If you are planning a trip from Camdenton to East Independence, expect a straightforward journey spanning approximately 149.7 miles. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 3 hours and 22 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your travel budget should account for roughly $23 in fuel costs for the one-way trek. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, the drive maintains a consistent regional feel throughout. It is a practical, efficient path that keeps you moving toward your destination without unnecessary detours.
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
74.8 miles from Camdenton, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MO 7
108.1 mi
2h 21m
MO 291
22.4 mi
32m
MO 58
8.5 mi
11m
MO 5
7.7 mi
9m
East Truman Road
1.2 mi
2m
US 54
0.8 mi
1m
Main Road
0.3 mi
1m
East 9th Street South
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
MO 7
— 108.1 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Camdenton, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on US 54
0.8 mi·1 min·US 54
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward MO 5 North, MO 7 North: Sunrise BeachUse the left lane.
3
Merge onto MO 5; MO 7
7.7 mi·9 min·MO 5; MO 7
4
Turn left onto MO 7
37 mi·53 min·MO 7
5
Take the exit onto MO 7
0.3 mi·33 sec·MO 7
Toward MO 7 North: Warsaw, Clinton
6
Turn left onto MO 7
28 mi·38 min·MO 7
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on MO 7; MO 13; MO 52
39 mi·44 min·MO 7; MO 13; MO 52
8
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
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 160Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
10
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft·6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
11
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi·12 min·MO 291
12
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi·11 min·MO 58; MO 291
13
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.6 mi·52 sec·MO 291
Toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
14
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.2 mi·37 sec·MO 291
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen RoadUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn left
300 ft·7 sec
16
Continue on MO 291
13 mi·18 min·MO 291
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward East Truman Road
18
At end of road, turn left onto East Truman Road
1.2 mi·2 min·East Truman Road
19
Turn left onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
20
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
21
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 22-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your own schedule. While the route is short enough to drive in one go, building in at least one planned stop will help you stay refreshed for the final miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition between the various state highways, though with a $23 estimated cost, filling up before you leave Camdenton should suffice. Since MO 7 accounts for the bulk of your journey, prioritize checking for any localized traffic alerts on that specific corridor before hitting the road to ensure a smooth arrival in East Independence.
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 74.8 miles from Camdenton, MO, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108.1 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 33 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.8 miles or 1h 45m 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 42m
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 Camdenton, 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 Camdenton, MO
This is one driving day of about 149.7 miles and 3h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Camdenton, 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 MO 7 for about 108.1 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 134.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the exit toward MO 5 North, MO 7 North: Sunrise Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward MO 5 North, MO 7 North: Sunrise Beach
5
46 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|MO 7
Take the exit onto MO 7 toward MO 7 North: Warsaw, Clinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 7 North: Warsaw, Clinton
5
113.5 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|MO 7
Take the exit onto MO 7 toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kan...
6
116.9 mi into trip|~2h 33m 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
134.3 mi into trip|~2h 58m 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
$23.40 one way
$46.81 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.70
$51.39
premium
$4.89
$28.81
$57.62
diesel
$5.61
$33.05
$66.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.9
0
$15.72
$7.19
Efficient EV
37.4
0
$13.10
$5.99
EV Truck/SUV
59.9
0
$20.96
$9.58
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Camdenton, MO
Night
in Camdenton on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Independence, MO
Night
in East Independence on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Warsaw, MO
75 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
20 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
3h 22m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused route is designed for efficiency, with 99% of your travel occurring on major roads like MO 7, MO 291, and MO 58. You will spend the vast majority of your time behind the wheel on MO 7, which features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 108.1 miles. Because the path relies so heavily on primary state highways, you can anticipate a steady, predictable rhythm rather than the stop-and-go nature of local city streets. The road character remains consistent, allowing you to settle into a comfortable pace once you clear the initial departure area.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 108.1 mi on MO 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 7 and MO 291. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 149.7 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 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.5 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Camdenton, MO to East Independence, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Clinton along the way.
Clinton
46 mi in|~1h 5m|via MO 7
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 22m. Total distance: 149.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 108.1 miles on MO 7. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.5 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at East Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
