Origin
East Independence, MO
Late night in East Independence on Tuesday
Local time
3:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Independence, MO to Wardsville, MO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 57m
Distance
154 mi
248 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 47m
★
6 AM
2h 58m
8 AM
3h 20m
10 AM
3h 6m
12 PM
3h 4m
3 PM
3h 7m
5 PM
3h 19m
8 PM
2h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Independence, MO
Momo King
Wardsville, MO
Kyle Miller
Trip Overview
East Independence, MO to Wardsville, MO is 154 miles and takes about 2h 57m via U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and US 63, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Missouri, making it a straightforward drive. The route offers a mix of highway cruising and local road navigation, so expect a more engaged driving experience than a pure interstate run. With a recommended one-day drive, you have plenty of flexibility to start when you want and take your time.
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
77 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 54.3 mi | 58m |
| US 63 | 30.9 mi | 34m |
| MO B | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| South Little Blue Parkway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Lorenzo Green Drive | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Wardsville, 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 17
Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance
Use 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
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 128A
Toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
16
Turn slight right
192 ft
·
4 sec
Toward US 63 South: Jefferson City
17
Merge onto US 63 Conn
521 ft
·
11 sec
·
US 63 Conn
Use the slight right lane.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward US 63 South: Jefferson City
Use the straight lane.
19
Merge onto US 63
27 mi
·
29 min
·
US 63
20
Take the exit onto US 63
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
US 63
Toward US 54 West, US 63 South: Jefferson City
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward MO C
22
Turn left onto MO C
446 ft
·
14 sec
·
Southwest Boulevard
23
Continue on Ellis Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Ellis Boulevard
24
Turn right onto Lorenzo Green Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Lorenzo Green Drive
25
Turn left onto MO B
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
MO B
26
Keep slight left at fork onto MO W
192 ft
·
12 sec
·
MO W
27
Turn left onto MO M
340 ft
·
6 sec
·
MO M
28
Arrive at destination
MO M
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 57m drive time, this is easily a same-day trip. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and allow for any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $24, planning is relatively simple. Consider making your stop around the halfway point to break up the drive, especially as you'll be navigating surface roads for a good part of the route. Pay attention to posted speed limits as you transition from highway to local roads; this is where most drivers tend to encounter time losses.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 77 miles from East Independence, MO, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 77 miles or 1h 28m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wardsville, 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 154 miles and 2h 57m.
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 U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 77 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 117.4 — 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
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
117.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 128A
Toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
7
117.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
|
US 63 Conn
Merge onto US 63 Conn
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
117.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward US 63 South: Jefferson City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 63 South: Jefferson City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.08 one way
$48.15 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.43 | $52.87 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.64 | $59.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.00 | $68.00 |
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: 53.9 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 | 46.2 | 0 | $16.17 | $7.39 |
| Efficient EV | 38.5 | 0 | $13.48 | $6.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.6 | 0 | $21.56 | $9.86 |
Gas CO2
54 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.
Destination
Wardsville, MO
Late night in Wardsville on Tuesday
Local time
3:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Concordia, MO
77 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 57m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 21% highway share, meaning you'll transition to surface roads for a significant portion of the 154 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 54.4 miles, primarily on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. Be prepared for frequent turns and intersections as you move from highway segments to local roads. This profile suggests a driving experience where you'll be actively navigating through towns and rural areas rather than solely cruising on limited-access highways.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 154 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 117.1 miles: 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.
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 Wardsville, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Moberly along the way.
Moberly
117.1 mi in
|
~2h 12m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 154 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Wardsville, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 117.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wardsville, MO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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