Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
47 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Independence, MO
Momo King
Gower, MO
Wikimedia Commons
East Independence, MO to Gower, MO is 47 miles and takes about 1h 8m via US 169 and I-435, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, entirely within Missouri. The drive is mostly on highways, making it a straightforward connection between these two points. Given its brevity, it's a practical option for a quick relocation or a day trip without requiring an overnight stay.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 169 | 21.5 mi | 30m |
| MO 291 | 11.6 mi | 17m |
| I 435 | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| MO 152 | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| East Truman Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| West Kansas Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Main Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Whitney Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,110 veh/hr typical · worst 1,421
Quietest
2 AM
~69 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 93 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Gower, MO.
Start on East 9th Street South
Turn left onto Main Road
Turn right onto East Truman Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto MO 291
Turn left onto West Kansas Street
Continue on MO 152
Take the exit
Merge onto I 435
Take the exit
Merge onto US 169
Turn left onto Whitney Avenue
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.5 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 47 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Main Road
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I 435 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 169 North: Smithville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Merge onto US 169
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$7.29 one way
$14.57 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $7.99 | $15.98 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.12 | $18.24 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $10.36 | $20.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.11 | $1.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.58 | $3.01 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in East Independence on Wednesday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Gower on Wednesday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 92% of the 47 miles on major roads like US 169 and I-435. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of highway for about 21.5 miles on US 169. Expect a largely unimpeded drive until you transition to MO 291 closer to Gower, where exits may become more frequent as you approach your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 169 and MO 291. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Road.
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 47 miles you will encounter 10 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 16.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
592 ft
Total Descent
479 ft
Highest Point
1,009 ft
~20.1 mi in
Elevation Range
251 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from East Independence, MO to Gower, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Joseph along the way.
Saint Joseph
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 47 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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