East Independence, MO to Wellston, MO is 232.6 miles and takes about 4h 33m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a drive that involves a good amount of local road navigation mixed with highway travel. It's a manageable one-day journey, suitable for those who prefer not to break up their travel into multiple days. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward drive across the state.
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
116.3 miles from East Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
163.7 mi
3h 9m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Saint Charles Rock Road
1.8 mi
3m
South Little Blue Parkway
1.7 mi
3m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Inner Belt Expressway
1.5 mi
1m
South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 163.7 mi, about 3h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Independence, MO and Wellston, 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
109 mi·2 hr 10 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·40 sec
Exit 238AToward I 170 South: ClaytonUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 170
1.5 mi·1 min·Inner Belt Expressway
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 5Toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock RoadUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
426 ft·11 sec
Toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock RoadUse the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Turn left onto MO 180
1.8 mi·3 min·Saint Charles Rock Road
Use the right lane.
21
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·Pennsylvania Avenue
22
Turn left onto MO D
0.9 mi·1 min·Page Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
MO D
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 33m duration, departing in the morning is recommended to ensure you have ample daylight for the entire drive. With only one recommended stop for this 232.6-mile trip, plan your break strategically, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 163.7 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your schedule, but aim to leave early to avoid potential evening traffic as you enter the Wellston area.
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 116.3 miles from East Independence, MO, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 163.7 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 51 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.3 miles or 2h 11m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wellston, 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 232.6 miles and 4h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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 163.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 228.9 — 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...
7
226.9 mi into trip|~4h 23m in
Take the exit toward I 170 South: Clayton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 238A
Toward I 170 South: Clayton
7
228.7 mi into trip|~4h 26m in
Take the exit toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road
8
228.9 mi into trip|~4h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.36 one way
$72.73 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$39.93
$79.85
premium
$4.89
$44.76
$89.52
diesel
$5.61
$51.36
$102.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.8
0
$24.42
$11.16
Efficient EV
58.2
0
$20.35
$9.30
EV Truck/SUV
93
1
$32.56
$14.89
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Sunday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wellston, MO
Late night
in Wellston on Sunday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
22 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
4h 33m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
$19
near mile 232.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll encounter numerous intersections and changes in direction. While 100% of the journey is on highways, it's not a non-stop interstate experience. You'll have a significant stretch of 163.7 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, offering a more continuous driving segment. However, be prepared for the road to transition, incorporating more local road characteristics as you approach your destination. The overall feel is less about high-speed cruising and more about engaged navigation.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 163.7 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 232.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 226.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 33m. Total distance: 232.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 163.7 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.
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 Wellston, 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 226.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Wellston, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
