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Trip from Appleton City, MO to East Independence, MO

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 46m

Distance

82.4 mi

133 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 39m ★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Appleton City, MO, MO

Appleton City, MO

Tom Fisk

Downtown East Independence, MO, MO

East Independence, MO

Momo King

Trip Overview

This 82.4-mile drive from Appleton City, MO, to East Independence, MO, is a straightforward, one-day trip that should take about 1 hour and 46 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-49 and MO-291, with the highway making up 75% of the route. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, this is an economical option for a quick journey. The drive is focused on getting you from point A to point B efficiently, making it ideal for those who prefer a direct route through the Midwest. Since it's a short trip, you won't need to worry about overnight stays.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

41.2 miles from Appleton City, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 49 27.9 mi 29m
MO 291 22.4 mi 32m
West 4th Street 18.5 mi 23m
MO 58 8.5 mi 11m
MO 52 3.1 mi 3m
East Truman Road 1.2 mi 2m
Main Road 0.3 mi 1m
East 9th Street South <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 49 — 27.9 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Appleton City, MO and East Independence, MO.

1

Start on North Walnut Street

13 ft · 2 sec · North Walnut Street
2

Turn right onto MO 52

19 mi · 23 min · West 4th Street
3

Take the ramp onto MO 52

3.1 mi · 3 min · MO 52
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South, MO 52 West: Kansas City
4

Continue on I 49; US 71

28 mi · 29 min · I 49; US 71
5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 17 sec
Exit 160 Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
6

Keep slight right at fork

243 ft · 6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
7

Merge onto MO 291

8.3 mi · 12 min · MO 291
8

Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291

8.5 mi · 11 min · MO 58; MO 291
9

Take the exit onto MO 291

0.6 mi · 52 sec · MO 291
Toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
10

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.
11

Turn left

300 ft · 7 sec
12

Continue on MO 291

13 mi · 18 min · MO 291
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward East Truman Road
14

At end of road, turn left onto East Truman Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · East Truman Road
15

Turn left onto Main Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Main Road
16

Turn right onto East 9th Street South

79 ft · 3 sec · East 9th Street South
17

Arrive at destination

East 9th Street South

Trip Plan

Given the short duration of just under two hours, this route offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart anytime, but leaving mid-morning might help you avoid any early rush hour traffic near Independence. Plan for one brief stop, if needed, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road is under 30 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, though the estimated $13 cost suggests it's not a major concern. A specific tip: pay attention to signage as you transition from I-49 onto MO-291 to ensure you smoothly merge onto the correct roadway.

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 41.2 miles from Appleton City, MO, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.9 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 18 miles or 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 41.2 miles or 48m 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 27m

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 Appleton City, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Appleton City, MO

This is one driving day of about 82.4 miles and 1h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Appleton City, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 49 for about 27.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Harrisonville, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Harrisonville, MO

41 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

Passaic, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Archie, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41.2 miles from Appleton City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Independence, Missouri

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 76.5

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+18167955520

Visit website

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 76.5

Independence, Missouri

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+18167955520

Visit website

Thailand Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 76.5

Blue Springs, Missouri

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+18162293292

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 18.5 and 67.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
18.5 mi into trip | ~23m in | MO 52

Take the ramp onto MO 52 toward I 49 South, US 71 South, MO 52 West: Kansas City

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 49 South, US 71 South, MO 52 West: Kan...
5
49.5 mi into trip | ~57m in

Take the exit toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 160 Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
6
49.7 mi into trip | ~57m 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
5
66.5 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in | MO 291

Take the exit onto MO 291 toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
7
67.1 mi into trip | ~1h 22m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.88 one way

$25.76 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.14 $28.29
premium $4.89 $15.86 $31.71
diesel $5.61 $18.19 $36.39

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.7 0 $8.65 $3.96
Efficient EV 20.6 0 $7.21 $3.30
EV Truck/SUV 33 0 $11.54 $5.27

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 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

Appleton City, MO

Night in Appleton City on Saturday

Local time

11:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

East Independence, MO

Night in East Independence on Saturday

Local time

11:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 16 mph 86% chance 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

8 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 46m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this journey, with 75% of the 82.4 miles on interstates like I-49. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27.9 miles on I-49, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. As you progress, the route transitions from more rural settings towards the greater Kansas City metropolitan area, with MO-291 and West 4th Street likely presenting a mix of highway and local road driving as you approach your destination. It’s a functional drive designed for efficiency.

75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.9 mi on I 49.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and MO 291. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 18.5 miles in near MO 52.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 82.4 miles you will encounter 12 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 18.5 miles (MO 52): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 49.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 82.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 27.9 miles on I 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 18.5 miles (MO 52): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 49.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at East Independence, MO before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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