This 198.2-mile drive from Marthasville, MO to East Independence, MO is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 52 minutes. With 98% of the journey on highways, it's a straightforward drive primarily utilizing I-70. Budget around $31 for fuel for this trip across Missouri's Midwest region. The route is efficient and direct, making it a practical option for getting from point A to point B without significant detours. Given its relatively short duration, you have flexibility in when you depart and how you pace your stops.
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
99.1 miles from Marthasville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
176.4 mi
3h 14m
MO 47
15.8 mi
23m
South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Holke Road
0.9 mi
2m
East Truman Road
0.7 mi
1m
South Street
0.4 mi
1m
Main Road
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 176.4 mi, about 3h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marthasville, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on South 2nd Street
211 ft·11 sec·South 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto South Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Street
3
Continue on Pecan Drive
0.2 mi·55 sec·Pecan Drive
4
Turn right onto MO 47
16 mi·23 min·MO 47
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·12 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesburg
6
Merge onto I 70; US 40
176 mi·3 hr 14 min·I 70; US 40
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
9
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
10
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
11
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Holke Road
12
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
13
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
14
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
15
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 52-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you approach the Kansas City metro area. With only one recommended stop and a long uninterrupted stretch of 176.4 miles on I-70, plan your fuel and rest breaks strategically before you hit that long highway segment. The $31 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the advantage of flexibility, allowing you to adjust your schedule as needed.
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 99.1 miles from Marthasville, MO, or about 1h 57m 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 44 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.1 miles or 1h 57m 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 7m
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 Marthasville, 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 Marthasville, MO
This is one driving day of about 198.2 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Marthasville, 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 198.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Street
Turn right onto South Street
Navigation decision point
6
16.4 mi into trip|~26m 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
193 mi into trip|~3h 40m 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
194.9 mi into trip|~3h 44m in|East R.D. Mize Road
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
Navigation decision point
5
198.2 mi into trip|~3h 52m in|East 9th Street South
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.99 one way
$61.97 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.02
$68.04
premium
$4.89
$38.14
$76.28
diesel
$5.61
$43.76
$87.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.5
0
$20.81
$9.51
Efficient EV
49.6
0
$17.34
$7.93
EV Truck/SUV
79.3
0
$27.75
$12.68
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Marthasville, MO
Late night
in Marthasville on Sunday
Local time
2:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Sunday
Local time
2:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
74°F
Columbia, MO
99 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
12 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 52m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this route, with the vast majority of your 198.2 miles spent on interstate travel. You'll spend most of your time on I-70, which offers a consistent and fast-paced driving environment for a significant stretch of 176.4 miles. While MO 47 and South Little Blue Parkway offer brief transitions, the core of this drive is about covering ground efficiently on major roadways. This means fewer opportunities for spontaneous roadside attractions but a reliable and predictable journey.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 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?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and MO 47. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Marthasville, MO to East Independence, MO is easy. At 3h 52m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 193 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Marthasville, MO to East Independence, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Jonesburg along the way.
Jonesburg
16.4 mi in|~26m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 198.2 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.
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: near the start (South Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 193 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at East Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
