Oran, MO to East Independence, MO is 357.8 miles and takes about 6h 57m via I 55, Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, and U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way across the state. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll want to get an early start to comfortably reach your destination.
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
178.9 miles from Oran, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
102.9 mi
1h 50m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi
1h 35m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
Avenue of the Saints
25.4 mi
30m
I 270
11.5 mi
14m
MO 77
9.8 mi
17m
MO AB
5.8 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 102.9 mi, about 1h 50m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 17 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,952 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,444
Quietest
1 AM
~261 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.3×
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 Oran, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on South Railroad Street
53 ft·4 sec·South Railroad Street
2
Turn right onto MO W
0.1 mi·18 sec·Radcliff Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto Church Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Church Street
4
Turn left onto MO 77
9.8 mi·17 min·MO 77
5
Enter roundabout onto MO AB
114 ft·2 sec·MO AB
Toward Interstate 55
6
Continue on MO AB
5.7 mi·8 min·MO AB
Toward Interstate 55
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Cape Girardeau
8
Merge onto I 55; US 61
1.4 mi·1 min·I 55; US 61
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
102 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 55
10
Continue on I 55
1.3 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 196Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, ChicagoUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
388 ft·8 sec
Toward I 270 West: Kansas CityUse the slight left lane.
13
Continue on this road
0.7 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 196Toward I 270 West
14
Merge onto I 270
11 mi·14 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 12Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint LouisUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: WentzvilleUse the slight left lane.
17
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·9 sec·this road
Exit 12Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
18
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
25 mi·30 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit onto US 40
0.6 mi·1 min·US 40
Exit 1AToward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
21
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
22
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
23
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
24
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
25
Continue on I 70; US 40
52 mi·56 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the slight right lane.
27
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
28
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
29
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
30
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Holke Road
31
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
32
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
33
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
34
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 57m estimated drive time, leaving Oran, MO in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. This drive is manageable in a single day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider breaking it up. The longest uninterrupted stretch is over 100 miles on I 55, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the $55 estimated cost, especially when transitioning to surface roads where stations might be less frequent.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 178.9 miles from Oran, MO, or about 3h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.9 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 79 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 178.9 miles or 3h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 47m
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 Oran, 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 Oran, MO
This is one driving day of about 357.8 miles and 6h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Oran, 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 55 for about 102.9 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 120.5 and 159.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
120.5 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago
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 196
Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chi...
8
120.8 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 West: Kansas City
8
133.1 mi into trip|~2h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis
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 12
Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Lo...
8
133.2 mi into trip|~2h 36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Went...
8
159.1 mi into trip|~3h 8m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.84 one way
$105.68 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg125 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$58.33
$116.67
premium
$4.72
$66.43
$132.86
diesel
$4.80
$67.56
$135.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 125.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
107.3
1
$37.57
$17.17
Efficient EV
89.5
1
$31.31
$14.31
EV Truck/SUV
143.1
1
$50.09
$22.90
Gas CO2
125 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Oran, MO
Evening
in Oran on Saturday
Local time
7:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy
W 2 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
East Independence, MO
Evening
in East Independence on Saturday
Local time
7:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Patchy Fog
SSW 5 mph6% chanceLive forecast
68°F
Chesterfield, MO
179 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 57m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the B...
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
$19
near mile 123.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 35% of this 357.8-mile route is on highways, including a significant 102.9-mile stretch on I 55. The rest of your drive will be on surface roads, offering a different pace. You'll notice a change in scenery and traffic patterns as you transition from the more controlled highway environment to local streets and roads. Be prepared for more frequent intersections and potential slowdowns once you leave the main interstates.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.9 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 120.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 23 significant decision points across 357.8 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 120.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 120.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 133.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
918 ft341 ft
Total Climb
1,151 ft
Total Descent
663 ft
Highest Point
918 ft
~332.2 mi in
Elevation Range
576 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Oran, MO and East Independence, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.
Chicago
120.5 mi in|~2h 20m
Saint Louis
133.1 mi in|~2h 36m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 57m. Total distance: 357.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.9 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 37 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 37 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 120.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 120.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 133.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park and Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 13.9 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.
