Origin
Independence, MO
Evening in Independence on Saturday
Local time
8:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Independence, MO to Caruthersville, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 56m
Distance
421.6 mi
678 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$66
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 48m
★
6 AM
7h 56m
8 AM
8h 14m
10 AM
8h 3m
12 PM
8h 1m
3 PM
8h 3m
5 PM
8h 13m
8 PM
7h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Caruthersville, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 421.6-mile journey from Independence to Caruthersville, Missouri, is a solid day trip, clocking in at just under 8 hours. You'll primarily navigate via the Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, with about 75% of the drive on these main roads. Given the estimated fuel cost of $66 and a recommended one-day pace, it's an accessible drive within the Midwest region. With two planned stops, you can break up the drive comfortably. This route offers a straightforward path through Missouri.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
210.8 miles from Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway | 173.9 mi | 3h 6m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 135.3 mi | 2h 34m |
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 25.1 mi | 30m |
| I 270 | 11.5 mi | 14m |
| MO 84 | 5.1 mi | 9m |
| South Noland Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
— 173.9 mi, about 3h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, MO and Caruthersville, 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
81 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
15
Take the exit onto US 40
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
US 40
Exit 210A
Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
16
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
25 mi
·
30 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 25
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 270 South: Memphis
Use the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto I 270
11 mi
·
14 min
·
I 270
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 1A
Toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 55 South: Memphis
22
Merge onto I 55
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Rosa Parks Highway
23
Continue on I 55
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
24
Continue on I 55
174 mi
·
3 hr 6 min
·
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 19
Toward MO 84: Hayti, Caruthersville
26
Turn left onto MO 84
5.1 mi
·
9 min
·
MO 84
27
Turn right
45 ft
·
3 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour and 56-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Independence to maximize daylight. With two stops planned, you can aim to break up the 421.6 miles roughly in half, perhaps around the 4-hour mark. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 173.9 miles on the Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent. The $66 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in a little extra buffer for unexpected detours or local driving.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 210.8 miles from Independence, MO, or about 4h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 173.9 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 93 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 210.8 miles or 4h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Caruthersville, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Independence, MO
This is one driving day of about 421.6 miles and 7h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from Independence, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway for about 173.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
211 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 93 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 210.8 miles from Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 173.9 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 238.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
6
200.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 48m in
|
US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 210A
Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Ches...
8
226.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 19m 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 25
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
7
226.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 19m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 270 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 270 South: Memphis
8
238.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.91 one way
$131.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
148 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $72.37 | $144.74 |
| premium | $4.89 | $81.13 | $162.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $93.08 | $186.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 147.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 126.5 | 1 | $44.27 | $20.24 |
| Efficient EV | 105.4 | 1 | $36.89 | $16.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 168.6 | 2 | $59.02 | $26.98 |
Gas CO2
148 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Caruthersville, MO
Evening in Caruthersville on Saturday
Local time
8:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Chesterfield, MO
211 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
17 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
7h 56m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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, indicated by a 4% highway share. While there is a significant longest stretch of 173.9 miles on the Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, the overall profile suggests frequent changes in road character. You won't be on a continuous interstate grind; instead, anticipate a more varied driving experience with local road segments interspersed with the main highways. This means paying attention to speed limit changes and potential intersections as you progress through Missouri.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 173.9 mi on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 421.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 200.8 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 226.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Independence, MO to Caruthersville, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Memphis
226.2 mi in
|
~4h 19m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 56m. Total distance: 421.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 56m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 173.9 miles on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial 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 Caruthersville, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 200.8 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 226.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Caruthersville, MO before the return drive.
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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