Ava, MO to East Independence, MO is 224.6 miles and takes about 4h 39m via North Kansas Expressway and MO 7, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, connecting two points in the Midwest. You'll be spending most of your time on highways, making for a relatively straightforward drive. It's a good option if you're looking for a direct route to cover a good distance without needing an overnight stop.
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
112.3 miles from Ava, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Kansas Expressway
87.2 mi
1h 42m
MO 7
39.2 mi
43m
US 60
37.8 mi
44m
MO 291
22.4 mi
32m
MO 5
12.4 mi
17m
MO 58
8.5 mi
11m
Schoolcraft Freeway
8.1 mi
10m
Payne Stewart Highway
4.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
North Kansas Expressway
— 87.2 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ava, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on MO 5 Business
171 ft·5 sec·South Jefferson Street
2
Turn right onto West Lincoln Avenue
254 ft·13 sec·West Lincoln Avenue
3
Turn right onto South Lister Street
238 ft·12 sec·South Lister Street
4
Turn right onto West Washington Avenue
263 ft·14 sec·West Washington Avenue
5
Turn left onto MO 14; MO 5 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·North Jefferson Street
6
Enter roundabout onto Springfield Road
75 ft·1 sec·Springfield Road
7
Continue on Springfield Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Springfield Road
8
Turn right onto MO 5; MO 76
12 mi·17 min·MO 5; MO 76
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward US 60 West: Springfield
10
Merge onto US 60
38 mi·44 min·US 60
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 65 North: Sedalia
12
Merge onto US 65
8.1 mi·10 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
14
Merge onto I 44
4.1 mi·5 min·Payne Stewart Highway
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
16
Keep slight left at fork
150 ft·3 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
17
Keep slight right at fork
209 ft·7 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
18
Merge onto MO 13
87 mi·1 hr 42 min·North Kansas Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Continue on MO 7
36 mi·39 min·MO 7
20
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
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 160Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
22
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft·6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
23
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi·12 min·MO 291
24
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi·11 min·MO 58; MO 291
25
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.6 mi·52 sec·MO 291
Toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
26
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.2 mi·37 sec·MO 291
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen RoadUse the slight right lane.
27
Turn left
300 ft·7 sec
28
Continue on MO 291
13 mi·18 min·MO 291
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward East Truman Road
30
At end of road, turn left onto East Truman Road
1.2 mi·2 min·East Truman Road
31
Turn left onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
32
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
33
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 39m estimated drive time, leaving Ava, MO in the morning will comfortably get you to East Independence, MO before evening. With a fuel cost estimated around $35, it's wise to fill up before you leave Ava. The route includes one recommended stop, but with the drive being under five hours, you can be flexible. Pay attention to the transition from highway to city roads as you near East Independence to avoid missing your turn. The majority of the drive is on highways, so prepare for consistent speeds and traffic flow until the final approach.
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 112.3 miles from Ava, MO, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.2 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 49 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.3 miles or 2h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 41m
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 Ava, 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 Ava, MO
This is one driving day of about 224.6 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Ava, 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 North Kansas Expressway for about 87.2 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 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 209.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South Lister Street
Turn right onto South Lister Street
Navigation decision point
7
65.3 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 13: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
7
65.3 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
6
191.9 mi into trip|~3h 50m 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
209.2 mi into trip|~4h 15m 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
$33.17 one way
$66.34 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$36.62
$73.23
premium
$4.72
$41.70
$83.40
diesel
$4.80
$42.41
$84.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.4
0
$23.58
$10.78
Efficient EV
56.2
0
$19.65
$8.98
EV Truck/SUV
89.8
1
$31.44
$14.37
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Ava, MO
Late night
in Ava on Sunday
Local time
5:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 9 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Sunday
Local time
5:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 3 to 7 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 39m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 54.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 96% of the 224.6 miles on major roads. The longest continuous stretch without significant changes in road type is 87.2 miles on North Kansas Expressway. You'll notice a high concentration of exits and merges for a significant portion of the drive, indicating a busy corridor. The transition to surface streets will occur as you approach your destination in East Independence.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.2 mi on North Kansas Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Kansas Expressway and MO 7. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Lister Street.
Driving Effort10/10
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 27 significant decision points across 224.6 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 0.1 miles (South Lister Street): Navigation decision point; at 65.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 65.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 224.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.2 miles on North Kansas Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at East Independence, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Lister Street): Navigation decision point; at 65.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 65.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at East Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
