This 96.7-mile drive from New Franklin to East Independence, Missouri, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 55 minutes. You'll spend 93% of your time on highways, making it a focused, efficient journey through the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $15, this route is budget-friendly for a quick excursion. The primary roads guiding your way include US 40 and MO 5, with East Ashley Road also playing a part. This straightforward drive is perfect for those looking to cover ground without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.4 miles from New Franklin, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 40
84.9 mi
1h 31m
MO 5
3.6 mi
7m
East Ashley Road
3 mi
5m
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
Main Road
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 40
— 84.9 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Franklin, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on MO 5
41 ft·5 sec·MO 5
2
Turn right onto MO 5
3.6 mi·7 min·MO 5
3
Turn slight right
129 ft·4 sec
4
Turn slight right onto I 70 Bus; US 40; MO 5
3.0 mi·5 min·East Ashley Road
5
Turn slight right onto US 40
85 mi·1 hr 31 min·US 40
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
8
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
9
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
10
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Holke Road
11
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
12
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
13
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
14
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
Given its short duration of under two hours, this 96.7-mile drive from New Franklin to East Independence offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart anytime, but an early start will allow you to maximize your day at your destination. With only a $15 fuel cost, you won't need to worry much about frequent stops for gas. The longest stretch on US 40 is over 80 miles, so plan for a break before or after that segment if needed, perhaps around the halfway point. This is a route where you can easily make it to your destination and back in the same day with minimal fuss.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.4 miles from New Franklin, MO, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.9 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.4 miles or 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 31m
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 New Franklin, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from New Franklin, MO
This is one driving day of about 96.7 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from New Franklin, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 40 for about 84.9 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 0 and 96.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MO 5
Turn right onto MO 5
Navigation decision point
8
91.6 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
93.5 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|East R.D. Mize Road
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
Navigation decision point
4
93.7 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|South Jackson Drive
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
Navigation decision point
5
96.7 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|East 9th Street South
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.12 one way
$30.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.60
$33.20
premium
$4.89
$18.61
$37.22
diesel
$5.61
$21.35
$42.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.15
$4.64
Efficient EV
24.2
0
$8.46
$3.87
EV Truck/SUV
38.7
0
$13.54
$6.19
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 20, 2026
Origin
New Franklin, MO
Late night
in New Franklin on Tuesday
Local time
4:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Tuesday
Local time
4:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Concordia, MO
48 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
15 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
1h 55m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 for most of this 96.7-mile trip, with 93% of the journey on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 84.9 miles on US 40, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your drive. While largely highway, the inclusion of MO 5 and East Ashley Road suggests some transitions that may offer a slight change in scenery or speed. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than leisurely exploration.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.9 mi on US 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 40 and MO 5. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 5.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 55m 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: near the start (MO 5): Navigation decision point; at 91.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.5 miles (East R.D. Mize Road): Navigation decision point.
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 New Franklin, MO to East Independence, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Mall Entrance along the way.
Mall Entrance
91.6 mi in|~1h 44m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 96.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 84.9 miles on US 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 5): Navigation decision point; at 91.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.5 miles (East R.D. Mize Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at East Independence, MO before heading back.
