Traveling from East Independence to Edina covers 191.4 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 1 minute. This Midwest journey is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $29 for fuel to complete the trek. By utilizing the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway along with North Missouri and East Clark Streets, you will find a direct path across the state. It is a straightforward transit that prioritizes efficiency over sightseeing, making it an ideal choice if you are looking to get from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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
95.7 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
129 mi
2h 26m
North Missouri Street
19 mi
21m
East Clark Street
16.6 mi
29m
MO 15
10.6 mi
15m
MO 291
9.9 mi
14m
Lightburne Street
2.8 mi
5m
East Truman Road
1.1 mi
2m
South Leonard Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 129 mi, about 2h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Edina, 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
34 mi·36 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
11
Take the exit onto MO 110
0.2 mi·33 sec·MO 110
Exit 54Toward US 36, MO 110 East, I 35 Business: Cameron, Hamilton
12
Turn right onto US 36; MO 110
95 mi·1 hr 50 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward US 63: Kirksville, Macon
14
Turn left onto US 63
19 mi·21 min·North Missouri Street
15
Turn right onto MO 156
17 mi·29 min·East Clark Street
16
At end of road, turn left onto MO 15
11 mi·15 min·MO 15
17
Turn right onto MO 6
0.1 mi·13 sec·East Lafayette
18
Turn right onto South Main
4 ft·0 sec·South Main
19
Arrive at destination
South Main
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is just over four hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh, especially since the longest uninterrupted stretch spans 129 miles. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving the expressway, as services may become less frequent once you transition onto local roads. Because this is a relatively short trip, consider leaving mid-morning to avoid typical commuter traffic around your starting point in East Independence. Use that single planned stop as a mid-point break to ensure you arrive in Edina feeling rested and ready for your next move.
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 95.7 miles from East Independence, MO, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129 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 42 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.7 miles or 1h 56m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Edina, 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 191.4 miles and 4h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for about 129 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 191.4 — 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
6
49.2 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|MO 110
Take the exit onto MO 110 toward US 36, MO 110 East, I 35 Business: Cameron, Hamilton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 54
Toward US 36, MO 110 East, I 35 Business: Camer...
5
144.8 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Take the exit toward US 63: Kirksville, Macon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 63: Kirksville, Macon
5
191.4 mi into trip|~4h 1m in|South Main
Turn right onto South Main
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.92 one way
$59.85 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.85
$65.71
premium
$4.89
$36.83
$73.67
diesel
$5.61
$42.26
$84.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.4
0
$20.10
$9.19
Efficient EV
47.9
0
$16.75
$7.66
EV Truck/SUV
76.6
0
$26.80
$12.25
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Edina, MO
Late night
in Edina on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Chillicothe, MO
96 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
19 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 1m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 78% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will face a significant 129-mile stretch on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, which serves as the backbone of your journey. Expect a steady, consistent pace during this long segment before the road transitions into the local connectivity of North Missouri and East Clark Streets. While the interstate portion allows for high-speed travel, the final approach into Edina shifts to a more standard road feel. Overall, the route offers a reliable, predictable experience behind the wheel that favors steady cruising over technical maneuvering.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129 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 North Missouri Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 1m drive. You will face about 12 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 49.2 miles (MO 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between East Independence, MO and Edina, MO, road signs point toward Hamilton and Macon.
Hamilton
49.2 mi in|~1h 2m|via MO 110
Macon
144.8 mi in|~2h 53m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 1m. Total distance: 191.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 129 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 49.2 miles (MO 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Edina, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
