrival

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

Road read

1h 55m 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 New Franklin, MO to East Independence, MO covers 96.7 miles and takes about 1h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 40, MO 5, East Ashley Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.4 miles from New Franklin, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.12 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 55m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 5): Navigation decision point; at 91.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.5 miles (East R.D. Mize Road): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from New Franklin, MO to East Independence, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Mall Entrance along the way.

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