Traveling from East Independence to Crystal City covers 258.3 miles across the Missouri landscape. Expect roughly 5 hours and 3 minutes of travel time, making this a manageable one-day journey that doesn't strictly require an overnight stay. You will navigate using a combination of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, and the Avenue of the Saints. With an estimated fuel cost of $39, the trip remains budget-friendly for a solo driver or a small group. Since both ends of your trip sit within the Midwest, you can anticipate familiar regional terrain throughout the drive. It is a straightforward transit that balances highway efficiency with local road navigation.
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
129.2 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
135.3 mi
2h 34m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Avenue of the Saints
25.1 mi
30m
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
14.3 mi
15m
I 270
11.5 mi
14m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
South Little Blue Parkway
1.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 135.3 mi, about 2h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Crystal City, 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 left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
4
Turn right onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Holke Road
5
Turn straight onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
6
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
7
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.7 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the left lane.
9
Continue on I 70
53 mi·56 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi·34 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
15
Continue on I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16
Take the exit onto US 40
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 40
Exit 210AToward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
17
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
25 mi·30 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 25Toward I 270: Chicago, MemphisUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward I 270 South: MemphisUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto I 270
11 mi·14 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 1AToward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward I 55 South: Memphis
23
Merge onto I 55
1.5 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
24
Continue on I 55
1.8 mi·2 min·Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
25
Continue on I 55
14 mi·15 min·Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 178Toward Herculaneum
27
Turn right onto McNutt Street
464 ft·13 sec·McNutt Street
28
Enter roundabout onto McNutt Street
0.1 mi·9 sec·McNutt Street
29
Continue on McNutt Street
0.6 mi·1 min·McNutt Street
Use the straight lane.
30
Turn right onto I 55 Business; US 61; US 67
0.6 mi·1 min·Commercial Boulevard
Use the right lane.
31
Continue on I 55 Business; US 61; US 67
1.5 mi·2 min·North Truman Boulevard
32
Turn left onto 8th Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·8th Street
33
Turn right onto Jefferson Avenue
0.4 mi·58 sec·Jefferson Avenue
34
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue
365 ft·18 sec·3rd Avenue
35
Turn right onto North Taylor Avenue
436 ft·19 sec·North Taylor Avenue
36
Arrive at destination
North Taylor Avenue
Trip Plan
Since you have a total travel time of just over five hours, aim to depart early to maximize your daylight hours and minimize traffic fatigue. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 258.3-mile distance, as the turn-heavy nature of the local roads can be more taxing than a straight highway shot. Because your fuel budget is roughly $39, double-check your tank levels before leaving East Independence to avoid premium prices in smaller towns along the way. Given the flexibility of a one-day trip, feel free to adjust your departure time based on local weather conditions, which can impact visibility on these secondary roads. Keep your navigation system updated, as the shift between the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and local routes requires precise turns.
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 129.2 miles from East Independence, MO, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135.3 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 57 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.2 miles or 2h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Crystal City, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving East Independence, 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 East Independence, MO
This is one driving day of about 258.3 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from East Independence, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 135.3 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 5 and 236 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
5 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the ramp toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 17
Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall E...
6
198.5 mi into trip|~3h 48m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 210A
Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Ches...
8
223.9 mi into trip|~4h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
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 25
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
7
224.2 mi into trip|~4h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 270 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 270 South: Memphis
8
236 mi into trip|~4h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.38 one way
$80.76 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$44.34
$88.68
premium
$4.89
$49.71
$99.41
diesel
$5.61
$57.03
$114.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.5
0
$27.12
$12.40
Efficient EV
64.6
0
$22.60
$10.33
EV Truck/SUV
103.3
1
$36.16
$16.53
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
East Independence, MO
Night
in East Independence on Saturday
Local time
9:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Crystal City, MO
Night
in Crystal City on Saturday
Local time
9:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Washington, MO
129 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 3m 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...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
$19
near mile 231.6
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 258.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While about 5% of your path involves highway travel, the majority of the route consists of smaller roads that shift the pace significantly. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, spanning 135.3 miles before the character of the road changes. Because this isn't a simple interstate grind, you will find the driving experience much more active and engaging. Be prepared for frequent adjustments as you transition between the major highway segments and the more technical local portions of the trip.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 135.3 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 24 significant decision points across 258.3 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 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.5 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 223.9 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
920 ft424 ft
Total Climb
310 ft
Total Descent
716 ft
Highest Point
920 ft
~129.2 mi in
Elevation Range
496 ft
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 Crystal City, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Memphis
223.9 mi in|~4h 19m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 3m. Total distance: 258.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 135.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. 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 Crystal City, 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 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.5 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 223.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park and Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Crystal City, MO before the return drive.
