Florissant, MO to East Independence, MO is 228.6 miles and takes about 4h 28m via I 70 and Rosemary Straub Davison Highway, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, entirely within Missouri. The route is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, it's a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
114.3 miles from Florissant, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
215.4 mi
4h 4m
Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
3.7 mi
4m
Lindbergh Boulevard
1.7 mi
3m
South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Washington Street
1 mi
1m
Holke Road
0.9 mi
2m
East Truman Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 215.4 mi, about 4h 4m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,861 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~342 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florissant, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on North New Florissant Road
87 ft·5 sec·North New Florissant Road
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Washington Street
3
Turn left onto US 67
1.7 mi·3 min·Lindbergh Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 270
3.7 mi·4 min·Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 20AToward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
7
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·42 sec·this road
Exit 20A-BToward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas CityUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·41 sec
Exit 20BToward I 70 West: Kansas CityUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 70
215 mi·4 hr 4 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
12
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
13
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
14
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Holke Road
15
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
16
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
17
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
18
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 28m estimated drive time, leaving Florissant in the morning should allow you to reach East Independence well before evening. There's only one suggested stop, so you can decide if you want to break up the 215.4-mile highway stretch or push through. Keep an eye on your fuel; at an estimated $35 cost, it's wise to plan your fill-up before you leave or at a convenient point along I 70. The flexibility of a single-day trip means you can adjust your departure time based on traffic or your personal schedule.
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 114.3 miles from Florissant, MO, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 215.4 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 50 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.3 miles or 2h 13m 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 36m
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 Florissant, 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 Florissant, MO
This is one driving day of about 228.6 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Florissant, 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 I 70 for about 215.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 223.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.1 mi into trip|~6m in|I 270 / Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
Merge onto I 270 / Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
6.9 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 20A
Toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
5
7.1 mi into trip|~11m in
Continue toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 20A-B
Toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
8
7.6 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20B
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
8
223.5 mi into trip|~4h 17m 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
$33.76 one way
$67.52 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$37.27
$74.54
premium
$4.72
$42.44
$84.89
diesel
$4.80
$43.16
$86.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.6
0
$24.00
$10.97
Efficient EV
57.2
0
$20.00
$9.14
EV Truck/SUV
91.4
1
$32.00
$14.63
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Florissant, MO
Late night
in Florissant on Sunday
Local time
5:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
W 10 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Sunday
Local time
5:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
87°F
Centralia, MO
114 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 28m 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?
You'll spend about 95% of the 228.6 miles on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 215.4 miles, primarily on I 70. Expect this to feel like mostly highway cruising until you get closer to East Independence, where you'll transition from I 70 to Rosemary Straub Davison Highway and Lindbergh Boulevard. The dense network of exits on I 70 means frequent opportunities to merge and exit.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 215.4 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Rosemary Straub Davison Highway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near I 270 / Rosemary Straub Davison Highway.
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 228.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 3.1 miles (I 270 / Rosemary Straub Davison Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 28m. Total distance: 228.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 215.4 miles on I 70. 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 3.1 miles (I 270 / Rosemary Straub Davison Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. 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 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at East Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
