Jennings, MO to East Independence, MO is 232.1 miles and takes about 4h 31m via I 70, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Missouri, taking you across the Midwest. It’s a pretty straightforward trip, mostly on the interstate, making it a solid choice if you’re looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B. Expect a highway-focused experience with minimal fuss, perfect for a single-day journey.
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
116 miles from Jennings, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
225.5 mi
4h 17m
South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Jennings Station Road
1.1 mi
2m
Holke Road
0.9 mi
2m
East Truman Road
0.7 mi
1m
Main Road
0.3 mi
1m
East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 225.5 mi, about 4h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jennings, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on Jennings Station Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Jennings Station Road
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·21 sec
Toward I 70 West: Wentzville
3
Merge onto I 70
226 mi·4 hr 17 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the slight right lane.
5
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
6
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
7
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
8
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Holke Road
9
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
10
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
11
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
12
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 31m duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach your destination comfortably. The longest stretch is over 225 miles on I 70, so plan for a mid-drive stop to stretch your legs and refuel, even though the total fuel cost is estimated at only $36. Keep an eye on traffic as you approach the Kansas City metropolitan area, as congestion can build during peak hours.
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 116 miles from Jennings, MO, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.5 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 51 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116 miles or 2h 13m 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 38m
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 Jennings, 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 Jennings, MO
This is one driving day of about 232.1 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Jennings, 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 225.5 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 232.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
226.9 mi into trip|~4h 20m 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...
4
228.8 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|East R.D. Mize Road
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
Navigation decision point
4
229.1 mi into trip|~4h 24m in|South Jackson Drive
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
Navigation decision point
5
232.1 mi into trip|~4h 31m in|East 9th Street South
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.29 one way
$72.57 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$39.84
$79.68
premium
$4.89
$44.67
$89.33
diesel
$5.61
$51.24
$102.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.6
0
$24.37
$11.14
Efficient EV
58
0
$20.31
$9.28
EV Truck/SUV
92.8
1
$32.49
$14.85
Gas CO2
81 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Jennings, MO
Late night
in Jennings on Sunday
Local time
2:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Rain Showers
NW 12 mph81% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:43AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:07AM CDT until April 19 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Destination
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Sunday
Local time
2:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:43AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:07AM CDT until April 19 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
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
8 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 31m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway drive, with 98% of the journey on major roads. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I 70, including one uninterrupted stretch of 225.5 miles. This means you can settle in and maintain a consistent speed for most of the trip. The primary roads guiding you include I 70, South Little Blue Parkway, and South Jackson Drive, all contributing to a fast-paced travel experience.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 225.5 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and South Little Blue Parkway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near I 70.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 31m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 226.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 228.8 miles (East R.D. Mize Road): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 31m. Total distance: 232.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 225.5 miles on I 70. 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.
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: at 1.4 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 226.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 228.8 miles (East R.D. Mize Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at East Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
