Origin
Independence, MO
Night in Independence on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Independence, MO to Bridgeton, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 22m
Distance
225.7 mi
363 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 9m
★
6 AM
4h 23m
8 AM
4h 49m
10 AM
4h 32m
12 PM
4h 29m
3 PM
4h 33m
5 PM
4h 48m
8 PM
4h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Bridgeton, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 225.7-mile journey from Independence, MO, to Bridgeton, MO, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 22 minutes of driving time. You'll navigate through the heart of the Midwest, staying within Missouri for the entire trip. The route has a projected fuel cost of around $35, making it an economical option. While there's one recommended stop, the drive is primarily characterized by its numerous turns rather than extensive highway cruising. It's a straightforward trip, ideal for those looking for a direct route without extensive planning.
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
112.8 miles from Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 4m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 157.4 mi | 3h 1m |
| 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 |
| Gallatin Lane | 1.2 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 157.4 mi, about 3h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, MO and Bridgeton, MO.
1
Start on East Kansas Avenue
145 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Kansas Avenue
2
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
394 ft
·
22 sec
·
South Lynn Street
3
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
466 ft
·
25 sec
·
East Walnut Street
4
Turn right onto South Noland Road
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
South Noland Road
5
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 70 East: Columbia, Saint Louis
6
Merge onto I 70
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
7
Continue on I 70
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
8
Continue on I 70
53 mi
·
56 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
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
103 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Exit 232
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 270 North: Chicago
Use the slight left lane.
17
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
this road
Exit 232
Toward I 270 North: Chicago
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward MO 180
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn slight right
213 ft
·
4 sec
Toward MO 180 East: Saint Charles Rock Road, Natural Bridge Road
20
Turn right onto MO 180
274 ft
·
7 sec
·
Saint Charles Rock Road
21
Turn left onto Natural Bridge Road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Natural Bridge Road
Use the left lane.
22
Turn left onto Gallatin Lane
1.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Gallatin Lane
23
At end of road, turn left onto Gist Road
62 ft
·
2 sec
·
Gist Road
24
Arrive at destination
Gist Road
Trip Plan
With a total driving time of 4 hours and 22 minutes, this trip is comfortably manageable in a single day. Consider an early morning departure from Independence to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. While only one stop is officially recommended, feel free to make additional brief pauses as needed, especially given the local road nature of the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the $35 estimated cost is based on consistent travel, and plan for your one main stop to refuel or take a break. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to your GPS, as the 'turn-heavy' profile means many turns can appear in quick succession.
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 112.8 miles from Independence, MO, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 157.4 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 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.8 miles or 2h 4m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bridgeton, 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 225.7 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 157.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 112.8 miles from Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 157.4 miles.
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 0 and 223.8 — 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
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
8
222.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 15m in
Take the exit toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
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 232
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
7
223.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 North: Chicago
8
223.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 180
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MO 180
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.29 one way
$70.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $38.74 | $77.48 |
| premium | $4.89 | $43.43 | $86.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.83 | $99.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79 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 | 67.7 | 0 | $23.70 | $10.83 |
| Efficient EV | 56.4 | 0 | $19.75 | $9.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.3 | 1 | $31.60 | $14.44 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 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.
Destination
Bridgeton, MO
Night in Bridgeton on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Columbia, MO
113 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
9 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 22m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this route, with a 0% highway share. This means you'll be on local roads for the majority of your 4-hour-plus journey. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 157.4 miles, mainly on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This type of driving offers a more intimate feel of the landscape, with more frequent changes in scenery and speed as you pass through towns and various local environments. Be prepared for more active navigation due to the frequent turns.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 157.4 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 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Lynn Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 225.7 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: near the start (South Lynn Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 222.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 22m. Total distance: 225.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 157.4 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 Bridgeton, 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: near the start (South Lynn Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 222.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Bridgeton, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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