Origin
Garden City, MO
Night in Garden City on Saturday
Local time
11:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Garden City, MO to East Independence, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
45.9 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Garden City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
East Independence, MO
Momo King
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Garden City to East Independence, you are looking at a manageable 47.6-mile trip that typically takes about 55 minutes. This journey stays entirely within Missouri, connecting two spots in the Midwest without the need for an overnight stay. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, making it a perfect candidate for a flexible schedule. With a fuel budget of just $7, it is an incredibly cost-effective route for commuters or weekend travelers alike. Since this is a straightforward local drive, you do not need to worry about complex logistics or multi-day planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MO 291 | 22.4 mi | 32m |
| MO 7 | 11.9 mi | 13m |
| MO 58 | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| East Truman Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| MO F | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 9th Street South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MO 291
— 22.4 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Garden City, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Main Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto MO F
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
MO F
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
4
Merge onto MO 7
8.6 mi
·
9 min
·
MO 7
5
Take the exit onto MO 7
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 160
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
7
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft
·
6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
8
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi
·
12 min
·
MO 291
9
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi
·
11 min
·
MO 58; MO 291
10
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
MO 291
Toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
11
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
MO 291
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left
300 ft
·
7 sec
13
Continue on MO 291
13 mi
·
18 min
·
MO 291
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward East Truman Road
15
At end of road, turn left onto East Truman Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Truman Road
16
Turn left 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23 miles from Garden City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 9.8 and 30.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
MO 7
Take the exit onto MO 7 toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kan...
5
13.1 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 160
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
6
13.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
5
30.1 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
MO 291
Take the exit onto MO 291 toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
7
30.6 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
MO 291
Take the exit onto MO 291 toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.18 one way
$14.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.88 | $15.76 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.83 | $17.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.13 | $20.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.82 | $2.20 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.43 | $2.94 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Destination
East Independence, MO
Night in East Independence on Saturday
Local time
11:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 10 to 14 mph
8% chance
Live forecast
48°F
Lee's Summit, MO
23 mi in
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
14 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
1h 5m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While you will utilize sections of I-49 North, MO-291 North, and US-50 East, the route is defined by its local character rather than long, high-speed highway stretches. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for more frequent adjustments behind the wheel as you navigate between these two points. The road conditions change as you transition between local corridors, requiring a bit more focus than a simple cruise control trek. It is a functional drive designed for direct transit through the Missouri landscape.
93% 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: 22.4 mi on MO 291.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 291 and MO 7. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.8 miles in near MO 7.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.9 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 9.8 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 13.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 45.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.4 miles on MO 291. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.8 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 13.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at East Independence, MO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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