Origin
East Independence, MO
Late night in East Independence on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Independence, MO to Cameron, MO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
48.8 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Independence, MO
Momo King
Cameron, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward connection between East Independence and Cameron, this 48.8-mile trek is an ideal day trip. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 4 minutes on the road, making it a quick transit rather than a multi-day excursion. Budgeting around $7 for fuel should cover your needs for the entire journey. This route keeps you firmly within the Midwest, traversing Missouri on a path that prioritizes efficiency over sightseeing. Since the drive is short, you won't need to worry about overnight lodging or complex pacing strategies. It serves as a practical, no-nonsense link for travelers moving between these two Missouri locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Kansas City Expressway | 27.7 mi | 29m |
| MO 291 | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| US 69 | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| Lightburne Street | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| East Truman Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South Leonard Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East 2nd Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Main Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 27.7 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Cameron, 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
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Truman Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
5
Merge onto MO 291
9.9 mi
·
14 min
·
MO 291
6
Turn slight right
409 ft
·
8 sec
7
Turn slight right onto South Leonard Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Leonard Street
8
Continue on Lightburne Street
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Lightburne Street
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
10
Merge onto I 35; MO 110
28 mi
·
29 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward US 69: Lawson, Cameron
12
Turn left onto US 69
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
US 69
13
Turn left onto East 2nd Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Street
14
Arrive at destination
West 2nd Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.4 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 43.2 — 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
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East Truman Road
Turn right onto East Truman Road
Navigation decision point
3
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
MO 291
Merge onto MO 291
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
15.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
I 35; MO 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Merge onto I 35; MO 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
43.2 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward US 69: Lawson, Cameron
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 69: Lawson, Cameron
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.63 one way
$15.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.38 | $16.75 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.39 | $18.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.77 | $21.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.83 | $3.12 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Cameron, MO
Late night in Cameron on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 4m 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 88% of your time spent on major routes like the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, MO 291, and US 69. You will settle into a steady rhythm early on, particularly during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 27.7 miles along the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. The road design favors speed and directness, minimizing the stop-and-go traffic often found on smaller local roads. While the transition between these highways keeps the journey moving, you should prepare for a consistent interstate feel throughout the trip. It is a functional path designed to get you from point A to point B as reliably as possible.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.7 mi on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and MO 291. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 4m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East Truman Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (MO 291): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 48.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.7 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.3 miles (East Truman Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (MO 291): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cameron, 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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