Ballwin, MO to East Independence, MO is 223.6 miles and takes about 4h 24m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, traversing Missouri entirely. The route primarily uses surface roads, making for a more local feel than a pure interstate cruise. Given the relatively short distance and manageable duration, this is a straightforward drive perfect for a single-day excursion, allowing ample time for departure flexibility.
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
111.8 miles from Ballwin, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi
1h 35m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
Avenue of the Saints
19.2 mi
23m
Baxter Road
2.9 mi
5m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 42 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,549 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,000
Quietest
1 AM
~241 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ballwin, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on this road
219 ft·21 sec·this road
2
Turn left
220 ft·21 sec
3
At end of road, turn left onto Holloway Road
1.2 mi·3 min·Holloway Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on Baxter Road
2.9 mi·5 min·Baxter Road
5
Turn right onto MO 340
1.0 mi·1 min·Clarkson Road
6
Continue on MO 340
483 ft·16 sec·Olive Boulevard
7
Turn left onto North Outer 40
0.4 mi·58 sec·North Outer 40
8
Take the ramp
457 ft·11 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 NorthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
19 mi·23 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto US 40
0.6 mi·1 min·US 40
Exit 1AToward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
15
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
16
Continue on I 70; US 40
52 mi·56 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
19
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
20
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
21
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Holke Road
22
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
23
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
24
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
25
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 4 hours, this trip is easily completed in one day, so you can leave whenever is most convenient. A single stop is planned, which is manageable given the distance. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is around $34. Since the majority of the route is on surface roads, be prepared for potentially slower speeds and more frequent stops at traffic lights compared to interstate travel. Plan your departure to account for local traffic, especially if traveling during peak hours.
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 111.8 miles from Ballwin, MO, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.7 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 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.8 miles or 2h 19m 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 35m
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 Ballwin, 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 Ballwin, MO
This is one driving day of about 223.6 miles and 4h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Ballwin, 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 80.7 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 0.1 and 218.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Holloway Road
At end of road, turn left onto Holloway Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
5.6 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the ramp toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North
5
5.7 mi into trip|~12m in|I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
24.9 mi into trip|~35m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 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 straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
8
218.4 mi into trip|~4h 13m 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
$33.02 one way
$66.04 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$36.45
$72.91
premium
$4.72
$41.52
$83.03
diesel
$4.80
$42.22
$84.44
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: 78.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.1
0
$23.48
$10.73
Efficient EV
55.9
0
$19.57
$8.94
EV Truck/SUV
89.4
1
$31.30
$14.31
Gas CO2
78 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
Ballwin, MO
Late night
in Ballwin on Monday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 8 mph18% 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 Monday
Local time
4:57 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
87°F
Centralia, MO
112 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
1 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
4h 24m 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.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, meaning you'll encounter more local traffic and intersections than on a typical interstate. About 80.7 miles of the route are spent on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. Expect to transition between highway segments and surface roads, with the highway portion making up 100% of the main roads listed. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 80.7 miles on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.7 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Holloway Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 24m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Holloway Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.7 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.7 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 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.
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 0.1 miles (Holloway Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.7 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at East Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
