Spanning 132.9 miles across the Missouri Midwest, this trip connects Ashland to East Independence in approximately 2 hours and 6 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend about $20 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your travel plans. While the journey is straightforward, you will primarily navigate via East Broadway, local routes, and I-70. Whether you are heading out for business or visiting family, this drive offers a direct link between these two Missouri locations. It serves as a practical connection for those looking to traverse the heart of the state efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
65.7 miles from Ashland, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
US 63
13.1 mi
14m
South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.3 mi
1m
South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Holke Road
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ashland, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on MO Y
0.2 mi·29 sec·East Broadway
2
Enter roundabout onto MO M; MO Y
173 ft·3 sec·East Broadway
3
Continue on MO M; MO Y
484 ft·10 sec·East Broadway
4
Enter roundabout
283 ft·5 sec
5
Continue
0.2 mi·27 sec
6
Merge onto US 63
13 mi·14 min·US 63
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint LouisUse the left / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 63 Conn
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 63 Conn
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the left lane.
10
Merge onto I 70; US 40
1.3 mi·1 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
52 mi·56 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
17
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
18
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
19
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Holke Road
20
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
21
Turn right 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
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of total schedule flexibility throughout your day. Aim to depart outside of peak traffic hours to ensure a smoother experience on the local roads that make up the bulk of your travel. Keep your $20 fuel budget in mind before you leave, as filling up in Ashland will likely carry you through to your destination in East Independence with ease. Because there are no formal stops listed, plan for a direct drive and take care of any personal needs before getting behind the wheel. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, stay alert for directional changes when moving between local streets and I-70 segments.
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 65.7 miles from Ashland, MO, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.7 miles or 1h 13m 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 58m
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 Ashland, 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 Ashland, MO
This is one driving day of about 131.4 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Ashland, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 126.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|MO M; MO Y / East Broadway
Enter roundabout onto MO M; MO Y / East Broadway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
13.7 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint L...
9
14.3 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
8
126.3 mi into trip|~2h 18m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.54 one way
$41.09 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.56
$45.11
premium
$4.89
$25.29
$50.57
diesel
$5.61
$29.01
$58.02
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 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.4
0
$13.80
$6.31
Efficient EV
32.9
0
$11.50
$5.26
EV Truck/SUV
52.6
0
$18.40
$8.41
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Ashland, MO
Late night
in Ashland on Sunday
Local time
2:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Sunday
Local time
2:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
S 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 12:37PM CDT until April 16 at 1:30PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 12:30PM CDT until April 16 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
73°F
Concordia, MO
66 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
10 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
2h 29m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise. Unlike long-haul interstate routes, this trip features a 0% highway share, requiring you to stay focused on the local segments that define the journey. You will spend your time navigating through local infrastructure rather than maintaining high speeds on major expressways. The route demands your full attention as you transition between East Broadway and various local connectors. Because there are no designated stops, you should be prepared for a continuous drive once you pull out of Ashland.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near MO M; MO Y / East Broadway.
Driving Effort5/10
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 131.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.2 miles (MO M; MO Y / East Broadway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 13.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ashland, MO and East Independence, MO, road signs point toward Mo Pp: Kansas City and Saint Louis.
Mo Pp: Kansas City
13.7 mi in|~15m
Saint Louis
13.7 mi in|~15m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 131.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (11%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (MO M; MO Y / East Broadway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 13.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at East Independence, MO before heading back.
