East Independence, MO to Terre Haute, MO is 137.5 miles and takes about 3 hours via Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically crossing from Missouri into Missouri. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that’s perfect for a single-day journey. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it an efficient way to cover ground. Consider this route if you're looking for a quick and uncomplicated transit between these two points.
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
68.7 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
71.7 mi
1h 16m
East 310th Street
27.5 mi
40m
US 136
20.1 mi
29m
MO 291
9.9 mi
14m
Lightburne Street
2.8 mi
5m
MO K
2.3 mi
5m
East Truman Road
1.1 mi
2m
South Leonard Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 71.7 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Terre Haute, 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
72 mi·1 hr 16 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
12
Turn right onto US 136
0.2 mi·18 sec·Miller Street
13
Continue on US 136
27 mi·40 min·East 310th Street
14
Turn left onto US 136
20 mi·29 min·US 136
15
Turn right onto MO K
2.3 mi·5 min·MO K
16
Turn right onto MO KK
164 ft·7 sec·MO KK
17
Arrive at destination
MO KK
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 3 hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day. You'll have ample flexibility for departure time, but an early start will allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $22, planning is minimal. Pay attention to the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway; it’s your primary artery for the majority of the journey, so staying on track there is key to an efficient trip.
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 68.7 miles from East Independence, MO, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.7 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 30 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.7 miles or 1h 23m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Terre Haute, 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 137.5 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 71.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 135.2 — 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
3
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in|MO 291
Merge onto MO 291
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
87.4 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|US 136 / Miller Street
Turn right onto US 136 / Miller Street
Navigation decision point
4
135.2 mi into trip|~2h 55m in|MO K
Turn right onto MO K
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.50 one way
$42.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.60
$47.20
premium
$4.89
$26.46
$52.92
diesel
$5.61
$30.36
$60.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.3
0
$14.44
$6.60
Efficient EV
34.4
0
$12.03
$5.50
EV Truck/SUV
55
0
$19.25
$8.80
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 20, 2026
Origin
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
S 6 to 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 10:13PM CDT until April 21 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 7:54PM CDT until April 22 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Terre Haute, MO
Late night
in Terre Haute on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
SE 9 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 10:13PM CDT until April 21 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 7:54PM CDT until April 22 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
62°F
Gallatin, MO
69 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
7 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 74% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for a significant portion, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 71.7 miles. Expect mostly smooth travel on this predominantly highway path. The character of the drive is consistent, with fewer transitions between road types, making for predictable driving conditions.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.7 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 East 310th 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 3h drive. You will face about 9 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 1.8 miles (MO 291): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 137.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 71.7 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 1.8 miles (MO 291): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Terre Haute, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
