East Independence, MO to Saint Clair, MO is 220.3 miles and takes about 4h 24m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, beginning in Missouri and ending in Missouri. Expect a drive that's primarily on surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate experience. It's a manageable distance for a single day, perfect if you're looking for a straightforward drive without needing an overnight stop.
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
110.1 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
118.5 mi
2h 11m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
MO 47
38 mi
57m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
South Little Blue Parkway
1.7 mi
3m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Holke Road
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 118.5 mi, about 2h 11m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,880 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,333
Quietest
1 AM
~259 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Saint Clair, 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
64 mi·1 hr 12 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 193Toward MO 47: Warrenton, Hawk Point
17
Turn right onto MO 47
31 mi·47 min·MO 47
Use the straight lane.
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; MO 47
0.4 mi·49 sec·US 50; MO 47
Use the left lane.
19
Take the exit
136 ft·5 sec
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto MO 47
6.9 mi·10 min·MO 47
21
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 24m estimated drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Starting in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to navigate the surface roads after the initial highway segment. Plan for one stop to break up the 220.3 miles, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel as you transition from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway to MO 47, as fuel availability might be less frequent on the surface roads. The $39 fuel estimate is a good baseline for your budget.
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 110.1 miles from East Independence, MO, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.5 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 48 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.1 miles or 2h 4m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Clair, 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 220.3 miles and 4h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 118.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 213.3 — 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...
6
181.7 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Take the exit toward MO 47: Warrenton, Hawk Point
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 193
Toward MO 47: Warrenton, Hawk Point
5
212.9 mi into trip|~4h 13m in|US 50; MO 47
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; MO 47
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
213.3 mi into trip|~4h 14m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.53 one way
$65.07 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$35.92
$71.83
premium
$4.72
$40.90
$81.81
diesel
$4.80
$41.60
$83.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.1
0
$23.13
$10.57
Efficient EV
55.1
0
$19.28
$8.81
EV Truck/SUV
88.1
1
$30.84
$14.10
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:52PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:42PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Saint Clair, MO
Late night
in Saint Clair on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
W 7 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:52PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:42PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
87°F
Centralia, MO
110 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
4h 24m 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 220.3-mile route features a 18% highway share. You'll experience the longest stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for 118.5 miles. After that, the profile shifts to mostly surface roads, meaning you'll encounter more local traffic and potentially more intersections as you make your way toward Saint Clair. The transition away from the highway means you'll be navigating at a different pace for a significant portion of your drive.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.5 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 24m 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 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
892 ft480 ft
Total Climb
835 ft
Total Descent
890 ft
Highest Point
892 ft
~188.8 mi in
Elevation Range
413 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 Saint Clair, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Hawk Point along the way.
St. Louis Area is the region around St. Louis, Missouri. It borders St. Louis Metro East (Illinois) along the Mississippi River. Within Missouri, it borders Southeast Missouri, Central Missouri, and Northeast Missouri.
The longest stretch is about 118.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 181.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Saint Clair, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
