If you are planning a trip from Edina to East Independence, you are looking at a straightforward 191.9-mile journey across the Missouri Midwest. Expect to spend about 4 hours and 2 minutes behind the wheel, making this a very manageable single-day drive. With a fuel budget of approximately $29, the route is economically efficient for a solo traveler or a small group. You will primarily utilize the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, MO 110, and US 63 to navigate between the two points. Because the entire trip stays within Missouri, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. It is an ideal route if you prefer a direct, no-fuss transit rather than a multi-day excursion.
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
95.9 miles from Edina, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
95.6 mi
1h 50m
MO 110
33.9 mi
36m
US 63
18.9 mi
21m
MO 156
16.6 mi
29m
South 1st
10.5 mi
15m
MO 291
10 mi
14m
Lightburne Street
2.7 mi
5m
East Truman Road
1.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 95.6 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Edina, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on South Main
4 ft·5 sec·South Main
2
Turn left onto MO 6
0.1 mi·16 sec·East Lafayette
3
Turn left onto MO 6; MO 15
11 mi·15 min·South 1st
4
Turn straight onto MO 15
0.1 mi·13 sec·MO 15
5
Turn right onto MO 156
17 mi·29 min·MO 156
6
Turn left onto US 63
19 mi·21 min·US 63
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·11 sec
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Saint Joseph
8
Merge onto US 36; MO 110
96 mi·1 hr 50 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
9
Turn left onto MO 110
34 mi·36 min·MO 110
Toward I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
11
At end of road, turn left onto Plattsburg Road
0.1 mi·11 sec·Plattsburg Road
12
Continue on Lightborne Road
0.2 mi·16 sec·Lightborne Road
13
Continue on Lightburne Street
2.7 mi·5 min·Lightburne Street
14
Continue on South Leonard Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Leonard Street
15
Take the ramp
147 ft·2 sec
16
Merge onto MO 291
10.0 mi·14 min·MO 291
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·52 sec
Toward East Truman Road
18
Turn left onto East Truman Road
1.4 mi·3 min·East Truman Road
19
Turn left onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
20
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
21
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
Since this is a 4-hour drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience without needing an overnight stay. I recommend planning for at least one stop to break up the 191.9-mile stretch, which helps keep you alert as you transition from rural regions into the busier traffic near East Independence. Because the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway accounts for a significant portion of your time, keep an eye on your fuel levels before merging onto the main highway to avoid unnecessary detours. Given the modest $29 fuel estimate, you can easily budget for a full tank before you leave Edina. Use the single recommended stop to stretch your legs, ensuring you arrive at your destination refreshed and ready for your next activity.
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 95.9 miles from Edina, MO, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.6 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 42 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.9 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Independence, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Edina, 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 Edina, MO
This is one driving day of about 191.9 miles and 4h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Edina, 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 95.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 191.9 — 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|MO 6 / East Lafayette
Turn left onto MO 6 / East Lafayette
Navigation decision point
6
46.4 mi into trip|~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Saint Joseph
6
142.1 mi into trip|~2h 58m in|MO 110
Turn left onto MO 110 toward I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City
5
176.2 mi into trip|~3h 35m in|Plattsburg Road
At end of road, turn left onto Plattsburg Road
Navigation decision point
5
191.9 mi into trip|~4h 2m in|East 9th Street South
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.00 one way
$60.00 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.94
$65.88
premium
$4.89
$36.93
$73.86
diesel
$5.61
$42.37
$84.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.6
0
$20.15
$9.21
Efficient EV
48
0
$16.79
$7.68
EV Truck/SUV
76.8
0
$26.87
$12.28
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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 16, 2026
Origin
Edina, MO
Late night
in Edina on Sunday
Local time
2:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Sunday
Local time
2:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Chillicothe, MO
96 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
19 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
4h 2m 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with 91% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will quickly settle into a rhythm, particularly during the longest stretch of 95.6 miles spent on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. The road personality is functional and efficient, designed to move you steadily from the northern part of the state toward the Kansas City metro area. While you will encounter a mix of highway speeds and regional road transitions, the route maintains a consistent pace. Expect a reliable, predictable experience behind the wheel that prioritizes time-saving over winding, technical backroads.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.6 mi on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and MO 110. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 6 / East Lafayette.
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 2m drive. You will face about 14 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 (MO 6 / East Lafayette): Navigation decision point; at 46.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 142.1 miles (MO 110): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 2m. Total distance: 191.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 95.6 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 (MO 6 / East Lafayette): Navigation decision point; at 46.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 142.1 miles (MO 110): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at East Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
