This 232.8-mile drive from Castle Point, MO, to East Independence, MO, is a straightforward journey through the Midwest, taking approximately 4 hours and 34 minutes. It's an ideal one-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. With a projected fuel cost of around $36, it's an economical option for a weekend getaway or a quick visit. The route is predominantly highway, making it an efficient way to cover ground. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, so expect a consistent pace for the majority of the trip.
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
116.4 miles from Castle Point, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
215.4 mi
4h 4m
Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
8.6 mi
10m
South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Holke Road
0.9 mi
2m
New Halls Ferry Road
0.7 mi
1m
East Truman Road
0.7 mi
1m
Dunn Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 215.4 mi, about 4h 4m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,357 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,863
Quietest
2 AM
~307 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.9×
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 Castle Point, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on Lord Drive
284 ft·14 sec·Lord Drive
2
Turn right onto Duchess Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Duchess Drive
3
Turn right onto Edgefield Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Edgefield Drive
4
Turn left onto Hudson Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Hudson Drive
5
At end of road, turn right onto MO AC
0.3 mi·29 sec·Halls Ferry Road
6
Keep slight left at fork onto MO AC
0.7 mi·1 min·New Halls Ferry Road
7
Turn left onto Dunn Road
0.4 mi·53 sec·Dunn Road
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 270 West
9
Merge onto I 270
8.6 mi·10 min·Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 20AToward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
11
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·42 sec·this road
Exit 20A-BToward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas CityUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·41 sec
Exit 20BToward I 70 West: Kansas CityUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 70
215 mi·4 hr 4 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
16
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
17
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
18
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Holke Road
19
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
20
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
21
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
22
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 34-minute duration, starting your drive in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in planning your break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the long 215.4-mile stretch on I 70, as services can be spread out. This is a manageable one-day drive, so you can depart at your convenience, but factoring in potential traffic as you approach East Independence is wise.
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 116.4 miles from Castle Point, MO, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 215.4 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 51 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.4 miles or 2h 17m 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 Castle Point, 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 Castle Point, MO
This is one driving day of about 232.8 miles and 4h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Castle Point, 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 I 70 for about 215.4 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 227.6 — 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|Duchess Drive
Turn right onto Duchess Drive
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip|~2m in|Hudson Drive
Turn left onto Hudson Drive
Navigation decision point
6
11 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 20A
Toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
8
11.8 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20B
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
8
227.6 mi into trip|~4h 23m 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
$34.38 one way
$68.76 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$37.95
$75.91
premium
$4.72
$43.22
$86.45
diesel
$4.80
$43.96
$87.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.5 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
69.8
0
$24.44
$11.17
Efficient EV
58.2
0
$20.37
$9.31
EV Truck/SUV
93.1
1
$32.59
$14.90
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 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
Castle Point, MO
Late night
in Castle Point on Sunday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Sunny
W 10 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:57AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Sunday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:57AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
87°F
Centralia, MO
116 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
2 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 34m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for 93% of this trip. The vast majority of your journey will be on I 70, offering a consistent and fast-paced experience. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 215.4 miles on I 70, so plan your breaks accordingly. While primarily interstate, you'll also navigate sections of Rosemary Straub Davison Highway and South Little Blue Parkway, which can offer slight variations in the driving environment before returning to the main highway.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 215.4 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Rosemary Straub Davison Highway. 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 Duchess Drive.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 232.8 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 (Duchess Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Hudson Drive): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
894 ft495 ft
Total Climb
749 ft
Total Descent
415 ft
Highest Point
894 ft
~99.8 mi in
Elevation Range
399 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 34m. Total distance: 232.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 215.4 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 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 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Duchess Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Hudson Drive): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at East Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
