If you are planning to travel from Eureka to East Independence, MO, you are looking at a 229.1-mile journey across the Midwest. Expect the drive to take approximately 3 hours and 41 minutes under normal conditions. Because this is a relatively straightforward trip, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Budgeting around $35 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the trip. Since both locations are situated within Missouri, you will remain in the same region throughout your travels, making this a consistent and predictable drive.
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
113.8 miles from Eureka, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi
1h 35m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
Avenue of the Saints
13.6 mi
16m
MO 109
10.9 mi
18m
South Eatherton Road
2.4 mi
4m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eureka, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on South Central Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·South Central Avenue
2
Turn right onto East 5th Street
0.3 mi·31 sec·East 5th Street
3
Turn left onto MO 109
5.9 mi·10 min·MO 109
Use the left lane.
4
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
76 ft·1 sec·MO 109
5
Continue on MO 109
0.1 mi·13 sec·MO 109
6
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
90 ft·1 sec·MO 109
7
Continue on MO 109
515 ft·10 sec·MO 109
8
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
98 ft·1 sec·MO 109
9
Continue on MO 109
0.4 mi·45 sec·MO 109
10
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
94 ft·2 sec·MO 109
11
Continue on MO 109
4.3 mi·6 min·MO 109
12
Enter roundabout onto South Eatherton Road
94 ft·1 sec·South Eatherton Road
13
Continue on South Eatherton Road
2.4 mi·4 min·South Eatherton Road
14
Continue on Olive Street Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Olive Street Road
15
Take the ramp onto Chesterfield Airport Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Chesterfield Airport Road
16
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
14 mi·16 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit onto US 40
0.6 mi·1 min·US 40
Exit 1AToward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
19
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
20
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
21
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
22
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
23
Continue on I 70; US 40
52 mi·56 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the slight right lane.
25
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
26
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
27
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
28
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Holke Road
29
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
30
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
31
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
32
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 3-hour and 41-minute duration. Since this is a local route, check your navigation frequently, as the turns on Eatherton Road and other segments can be frequent and easy to miss. Leaving earlier in the day is always a smart move to ensure you reach East Independence before traffic patterns shift. Keep your eyes on the fuel gauge, even with the modest $35 estimate, to avoid searching for stations in unfamiliar areas. Flexibility is your greatest asset here, so don't feel pressured to rush through the winding sections of 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 113.8 miles from Eureka, MO, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.7 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 50 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.8 miles or 2h 24m 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 43m
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 Eureka, 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 Eureka, MO
This is one driving day of about 227.7 miles and 4h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Eureka, 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 80.7 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.6 and 222.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.6 mi into trip|~12m in|MO 109
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
6.7 mi into trip|~12m in|MO 109
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
15.5 mi into trip|~28m in|I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
29 mi into trip|~44m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
8
222.5 mi into trip|~4h 22m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.60 one way
$71.20 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$39.09
$78.17
premium
$4.89
$43.82
$87.64
diesel
$5.61
$50.27
$100.55
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: 79.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.3
0
$23.91
$10.93
Efficient EV
56.9
0
$19.92
$9.11
EV Truck/SUV
91.1
1
$31.88
$14.57
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% 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
Eureka, MO
Late night
in Eureka on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°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 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 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that prioritizes backroads over interstate speed. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be spending your time on high-speed expressways, but rather navigating regional arteries like East 5th Street and South Eatherton Road. The route demands your full attention as you move away from the main highway grid. Because the roads are winding and local in nature, the driving experience is quite different from a standard interstate slog. You will find that the character of the road remains consistent, requiring you to stay engaged with the path rather than relying on cruise control.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.7 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 6.6 miles in near MO 109.
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 33m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.6 miles (MO 109): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.7 miles (MO 109): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 15.5 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 33m. Total distance: 227.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 80.7 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.
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 6.6 miles (MO 109): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.7 miles (MO 109): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 15.5 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 East Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
