Independence, MO to Wellston, MO is 234.9 miles and takes about 4h 33m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a drive that mostly sticks to surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate experience. It’s a straightforward trip, ideal if you're looking for a single-day drive without extensive highway time.
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
117.4 miles from Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
163.7 mi
3h 9m
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
Saint Charles Rock Road
1.8 mi
3m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 163.7 mi, about 3h 9m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 68 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,925 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,568
Quietest
2 AM
~345 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Wellston, 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
109 mi·2 hr 10 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·40 sec
Exit 238AToward I 170 South: ClaytonUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 170
1.5 mi·1 min·Inner Belt Expressway
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 5Toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock RoadUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
426 ft·11 sec
Toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock RoadUse the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Turn left onto MO 180
1.8 mi·3 min·Saint Charles Rock Road
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·Pennsylvania Avenue
21
Turn left onto MO D
0.9 mi·1 min·Page Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
MO D
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 33m duration and 234.9-mile distance, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to make the most of daylight and have plenty of time for an unplanned stop if needed. The route includes one recommended stop, so plan your break around that point. With a fuel cost estimated at $37, keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the 163.7-mile stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, where services might be less frequent. Since it's a shorter drive, you have flexibility in your departure time.
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 117.4 miles from Independence, MO, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 163.7 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 52 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.4 miles or 2h 9m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wellston, 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 234.9 miles and 4h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 163.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 231.2 — 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
7
229.2 mi into trip|~4h 23m in
Take the exit toward I 170 South: Clayton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 238A
Toward I 170 South: Clayton
7
231 mi into trip|~4h 25m in
Take the exit toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road
8
231.2 mi into trip|~4h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.18 one way
$78.37 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$42.59
$85.17
premium
$5.26
$48.64
$97.27
diesel
$6.18
$57.14
$114.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.5
0
$24.66
$11.28
Efficient EV
58.7
0
$20.55
$9.40
EV Truck/SUV
94
1
$32.89
$15.03
Gas CO2
82 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Independence, MO
Morning
in Independence on Sunday
Local time
7:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
SSW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:40AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Destination
Wellston, MO
Morning
in Wellston on Sunday
Local time
7:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Sunny
NE 1 to 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:40AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
56°F
Centralia, MO
117 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 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 33m 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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
$19
near mile 234.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With a 100% highway share, you'll be on paved roads for the entire 234.9 miles. The longest continuous stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is 163.7 miles. As you travel, you'll notice the profile is mostly surface roads, meaning frequent intersections and changes in speed limits rather than continuous high-speed cruising. This setup suggests a drive with more local traffic and fewer exits compared to a typical interstate.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 163.7 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 12 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 Effort6/10
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 234.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 229.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 4h 33m. Total distance: 234.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 163.7 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 Wellston, 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 229.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Wellston, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
