This 231.6-mile journey from Independence, MO, to Bel-Ridge, MO, is estimated to take about 4 hours and 27 minutes of driving time. With a projected fuel cost of $36, it's an economical option for a single-day trip, fitting well within the Midwest region. The route primarily uses local roads, indicating a more town-by-town travel experience rather than high-speed highway cruising. While it's designed as a one-day adventure, the pace can be adjusted to suit your preferences, making it a flexible Midwest exploration.
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
115.8 miles from Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
164.8 mi
3h 10m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
South Noland Road
3.1 mi
5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.6 mi
3m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.5 mi
1m
North Hanley Road
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 164.8 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, MO and Bel-Ridge, MO.
32 mi·34 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
110 mi·2 hr 12 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 239Toward North Hanley RoadUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto North Hanley Road
1.0 mi·1 min·North Hanley Road
Use the right lane.
17
Turn right onto Welsberg Drive
495 ft·21 sec·Welsberg Drive
18
Arrive at destination
Welsberg Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 27-minute duration and local road nature, consider an early start from Independence, MO, to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic delays in towns. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility to pause when needed, perhaps around the 164.8-mile mark on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway where the longest stretch concludes. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially since much of this drive is on local roads where gas stations might be less frequent than on major highways. The $36 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting this 231.6-mile trip.
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 115.8 miles from Independence, MO, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 164.8 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 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.8 miles or 2h 7m 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 Bel-Ridge, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Independence, 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 Independence, MO
This is one driving day of about 231.6 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Independence, 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 164.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 230.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Lynn Street
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Walnut Street
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
6
3.3 mi into trip|~6m in
Turn left toward I 70 East: Columbia, Saint Louis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East: Columbia, Saint Louis
7
230.3 mi into trip|~4h 24m in
Take the exit toward North Hanley Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 239
Toward North Hanley Road
6
230.5 mi into trip|~4h 25m in|North Hanley Road
Turn right onto North Hanley Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.21 one way
$72.42 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$39.75
$79.51
premium
$4.89
$44.57
$89.14
diesel
$5.61
$51.13
$102.27
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 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
69.5
0
$24.32
$11.12
Efficient EV
57.9
0
$20.26
$9.26
EV Truck/SUV
92.6
1
$32.42
$14.82
Gas CO2
81 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 15, 2026
Origin
Independence, MO
Night
in Independence on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bel-Ridge, MO
Night
in Bel-Ridge on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Columbia, MO
116 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
10 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 27m 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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
$19
near mile 231.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this entire 231.6-mile trip, as indicated by the 0% highway share. You'll be navigating through communities rather than bypassing them on interstates. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 164.8 miles, primarily on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, suggesting a significant portion of the drive will be on this particular roadway. This type of route often involves more frequent turns and potentially slower speeds as you pass through various towns and local areas.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 164.8 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 early in the drive near South Lynn Street.
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 27m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Lynn Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 27m. Total distance: 231.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 164.8 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: near the start (South Lynn Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles: 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 Bel-Ridge, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
