Independence, MO to Owensville, MO is 201 miles and takes about 3h 57m via U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and US 63, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day excursion. You'll find the route offers a mixed driving experience, transitioning from faster highway stretches to more local roads as you approach your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
100.5 miles from Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
US 63
50.3 mi
59m
MO 28
13.6 mi
20m
MO 89
10.6 mi
15m
MO E
6.2 mi
8m
South Noland Road
3.1 mi
5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 13 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,251 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~346 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.3×
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 Independence, MO and Owensville, 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
1.5 mi·1 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 128AToward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
15
Turn slight right
192 ft·4 sec
Toward US 63 South: Jefferson City
16
Merge onto US 63 Conn
521 ft·11 sec·US 63 Conn
Use the slight right lane.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward US 63 South: Jefferson CityUse the straight lane.
18
Merge onto US 63
27 mi·29 min·US 63
19
Take the exit onto US 63
1.5 mi·2 min·US 63
Toward US 54 West, US 63 South: Jefferson City
20
Take the exit onto US 63
217 ft·4 sec·US 63
Toward US 63 South, US 50
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 63
0.1 mi·16 sec·US 63
Toward US 63 South, US 50
22
Keep slight left at fork onto US 63
0.1 mi·15 sec·US 63
Toward US 63 South, US 50 EastUse the slight left lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 63
12 mi·14 min·US 63
24
Keep slight right at fork onto US 63
9.4 mi·12 min·US 63
Toward US 63 South: Rolla
25
Turn left onto MO E
6.2 mi·8 min·MO E
26
Continue on MO 89
11 mi·15 min·MO 89
27
Turn left onto 5th Street
232 ft·10 sec·5th Street
28
Turn left onto MO 28
5.7 mi·8 min·MO 28
29
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 28
7.9 mi·11 min·MO 28
30
Turn left onto South 2nd Street
227 ft·16 sec·South 2nd Street
31
Turn right
60 ft·4 sec
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a drive time under four hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility for your departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to allow for a relaxed pace and to avoid any potential rush hour congestion if you're leaving Independence during peak times. The fuel cost is estimated at $31, so ensure your tank is full before you depart, especially since the longest stretch without a major change in road type is over 54 miles. While there's only one recommended stop, keep an eye out for any service areas along US 63 if you need a break or to refuel.
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 100.5 miles from Independence, MO, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 44 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.5 miles or 1h 51m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Owensville, 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 201 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 148.9 — 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
119.4 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 128A
Toward US 63: Jefferson City, Moberly
7
119.6 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|US 63 Conn
Merge onto US 63 Conn
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
148.8 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|US 63
Keep slight left at fork onto US 63 toward US 63 South, US 50
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 63 South, US 50
9
148.9 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|US 63
Keep slight left at fork onto US 63 toward US 63 South, US 50 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 63 South, US 50 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.68 one way
$59.37 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$32.77
$65.54
premium
$4.72
$37.32
$74.64
diesel
$4.80
$37.95
$75.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.3
0
$21.11
$9.65
Efficient EV
50.3
0
$17.59
$8.04
EV Truck/SUV
80.4
1
$28.14
$12.86
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Independence, MO
Morning
in Independence on Sunday
Local time
6:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SSW 5 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:17PM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:55PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Owensville, MO
Morning
in Owensville on Sunday
Local time
6:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 3 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:17PM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:55PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
91°F
Columbia, MO
101 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
2 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
3h 57m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 37% highway driving. You'll cover a longest stretch of 54.4 miles on the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway before transitioning to other major roads like the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and US 63. Expect the highway portions to offer straightforward cruising, while the latter part of the route will involve more surface roads, potentially with more varied traffic and intersections as you get closer to Owensville.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort9/10
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 20 significant decision points across 201 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 119.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.6 miles (US 63 Conn): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,034 ft562 ft
Total Climb
941 ft
Total Descent
1,031 ft
Highest Point
1,034 ft
Elevation Range
472 ft
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 Owensville, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Moberly along the way.
Moberly
119.4 mi in|~2h 12m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Independence, known as the Queen City of the Trails, is a city in western Missouri just east of Kansas City with a population of approximately 110,000. Independence's founding predates that of Kansas City, and it was home to U.S. President Harry S. Truman and the legendary actress Ginger Rogers, as well as the starting point of three of America's great Westward Trails: the Santa Fe Trail, the California Trail, and the Oregon Trail. The city also hosts numerous historical sites related to the Community of Christ (formerly RLDS), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormons"), American Civil War and Western history.
While offering a full range of entertainment and lodging options for visitors, Independence generally tends to be more "quiet" than its larger neighbor to the west.
Top landmarks
•Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum — presidential library and museum for U.S. President Harry S. Truman, located in I...
•Temple Lot — Geographical location important in Latter Day Saint history
•Harry S. Truman National Historic Site — national Historic Site of the United States in Missouri
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 201 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Owensville, 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. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.6 miles (US 63 Conn): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Owensville, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
