The drive from Saint Martins, MO to East Independence, MO covers 133.3 miles and takes about 2h 44m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, MO 179 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 52.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.84 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
66.6 miles from Saint Martins, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 133.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 44m drive with frequent turns across 133.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 52.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near MO T.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Saint Martins, MO to East Independence, MO is easy. At 2h 44m with 26% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (MO T): Navigation decision point; at 5.1 miles (MO 179): Navigation decision point; at 38.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|MO T
Turn left onto MO T
Navigation decision point
5
5.1 mi into trip|~9m in|MO 179
At end of road, turn left onto MO 179
Navigation decision point
4
38.6 mi into trip|~56m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Navigation decision point
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
8
128.1 mi into trip|~2h 33m 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...
5
133.2 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|East 9th Street South
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
52.5 mi
56m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
36.8 mi
39m
MO 179
19.6 mi
27m
MO 87
13.9 mi
19m
MO T
4.4 mi
7m
South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Holke Road
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 52.5 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Martins, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on Business 50 West
0.7 mi·1 min·Business 50 West
2
Turn left onto MO T
4.4 mi·7 min·MO T
3
At end of road, turn left onto MO 179
20 mi·27 min·MO 179
4
Continue on MO 87
14 mi·19 min·MO 87
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
6
Merge onto I 70
37 mi·39 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
7
Continue on I 70; US 40
52 mi·56 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
10
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
11
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
12
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Holke Road
13
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
14
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
15
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
16
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 66.6 miles from Saint Martins, MO, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.5 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 29 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.6 miles or 1h 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 2h 12m
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 Saint Martins, 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 Saint Martins, MO
This is one driving day of about 133.3 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Saint Martins, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 52.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.6 mi from Saint Martins, MO
· 1h 26m into the drive
The midpoint is around 66.6 miles from Saint Martins, 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, right off the route
0.9 mi from route
~2 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 123.7
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.84 one way
$41.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.88
$45.76
premium
$4.89
$25.65
$51.30
diesel
$5.61
$29.43
$58.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
6 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Pilot EV Charging Station
Boonville, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
Electrify America Charging Station
Boonville, Missouri
Electrify America
1 DCFC
Pilot Flying J Charging Station
Higginsville, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Boonville, Missouri
EV Connect
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Boonville, Missouri
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Nelson, Missouri
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Other: 2
Electrify America: 1
EV Connect: 1
Tesla Destination: 1
ChargePoint: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40
0
$14.00
$6.40
Efficient EV
33.3
0
$11.66
$5.33
EV Truck/SUV
53.3
0
$18.66
$8.53
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Saint Martins, MO
Evening
in Saint Martins on Friday
Local time
6:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 14 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 17 at 2:38PM CDT until April 17 at 3:15PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill...
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 17 at 2:38PM CDT until April 17 at 3:15PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill...
Destination
East Independence, MO
Evening
in East Independence on Friday
Local time
6:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 13 to 18 mph86% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 17 at 2:38PM CDT until April 17 at 3:15PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill...
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 17 at 2:38PM CDT until April 17 at 3:15PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill...
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
2 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
2h 44m 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 Saint Martins, MO to East Independence, MO covers 133.3 miles and takes about 2h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, MO 179. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.6 miles from Saint Martins, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.84 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.
The drive from Saint Martins, MO to East Independence, MO is easy. At 2h 44m with 26% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (MO T): Navigation decision point; at 5.1 miles (MO 179): Navigation decision point; at 38.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Saint Martins, MO to East Independence, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
