Origin
Sarcoxie, MO
Morning in Sarcoxie on Friday
Local time
11:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sarcoxie, MO to East Independence, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 7m
Distance
159.3 mi
256 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 56m
★
6 AM
3h 7m
8 AM
3h 30m
10 AM
3h 15m
12 PM
3h 13m
3 PM
3h 17m
5 PM
3h 29m
8 PM
3h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sarcoxie, MO
Wikimedia Commons
East Independence, MO
Momo King
Trip Overview
The drive from Sarcoxie, MO to East Independence, MO covers 159.3 miles and takes about 3h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Purple Heart Trail, MO 291, Congressman Gene Taylor Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 92.9 miles on Purple Heart Trail. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.90 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
79.7 miles from Sarcoxie, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 7m. Total distance: 159.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 7m drive with frequent turns across 159.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 92.9 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 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North 5th Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 159.3 miles you will encounter 17 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: at 0.1 miles (North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 5th Street
Turn left onto North 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West: Joplin
Navigation decision point
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
6
12.4 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18B
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansa...
6
126.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m 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
144 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m 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
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 Sarcoxie, MO to East Independence, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Kansas City along the way.
Kansas City
12.4 mi in
|
~15m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 92.9 mi | 1h 39m |
| MO 291 | 22.4 mi | 32m |
| Congressman Gene Taylor Highway | 10.9 mi | 11m |
| Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway | 10.5 mi | 11m |
| George Washington Carver Memorial Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| MO 58 | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| East Truman Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| High Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 92.9 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sarcoxie, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on 6th Street
122 ft
·
10 sec
·
6th Street
2
Turn left onto Center Street
261 ft
·
17 sec
·
Center Street
3
Turn left onto North 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
North 5th Street
4
Turn right onto I 44 Business
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
High Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
6
Merge onto I 44
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 18B
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansas City
8
Merge onto I 49; US 71
10 mi
·
11 min
·
George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 49; US 71
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 49; US 71
93 mi
·
1 hr 39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 160
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
12
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft
·
6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
13
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi
·
12 min
·
MO 291
14
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi
·
11 min
·
MO 58; MO 291
15
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
MO 291
Toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
16
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
MO 291
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn left
300 ft
·
7 sec
18
Continue on MO 291
13 mi
·
18 min
·
MO 291
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward East Truman Road
20
At end of road, turn left onto East Truman Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Truman Road
21
Turn left 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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.7 miles from Sarcoxie, MO, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.9 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 35 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.7 miles or 1h 27m 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 24m
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 Sarcoxie, 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 Sarcoxie, MO
This is one driving day of about 159.3 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Sarcoxie, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 92.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.7 mi from Sarcoxie, MO · 1h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.7 miles from Sarcoxie, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 92.9 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.
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
$24.90 one way
$49.81 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $27.34 | $54.69 |
| premium | $4.89 | $30.66 | $61.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.17 | $70.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.8 | 0 | $16.73 | $7.65 |
| Efficient EV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.94 | $6.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.7 | 0 | $22.30 | $10.20 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
East Independence, MO
Morning in East Independence on Friday
Local time
11:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Adrian, MO
80 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 7m 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 Sarcoxie, MO to East Independence, MO covers 159.3 miles and takes about 3h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, MO 291, Congressman Gene Taylor Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.7 miles from Sarcoxie, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.90 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 159.3 miles you will encounter 17 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: at 0.1 miles (North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Sarcoxie, MO to East Independence, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Kansas City along the way.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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