If you are planning a trip from Elsberry to East Independence, expect a journey covering 217.9 miles across the Missouri landscape. This drive typically takes about 3 hours and 36 minutes, making it a manageable excursion that fits well into a single day of travel. You will navigate primarily via local roads like Broadway Street, East 3rd Street, and North Sturgeon Street rather than major interstates. With an estimated fuel cost of $33, it is a budget-friendly option for those preferring a direct route. Because the entire trip remains within the Midwest region, the transition between these two Missouri locations feels consistent and straightforward. It is an ideal route for a traveler who prefers local roads over the monotony of high-speed highway traffic.
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
106.5 miles from Elsberry, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
95.4 mi
1h 46m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
MO E
28 mi
39m
Broadway Street
11.1 mi
15m
Danville Road
5.2 mi
7m
MO 161
4.8 mi
6m
MO V
4.6 mi
6m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 95.4 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elsberry, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on MO 79
69 ft·6 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn right onto MO B
11 mi·15 min·Broadway Street
3
Continue on MO E
16 mi·22 min·MO E
4
At end of road, turn left onto MO E; MO O
0.5 mi·44 sec·MO E; MO O
5
Turn right onto MO E
12 mi·16 min·MO E
6
Turn right onto MO V
4.6 mi·6 min·MO V
7
Turn left onto MO 161
4.4 mi·6 min·MO 161
8
Turn straight onto MO 161
0.2 mi·27 sec·East 3rd Street
9
Turn left onto MO 19; MO 161
377 ft·8 sec·North Sturgeon Street
10
Turn right onto MO 161
0.4 mi·31 sec·West 2nd Street
11
Turn straight onto MO 161
0.1 mi·11 sec·Danville Road
12
Continue on MO 161
5.0 mi·7 min·Danville Road
13
At end of road, turn right onto MO 161
0.4 mi·38 sec·MO 161
14
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·13 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
15
Merge onto I 70; US 40
41 mi·47 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
17
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
18
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
19
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
20
Continue on I 70; US 40
52 mi·56 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the slight right lane.
22
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
23
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
24
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
25
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Holke Road
26
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
27
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
28
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
29
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy, 217.9-mile journey, start your day early to ensure you reach East Independence well before nightfall. You should factor in at least one planned stop to break up the drive, as the constant turns can be more fatiguing than highway miles. Keep your $33 fuel budget in mind, and consider filling up before you depart Elsberry to avoid searching for stations along the more local stretches of the route. Because you are relying on roads like North Sturgeon Street and Broadway Street, keep a reliable GPS handy to navigate the frequent directional changes. This route offers the flexibility of a single-day trip, so feel free to take your time and pace yourself to stay alert throughout the drive.
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 106.5 miles from Elsberry, MO, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.4 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 47 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.5 miles or 2h 17m 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 30m
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 Elsberry, 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 Elsberry, MO
This is one driving day of about 213 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Elsberry, 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 95.4 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 48.3 and 212.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
48.3 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|MO 19; MO 161 / North Sturgeon Street
Turn left onto MO 19; MO 161 / North Sturgeon Street
Navigation decision point
5
53.9 mi into trip|~1h 16m in|MO 161
At end of road, turn right onto MO 161
Navigation decision point
5
54.3 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
8
207.8 mi into trip|~4h 6m in
Take the exit toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall E...
5
212.9 mi into trip|~4h 17m in|East 9th Street South
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.30 one way
$66.60 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.56
$73.12
premium
$4.89
$40.99
$81.98
diesel
$5.61
$47.03
$94.06
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: 74.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.9
0
$22.37
$10.22
Efficient EV
53.3
0
$18.64
$8.52
EV Truck/SUV
85.2
1
$29.82
$13.63
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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
Elsberry, MO
Morning
in Elsberry on Tuesday
Local time
7:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Independence, MO
Morning
in East Independence on Tuesday
Local time
7:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
6 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 17m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a standard interstate cruise, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will spend the entire 3-hour and 36-minute duration navigating smaller thoroughfares. The character of the road is defined by constant adjustments rather than long, straight stretches of pavement. You should anticipate a hands-on driving experience where the scenery shifts gradually as you transition through the various local streets. This is not a route for cruise control; instead, it is a technical trek that keeps you engaged with the road layout from start to finish.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.4 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 around 48.3 miles in near MO 19; MO 161 / North Sturgeon Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 17m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 48.3 miles (MO 19; MO 161 / North Sturgeon Street): Navigation decision point; at 53.9 miles (MO 161): Navigation decision point; at 54.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 17m. Total distance: 213 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 95.4 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.
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: at 48.3 miles (MO 19; MO 161 / North Sturgeon Street): Navigation decision point; at 53.9 miles (MO 161): Navigation decision point; at 54.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at East Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
