Wright City Rest Area (Eastbound)
0 mi from route
Trip from Independence, MO to Wildwood, MO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 23m
Distance
224.7 mi
362 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 10m
★
6 AM
4h 24m
8 AM
4h 50m
10 AM
4h 33m
12 PM
4h 30m
3 PM
4h 34m
5 PM
4h 49m
8 PM
4h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Wildwood, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Independence, MO to Wildwood, MO is 224.7 miles and takes about 4h 23m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest, traversing Missouri for its entirety. You'll primarily be on surface roads, offering a more connected experience with towns along the way rather than a high-speed interstate dash. It's a straightforward trip suitable for a single day, making it a convenient option for moving between locations or a day trip.
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
112.3 miles from Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 135.3 mi | 2h 34m |
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 13.4 mi | 15m |
| MO 109 | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| South Noland Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| North Eatherton Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 135.3 mi, about 2h 34m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 46 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,281 veh/hr typical · worst 3,830
Quietest
1 AM
~292 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Wildwood, 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
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 14
Toward Chesterfield Airport Road
Use the slight right lane.
18
Continue on Chesterfield Airport Road
361 ft
·
6 sec
·
Chesterfield Airport Road
19
Turn right
211 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Olive Street Road
20
Turn right onto Olive Street Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Olive Street Road
21
Continue on North Eatherton Road
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
North Eatherton Road
22
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
70 ft
·
1 sec
·
MO 109
23
Continue on MO 109
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
MO 109
24
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
94 ft
·
2 sec
·
MO 109
25
Continue on MO 109
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
MO 109
26
Enter roundabout
76 ft
·
1 sec
Toward MO 100 West: Gray Summit
27
Continue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward MO 100 West: Gray Summit
28
Merge onto MO 100
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
MO 100
29
Turn left onto Pond Road
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Pond Road
30
At end of road, turn right onto Manchester Road
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Manchester Road
31
Turn right
114 ft
·
8 sec
32
Turn left
207 ft
·
15 sec
33
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 23m duration and mostly surface road profile, starting in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $40, this trip is manageable in a single day without significant logistical hurdles. Pay attention to speed limit changes, especially as you move from highway sections to surface roads. The flexibility of a shorter, single-day drive like this means you can adjust your departure time based on traffic or personal preference.
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 112.3 miles from Independence, MO, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135.3 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 49 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.3 miles or 2h 3m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wildwood, 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 224.7 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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 135.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 112.3 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 135.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Concordia Rest Area Eastbound
0 mi from route
Truck Parking
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Wright City Rest Area (Westbound)
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Truck Parking
0.1 mi from route
Concordia Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Boonville Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Boonville Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Betty's Truck Stop
0.1 mi from route
Midway Auto Truck Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Mr. Fuel Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
West Land Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Gasper's
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
0.9 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 214.5 — 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
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...
7
214.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 4m in
Take the exit toward Chesterfield Airport Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 14
Toward Chesterfield Airport Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.18 one way
$66.37 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $36.63 | $73.27 |
| premium | $4.72 | $41.72 | $83.44 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $42.43 | $84.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.4 | 0 | $23.59 | $10.79 |
| Efficient EV | 56.2 | 0 | $19.66 | $8.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.9 | 1 | $31.46 | $14.38 |
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.
Origin
Independence, MO
Evening in Independence on Monday
Local time
7:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 mph
28% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Wildwood, MO
Evening in Wildwood on Monday
Local time
7:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 7 mph
18% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
87°F
Centralia, MO
112 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
1 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 23m 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...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
$19
near mile 224.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly on surface roads, with about 50% of the route utilizing highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 135.3 miles along the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Expect frequent intersections and changes in speed limits as you transition between highway segments and local roads. The profile suggests a driving experience that is less about high-speed cruising and more about navigating through varied terrains and speed zones.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 135.3 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 Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 23m drive. You will face about 20 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,034 ft
536 ft
Total Climb
791 ft
Total Descent
1,041 ft
Highest Point
1,034 ft
Elevation Range
498 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Independence, MO
Full guide →Founded 1827
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
Arriving in Wildwood, MO
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 23m. Total distance: 224.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (2%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 135.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 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.
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 4.4 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 Wildwood, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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