Mountain View, MO to East Independence, MO is 268.3 miles and takes about 5h 26m via US 60 and MO 7, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily within Missouri, connecting two points in the Midwest region. Given its mostly highway profile and manageable duration, it's a practical choice for a quick transit. The route offers a consistent driving experience without significant detours, making it an efficient way to cover the distance.
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
134.1 miles from Mountain View, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 60
95.2 mi
1h 51m
North Kansas Expressway
87.2 mi
1h 42m
MO 7
39.2 mi
43m
MO 291
22.4 mi
32m
MO 58
8.5 mi
11m
Schoolcraft Freeway
8.1 mi
10m
Payne Stewart Highway
4.1 mi
5m
East Truman Road
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 95.2 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mountain View, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on this road
82 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto North Pine Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Pine Street
3
Turn left onto US 60
95 mi·1 hr 51 min·US 60
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 65 North: Sedalia
5
Merge onto US 65
8.1 mi·10 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
6
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
7
Merge onto I 44
4.1 mi·5 min·Payne Stewart Highway
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
9
Keep slight left at fork
150 ft·3 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
10
Keep slight right at fork
209 ft·7 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
11
Merge onto MO 13
87 mi·1 hr 42 min·North Kansas Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on MO 7
36 mi·39 min·MO 7
13
Take the exit onto MO 7
3.3 mi·3 min·MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 160Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
15
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft·6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
16
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi·12 min·MO 291
17
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi·11 min·MO 58; MO 291
18
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.6 mi·52 sec·MO 291
Toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
19
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.2 mi·37 sec·MO 291
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen RoadUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn left
300 ft·7 sec
21
Continue on MO 291
13 mi·18 min·MO 291
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward East Truman Road
23
At end of road, turn left onto East Truman Road
1.2 mi·2 min·East Truman Road
24
Turn left onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
25
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
26
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5.5-hour drive, aim for an early morning departure from Mountain View to avoid any potential afternoon traffic entering the Kansas City metro area. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $40, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 95 miles on US 60, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before embarking on that segment. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach East Independence with daylight to spare.
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 134.1 miles from Mountain View, MO, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.2 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 59 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.1 miles or 2h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 19m
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 Mountain View, 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 Mountain View, MO
This is one driving day of about 268.3 miles and 5h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Mountain View, 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 US 60 for about 95.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First break
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
$20 to $30
Mountain Grove, Missouri
Hours: 4–9 pm
+14179269954
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 108.9 and 253 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
108.9 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward MO 13: Bolivar
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
7
109 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 13: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
7
109 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
6
235.6 mi into trip|~4h 37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
7
253 mi into trip|~5h 2m in|MO 291
Take the exit onto MO 291 toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.62 one way
$79.24 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$43.74
$87.48
premium
$4.72
$49.82
$99.63
diesel
$4.80
$50.66
$101.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.5
0
$28.17
$12.88
Efficient EV
67.1
0
$23.48
$10.73
EV Truck/SUV
107.3
1
$37.56
$17.17
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Mountain View, MO
Late night
in Mountain View on Sunday
Local time
1:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Clear
SW 3 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:48PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Sunday
Local time
1:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 6 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:48PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
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
3 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
5h 26m 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.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 101.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway, with 97% of the drive on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 95.2 miles on US 60 before transitioning to other highways. Expect a consistent cruising pace for most of the trip, with minimal time spent on slower, surface roads. The high highway percentage means you'll encounter a steady stream of exits and merges.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.2 mi on US 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and North Kansas Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 108.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 268.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 108.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 109 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 109 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Mountain View is a small city in the Ozarks region of Missouri. With under 3000 inhabitants, this is a fairly quiet place, but in a great location for anyone wanting to explore the Missouri Ozarks.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 26m. Total distance: 268.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 95.2 miles on US 60. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 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 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 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 108.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 109 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 109 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 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.
