Normandy, MO to East Independence, MO is 230.2 miles and takes about 4h 30m via I 70, South Little Jackson Drive, and South Little Blue Parkway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, traversing Missouri for its entirety. It's a straightforward drive primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day journey. You'll find it's a practical route with minimal fuss, ideal if you're looking for efficiency over extensive sightseeing.
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
115.1 miles from Normandy, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
223 mi
4h 14m
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
Bermuda Drive
0.6 mi
1m
Main Road
0.3 mi
1m
East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 223 mi, about 4h 14m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,357 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,863
Quietest
2 AM
~307 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Normandy, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on Holborn Drive
0.2 mi·47 sec·Holborn Drive
2
Turn right onto Ellington Drive
0.2 mi·52 sec·Ellington Drive
3
At end of road, turn right onto Bermuda Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Bermuda Drive
4
Take the ramp
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 70 West: Wentzville
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·12 sec
Toward I 70 West: WentzvilleUse the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 70
223 mi·4 hr 14 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
Given the 4h 30m duration, departing in the morning is recommended to ensure you have ample daylight for arrival. With only one suggested stop and a 230.2-mile total distance, you can easily complete this drive in a single day. Plan your fuel stops strategically, as the longest stretch on I 70 is 223 miles; ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on that segment. The $36 fuel cost is an estimate, so monitor prices along your route.
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 115.1 miles from Normandy, MO, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 223 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 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.1 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 37m
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 Normandy, 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 Normandy, MO
This is one driving day of about 230.2 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Normandy, 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 223 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 230.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Ellington Drive
Turn right onto Ellington Drive
Navigation decision point
7
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Wentzville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Wentzville
5
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in|I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
225 mi into trip|~4h 18m 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
230.2 mi into trip|~4h 30m in|East 9th Street South
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.00 one way
$67.99 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$37.53
$75.06
premium
$4.72
$42.74
$85.48
diesel
$4.80
$43.47
$86.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.1
0
$24.17
$11.05
Efficient EV
57.6
0
$20.14
$9.21
EV Truck/SUV
92.1
1
$32.23
$14.73
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Normandy, MO
Late night
in Normandy on Sunday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
W 10 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Sunday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
87°F
Centralia, MO
115 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
2 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 30m 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-focused drive, with 98% of the journey utilizing major interstates and parkways. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 223 miles primarily on I 70, offering a consistent pace. Expect this to be a fast and direct transit, with little deviation from high-speed roadways. The character remains largely consistent, emphasizing efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways.
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: 223 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 0.2 miles in near Ellington Drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 30m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Ellington Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 223 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 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, 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 0.2 miles (Ellington Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
