Origin
East Independence, MO
Night in East Independence on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Independence, MO to Adrian, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
52.6 mi
85 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Independence, MO
Momo King
Adrian, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 52.6-mile journey from East Independence, MO, to Adrian, MO, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking just over an hour to complete. The route is predominantly highway, with 94% of the drive on major roads, making it a convenient option for a quick excursion within the Midwest region. With an estimated fuel cost of around $8, this drive is quite budget-friendly. You'll spend most of your time on MO 291 and I-49, offering a direct path to your destination. This route is ideal if you're looking for an uncomplicated drive with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MO 291 | 31 mi | 45m |
| I 49 | 18.4 mi | 19m |
| East Truman Road | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| East Main Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Main Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| MO 18 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 1st Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Cantrell Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MO 291
— 31 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Adrian, MO.
1
Start on East 9th Street South
79 ft
·
8 sec
·
East 9th Street South
2
Turn left onto Main Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Road
3
Turn right onto East Truman Road
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East Truman Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward MO 291 South: Lee's Summit
5
Merge onto MO 291
10.0 mi
·
13 min
·
MO 291
6
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 291
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
MO 291
Exit 10B
Toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
7
Take the ramp onto MO 291
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
MO 291
Toward US 50 West, MO 291 South: Kansas City
8
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
MO 291
Toward MO 291 South: Jefferson Street, Harrisonville
9
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 291
17 mi
·
24 min
·
MO 291
Toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville
10
Continue on Cantrell Road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Cantrell Road
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
12
Merge onto I 49; US 71
18 mi
·
19 min
·
I 49; US 71
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 141
Toward MO 18: Clinton, Adrian
14
Turn right onto MO 18
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East 1st Street
15
Continue on MO 18
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
MO 18
16
Turn left onto MO 18
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
MO 18
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.3 miles from East Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 51.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Road
Turn left onto Main Road
Navigation decision point
8
12 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
MO 291
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 291 toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 10B
Toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville
6
15.3 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
MO 291
Take the ramp onto MO 291 toward US 50 West, MO 291 South: Kansas City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 West, MO 291 South: Kansas City
6
33.1 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
6
51.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward MO 18: Clinton, Adrian
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 141
Toward MO 18: Clinton, Adrian
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.22 one way
$16.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.03 | $18.06 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.12 | $20.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.61 | $23.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.60 | $2.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21 | 0 | $7.36 | $3.37 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Adrian, MO
Night in Adrian on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Lee's Summit, MO
26 mi in
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
1h 13m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 52.6-mile drive, as 94% of the route utilizes major roadways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 31 miles on MO 291, providing a solid period of consistent travel. While primarily interstate and highway, the transition between MO 291 and I-49 will be noticeable, but the overall character remains one of efficient travel. This drive prioritizes getting you from point A to point B with minimal detours or slower local road segments.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31 mi on MO 291.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 291 and I 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.6 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Road): Navigation decision point; at 12 miles (MO 291): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles (MO 291): 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.
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 East Independence, MO to Adrian, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Harrisonville along the way.
Harrisonville
15.9 mi in
|
~24m
|
via MO 291
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 52.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31 miles on MO 291. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Adrian, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Road): Navigation decision point; at 12 miles (MO 291): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles (MO 291): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Adrian, MO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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