Ironton, MO to East Independence, MO is 286 miles and takes about 6h 5m via I 70 and MO 21, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route keeps you within Missouri for its entirety, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on highways, making it a good option if you want to get from Point A to Point B efficiently. Expect a fairly direct path with minimal fuss, ideal for a single day's travel.
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
143 miles from Ironton, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
176.4 mi
3h 14m
MO 47
51.5 mi
1h 22m
MO 21
38.6 mi
56m
MO 30
6.2 mi
9m
North Main Street
6.2 mi
8m
South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi
2m
South Commercial Avenue
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 176.4 mi, about 3h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ironton, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on Russell Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·Russell Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto MO 21
4.3 mi·6 min·MO 21
3
Turn left onto MO 21; MO N
10 mi·14 min·MO 21; MO N
4
Continue on MO 21; MO 32
20 mi·29 min·MO 21; MO 32
5
Continue on MO 21; MO 47
3.7 mi·5 min·MO 21; MO 47
6
Turn left onto MO 47
20 mi·34 min·MO 47
7
At end of road, turn left onto MO 30; MO 47
6.2 mi·9 min·MO 30; MO 47
8
Turn straight onto US Historic 66; MO 47
1.0 mi·1 min·South Commercial Avenue
9
Turn left onto MO 47
6.2 mi·8 min·North Main Street
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; MO 47
0.5 mi·54 sec·US 50; MO 47
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto MO 47
31 mi·47 min·MO 47
Use the right lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·12 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesburg
13
Merge onto I 70; US 40
176 mi·3 hr 14 min·I 70; US 40
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
16
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
17
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
18
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Holke Road
19
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
20
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
21
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
22
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops, but planning one main break around the halfway point is sensible. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the long 176.4-mile stretch on I 70, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost is around $45, so budget accordingly. Consider using MO 21 for a portion of the journey as an alternative to I 70 if you prefer a slightly different highway experience.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 143 miles from Ironton, MO, or about 3h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.4 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 63 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143 miles or 3h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Independence, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ironton, 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 Ironton, MO
This is one driving day of about 286 miles and 6h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Ironton, 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 I 70 for about 176.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 72.6 and 286 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
72.6 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|US 50; MO 47
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; MO 47
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
73.1 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|MO 47
Turn right onto MO 47
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
104.2 mi into trip|~2h 40m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesburg
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesbu...
8
280.8 mi into trip|~5h 54m in
Take the exit toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance
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 17
Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall E...
5
286 mi into trip|~6h 5m in|East 9th Street South
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.71 one way
$89.43 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$49.09
$98.19
premium
$4.89
$55.04
$110.08
diesel
$5.61
$63.15
$126.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.8
1
$30.03
$13.73
Efficient EV
71.5
0
$25.03
$11.44
EV Truck/SUV
114.4
1
$40.04
$18.30
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Ironton, MO
Late night
in Ironton on Tuesday
Local time
5:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Tuesday
Local time
5:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
11 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
6h 5m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 96% of the 286 miles on major roads like I 70 and MO 21. You'll experience a long stretch of 176.4 miles on I 70, which means plenty of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination, with MO 47 being a key surface road segment. Expect a high volume of exits on the highway portions.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 176.4 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and MO 47. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 72.6 miles in near US 50; MO 47.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 5m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 16 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 72.6 miles (US 50; MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 73.1 miles (MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 104.2 miles: 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.
On the drive from Ironton, MO to East Independence, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Jonesburg along the way.
Jonesburg
104.2 mi in|~2h 40m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 5m. Total distance: 286 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 176.4 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at East Independence, 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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 72.6 miles (US 50; MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 73.1 miles (MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 104.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at East Independence, MO before the return drive.
