This 84.7-mile drive from Sedalia to East Independence, Missouri, will take you about 1 hour and 41 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and US 65, this trip is a straightforward, single-day excursion through the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $13, it's an economical option for a quick getaway or a transit day. The route is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a more local driving experience rather than a pure interstate cruise. You'll stay within Missouri for the entire journey, making it a simple point-to-point adventure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.3 miles from Sedalia, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
52.5 mi
56m
US 65
16.1 mi
18m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
8.8 mi
9m
South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
South Ohio Avenue
1.5 mi
4m
South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Holke Road
0.9 mi
2m
East Truman Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 52.5 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sedalia, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on South Ohio Avenue
1.5 mi·4 min·South Ohio Avenue
2
Continue on MO 765
0.2 mi·18 sec·MO 765
3
Continue on MO 765
0.1 mi·11 sec·MO 765
Toward US 65 North: Marshall
4
Merge onto US 65
16 mi·18 min·US 65
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
6
Merge onto I 70; US 40
8.8 mi·9 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
7
Continue on I 70; US 40
52 mi·56 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 17Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall EntranceUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto South Little Blue Parkway
1.6 mi·3 min·South Little Blue Parkway
10
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·East R.D. Mize Road
11
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jackson Drive
12
Turn straight onto Holke Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Holke Road
13
Turn left onto East Truman Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Truman Road
14
Turn right onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
15
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
16
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 41-minute duration, this route is easily manageable as a single-day trip. Aim for an early departure to maximize your day, especially if you plan to make any unscheduled stops. While there are no designated stops mentioned, the relatively short distance means you can be flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $13 estimated cost suggests a need for at least one fill-up, particularly if you start with a low tank. A specific tip for this route: be prepared for frequent turns, so keep your navigation system handy and stay alert for road changes.
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 42.3 miles from Sedalia, MO, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.5 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.3 miles or 50m 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 22m
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 Sedalia, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sedalia, MO
This is one driving day of about 84.7 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Sedalia, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 52.5 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.9 and 84.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
17.9 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
8
79.5 mi into trip|~1h 30m 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
81.4 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|East R.D. Mize Road
Turn left onto East R.D. Mize Road
Navigation decision point
4
81.7 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|South Jackson Drive
Turn right onto South Jackson Drive
Navigation decision point
5
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|East 9th Street South
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.24 one way
$26.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.54
$29.08
premium
$4.89
$16.30
$32.60
diesel
$5.61
$18.70
$37.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.4
0
$8.89
$4.07
Efficient EV
21.2
0
$7.41
$3.39
EV Truck/SUV
33.9
0
$11.86
$5.42
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 15, 2026
Origin
Sedalia, MO
Late night
in Sedalia on Sunday
Local time
2:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Independence, MO
Late night
in East Independence on Sunday
Local time
2:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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 41m 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 turn-heavy local drive on this route, with just 21% of the journey on highways. The main roads include the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and US 65, also known as the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be 52.5 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This drive is less about high-speed cruising and more about navigating through varied local terrain, with changes in road type and speed likely as you progress toward East Independence.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.5 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 17.9 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 41m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 79.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 81.4 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 Sedalia, MO to East Independence, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Mall Entrance along the way.
The longest stretch is about 52.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 17.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 79.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 81.4 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.
