Planning a trip from East Independence, MO, to Four Seasons, MO? This route covers 156.4 miles and is estimated to take about 3 hours and 22 minutes of driving time. It's a manageable drive, perfect for a single day trip, and you can expect to spend around $24 on fuel. The journey primarily utilizes the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and US 65, offering a mixed driving experience. Since both locations are within the Midwest region of Missouri, you'll be staying within familiar territory for this relatively short, straightforward drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
78.2 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
52.5 mi
56m
East Broadway Boulevard
24.3 mi
32m
US 65
15.9 mi
18m
MO 52
15 mi
19m
MO 5
14.5 mi
18m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
8.5 mi
9m
US 54
7.3 mi
7m
Horseshoe Bend Parkway
3.9 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 52.5 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Four Seasons, 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
8.5 mi·9 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 78AToward US 65 South: Sedalia
12
Merge onto US 65
16 mi·18 min·US 65
13
Turn slight left onto MO 765
0.1 mi·14 sec·MO 765
Toward MO 765: Sedalia
14
Continue on MO 765
0.2 mi·16 sec·MO 765
15
Turn straight onto North Ohio Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·North Ohio Avenue
16
Turn left onto East Pettis Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East Pettis Street
17
Continue on West Saline Street
0.3 mi·50 sec·West Saline Street
18
Turn right onto North Engineer Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·North Engineer Avenue
19
Turn left onto US 50
24 mi·32 min·East Broadway Boulevard
20
Turn right onto MO 5
14 mi·18 min·MO 5
Use the right lane.
21
At end of road, turn left onto MO 52
15 mi·19 min·MO 52
22
Turn right onto South Grand Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·South Grand Avenue
23
Turn slight left onto West 17th Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·West 17th Street
24
Turn right onto US 54 Bus; MO 52
2.2 mi·3 min·US 54 Bus; MO 52
25
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 54 West: Lake of the Ozarks
26
Merge onto US 54
7.3 mi·7 min·US 54
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 54 Business
28
Enter roundabout onto US 54 Business
114 ft·2 sec·Bagnell Dam Boulevard
29
Continue on US 54 Business
0.1 mi·14 sec·Bagnell Dam Boulevard
30
Enter roundabout onto US 54 Business
117 ft·2 sec·Bagnell Dam Boulevard
31
Continue on US 54 Business
2.2 mi·5 min·Bagnell Dam Boulevard
32
Turn right onto MO HH
3.9 mi·6 min·Horseshoe Bend Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Turn right onto Cherokee Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Cherokee Road
34
Turn left onto Spirea Point
0.1 mi·32 sec·Spirea Point
35
Arrive at destination
Spirea Point
Trip Plan
For this 1-day trip, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and allow for flexibility. With a duration of just over 3 hours, you won't need to plan for an overnight stop. While there's only one recommended stop on this route, keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the longest stretch without a town is 52.5 miles, so it’s wise to top off before embarking on that segment. The fuel cost is estimated at $24, which is quite economical for a trip of this distance.
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 78.2 miles from East Independence, MO, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.5 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 34 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.2 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Four Seasons, 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 156.4 miles and 3h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 52.5 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 149.6 — 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
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...
5
66.3 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Sedalia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 78A
Toward US 65 South: Sedalia
5
109.4 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|MO 5
Turn right onto MO 5
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
149.6 mi into trip|~3h 7m in|US 54 Business / Bagnell Dam Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto US 54 Business / Bagnell Dam Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.45 one way
$48.90 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.85
$53.69
premium
$4.89
$30.10
$60.20
diesel
$5.61
$34.53
$69.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.9
0
$16.42
$7.51
Efficient EV
39.1
0
$13.69
$6.26
EV Truck/SUV
62.6
0
$21.90
$10.01
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 18, 2026
Origin
East Independence, MO
Night
in East Independence on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 10 to 14 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Four Seasons, MO
Night
in Four Seasons on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
16 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
3h 22m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 drive presents a mixed profile, with 39% of the journey on highways. You'll experience stretches on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, including one segment that lasts 52.5 miles, which will likely feel like a more continuous highway pace. The route also incorporates sections on East Broadway Boulevard and US 65, suggesting a transition between faster highway travel and potentially more local road conditions as you get closer to your destination. Expect a blend of open road driving and areas that might require more attention to local traffic patterns.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.5 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 23 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Road.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 156.4 miles you will encounter 23 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 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,033 ft710 ft
Total Climb
627 ft
Total Descent
702 ft
Highest Point
1,033 ft
~122.9 mi in
Elevation Range
322 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 22m. Total distance: 156.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.5 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.
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 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Four Seasons, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
