This 419.6-mile journey from Caruthersville, MO, to East Independence, MO, is a solid day trip, estimated to take around 7 hours and 57 minutes. You'll spend about 46% of your time on highways, with a significant 175.7-mile stretch on I-55. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest-to-Midwest drive is $66. With just two recommended stops, this route offers a fairly direct path, making it manageable for a single day of driving. The mixed drive profile suggests a varied experience on the road.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
209.8 miles from Caruthersville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
175.7 mi
3h 8m
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
25.4 mi
30m
I 270
11.5 mi
14m
West 3rd Street
2.9 mi
5m
MO 84
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 175.7 mi, about 3h 8m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 21 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 Caruthersville, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on this road
45 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
2.9 mi·5 min·West 3rd Street
3
Continue on MO 84
2.0 mi·3 min·MO 84
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Sikeston
5
Merge onto I 55; US 61
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 55; US 61
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
102 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 55
7
Continue on I 55
1.3 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 196Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, ChicagoUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
388 ft·8 sec
Toward I 270 West: Kansas CityUse the slight left lane.
10
Continue on this road
0.7 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 196Toward I 270 West
11
Merge onto I 270
11 mi·14 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 12Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint LouisUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: WentzvilleUse the slight left lane.
14
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·9 sec·this road
Exit 12Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
15
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
25 mi·30 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
16
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.
17
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
18
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
19
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
20
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
21
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
22
Continue on I 70; US 40
52 mi·56 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the slight right lane.
24
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
25
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
26
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
27
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Holke Road
28
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
29
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
30
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
31
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
With a duration of nearly 8 hours, starting your drive early in the morning from Caruthersville will give you ample daylight to reach East Independence. Given the longest stretch is over 175 miles, plan your fuel stops strategically to avoid running low, especially since the total fuel cost is estimated at $66. While only two stops are recommended, consider adding a brief break around the midpoint of your longest interstate segment for a stretch. The flexibility of a single-day drive means you can adjust your pace as needed.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 209.8 miles from Caruthersville, MO, or about 3h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 175.7 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 92 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 209.8 miles or 3h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 47m
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 Caruthersville, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Caruthersville, MO
This is one driving day of about 419.6 miles and 7h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 92 miles from Caruthersville, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 175.7 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 182.3 and 220.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
182.3 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Take the exit toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago
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 196
Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chi...
8
182.5 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 West: Kansas City
8
194.8 mi into trip|~3h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis
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 12
Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Lo...
8
195 mi into trip|~3h 36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Went...
8
220.9 mi into trip|~4h 8m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$69.76 one way
$139.53 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg147 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$75.99
$151.98
premium
$5.18
$85.62
$171.24
diesel
$5.35
$88.38
$176.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 146.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
125.9
1
$44.06
$20.14
Efficient EV
104.9
1
$36.72
$16.78
EV Truck/SUV
167.8
2
$58.74
$26.85
Gas CO2
147 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Caruthersville, MO
Afternoon
in Caruthersville on Wednesday
Local time
2:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 1 at 4:06AM CDT until June 1 at 4:45AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 1 at 4:04AM CDT until June 1 at 4:30AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
East Independence, MO
Afternoon
in East Independence on Wednesday
Local time
2:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 1 at 4:06AM CDT until June 1 at 4:45AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 1 at 4:04AM CDT until June 1 at 4:30AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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
4 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
7h 57m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the B...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 130.2
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...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
$19
near mile 188.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with nearly half of your travel, 46%, occurring on highways. The bulk of your time will be spent on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway and U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 175.7 miles on I-55, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. This portion of the drive is likely to feel more like a standard interstate experience, offering efficiency for covering ground.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 175.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 182.3 miles in.
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 20 significant decision points across 419.6 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 182.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 182.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 194.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
852 ft276 ft
Total Climb
775 ft
Total Descent
221 ft
Highest Point
852 ft
~389.6 mi in
Elevation Range
576 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Caruthersville, MO and East Independence, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 57m. Total distance: 419.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 175.7 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 46 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 46 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 182.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 182.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 194.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park and Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 15.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at East Independence, MO before the return drive.
