The drive from Piedmont, MO to East Independence, MO covers 341 miles and takes about 6h 56m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 60, North Kansas Expressway, MO 7 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 143.5 miles on US 60.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.31 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
170.5 miles from Piedmont, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 26m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 56m. Total distance: 341 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 56m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 56m highway drive covering 341 miles, with most of the trip on US 60 and North Kansas Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 143.5 miles on US 60.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 60 is the longest continuous segment at about 143.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and North Kansas Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 181.5 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 341 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 181.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 181.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 181.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
181.5 mi into trip|~3h 40m in
Take the exit toward MO 13: Bolivar
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
7
181.6 mi into trip|~3h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 13: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
7
181.7 mi into trip|~3h 41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
6
308.2 mi into trip|~6h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
7
325.6 mi into trip|~6h 32m in|MO 291
Take the exit onto MO 291 toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 60
143.5 mi
2h 48m
North Kansas Expressway
87.2 mi
1h 42m
MO 7
39.2 mi
43m
South Main Street
24.8 mi
34m
MO 291
22.4 mi
32m
MO 58
8.5 mi
11m
Schoolcraft Freeway
8.1 mi
10m
Payne Stewart Highway
4.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 143.5 mi, about 2h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Piedmont, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on MO B
66 ft·7 sec·East Fir Street
2
Turn left onto MO 34; MO 49
25 mi·34 min·South Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 60
143 mi·2 hr 48 min·US 60
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 65 North: Sedalia
5
Merge onto US 65
8.1 mi·10 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
6
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
7
Merge onto I 44
4.1 mi·5 min·Payne Stewart Highway
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
9
Keep slight left at fork
150 ft·3 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
10
Keep slight right at fork
209 ft·7 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
11
Merge onto MO 13
87 mi·1 hr 42 min·North Kansas Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on MO 7
36 mi·39 min·MO 7
13
Take the exit onto MO 7
3.3 mi·3 min·MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 160Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
15
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft·6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
16
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi·12 min·MO 291
17
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi·11 min·MO 58; MO 291
18
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.6 mi·52 sec·MO 291
Toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
19
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.2 mi·37 sec·MO 291
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen RoadUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn left
300 ft·7 sec
21
Continue on MO 291
13 mi·18 min·MO 291
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward East Truman Road
23
At end of road, turn left onto East Truman Road
1.2 mi·2 min·East Truman Road
24
Turn left onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
25
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
26
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 170.5 miles from Piedmont, MO, or about 3h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 143.5 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 75 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170.5 miles or 3h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 37m
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 Piedmont, 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 Piedmont, MO
This is one driving day of about 341 miles and 6h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Piedmont, 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 US 60 for about 143.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 170.5 mi from Piedmont, MO
· 3h 26m into the drive
The midpoint is around 170.5 miles from Piedmont, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before US 60 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 143.5 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around East Independence, MO.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
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
Max Orient 1155 E Battlefield RD
4.2
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Springfield, Missouri
Around the midpoint, short detour
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 170.5
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
13 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 164.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.31 one way
$106.62 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg119 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$58.53
$117.07
premium
$4.89
$65.62
$131.24
diesel
$5.61
$75.29
$150.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
102.3
1
$35.81
$16.37
Efficient EV
85.3
0
$29.84
$13.64
EV Truck/SUV
136.4
1
$47.74
$21.82
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Piedmont, MO
Afternoon
in Piedmont on Friday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Independence, MO
Afternoon
in East Independence on Friday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Marshfield, MO
171 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
4 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
6h 56m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Piedmont, MO to East Independence, MO covers 341 miles and takes about 6h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 60, North Kansas Expressway, MO 7. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 170.5 miles from Piedmont, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.31 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 341 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 181.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 181.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 181.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Piedmont, MO to East Independence, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Wilson's Creek National Battlefield.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
