Spanning 236.3 miles across the Missouri Midwest, this trip connects Fenton to East Independence in approximately 3 hours and 42 minutes. It is a straightforward journey that fits easily into a single day, making it an ideal choice for travelers looking to reach their destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should plan on a fuel budget of roughly $36 to cover the distance. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it offers a different pace than a typical high-speed sprint. Consider this a practical, turn-heavy option if you prefer seeing more of the local landscape while navigating between these two Missouri communities.
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
116.5 miles from Fenton, 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
22.1 mi
26m
MO 141
11.4 mi
18m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fenton, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on Main Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto Gravois Road
0.3 mi·50 sec·Gravois Road
3
Turn right onto MO 141
0.1 mi·17 sec·MO 141
Use the right lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 141
11 mi·17 min·MO 141
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the exit
133 ft·7 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
7
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
22 mi·26 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
8
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.
9
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth 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
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
52 mi·56 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
17
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
18
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
19
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Holke Road
20
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
21
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
22
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
23
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 42 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to structure your day to suit your personal preferences. Since you are limited to a single recommended stop, choose your break location strategically to manage the turn-heavy segments of the drive. Departing early in the day is a smart move to stay ahead of local traffic, especially when navigating the smaller roads that make up this route. Keep your $36 fuel budget in mind as you plan your stops, ensuring you have enough cushion for potential traffic delays. A helpful tip for this specific path is to double-check your navigation frequently, as the reliance on local roads like Gravois Road and MO 141 requires more frequent maneuvering than a simple interstate route.
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 116.5 miles from Fenton, 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 51 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.5 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 45m
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 Fenton, 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 Fenton, MO
This is one driving day of about 233.1 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Fenton, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 227.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|MO 141
Turn right onto MO 141
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|MO 141
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 141
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
11.9 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the exit toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Went...
8
34.4 mi into trip|~47m 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
227.9 mi into trip|~4h 24m 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
$36.44 one way
$72.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$40.01
$80.02
premium
$4.89
$44.86
$89.72
diesel
$5.61
$51.47
$102.93
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: 81.6 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
69.9
0
$24.48
$11.19
Efficient EV
58.3
0
$20.40
$9.32
EV Truck/SUV
93.2
1
$32.63
$14.92
Gas CO2
82 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 16, 2026
Origin
Fenton, MO
Night
in Fenton on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Independence, MO
Night
in East Independence on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
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
24 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 36m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a hands-on driving experience as you navigate away from the interstate grind. This route consists entirely of local roads, including Gravois Road, MO 141, and I 64 West, meaning your highway share is 0%. The drive is characterized by its turn-heavy nature, requiring you to stay alert and engaged with the road rather than settling into a monotonous cruise. Because there are no long, uninterrupted interstate stretches, you will find yourself navigating frequent shifts in terrain and road type. It is a technical drive that demands your full attention, providing a unique alternative to the standard highway-heavy transit across the state.
Only 6% 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: 80.7 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 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near MO 141.
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 233.1 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 0.5 miles (MO 141): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (MO 141): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 36m. Total distance: 233.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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 East Independence, 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: at 0.5 miles (MO 141): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (MO 141): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at East Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
