Connecting Webb City to East Independence, this 148.3-mile journey takes approximately 2 hours and 54 minutes to complete. It is a straightforward trip that fits perfectly into a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend about $23 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly way to navigate across the Missouri Midwest. Since the route utilizes the Purple Heart Trail, MO 291, and the Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway, it provides a direct path between these two points. Because the drive is relatively short, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Overall, this route offers a practical connection for those traveling within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.1 miles from Webb City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Webb City, MO and East Independence, MO.
1
Start on MO D
0.4 mi·38 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto I 49 Business; MO 171
0.3 mi·39 sec·East MacArthur Drive
3
Enter roundabout onto I 49 Business; MO 171
234 ft·3 sec·I 49 Business; MO 171
4
Continue on I 49 Business; MO 171
7.8 mi·8 min·I 49 Business; MO 171
5
Continue on MO 96; MO 571
452 ft·15 sec·West Central Avenue
Toward MO 96 East, MO 571 South: Carthage
6
Turn left
0.2 mi·13 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas CityUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 49; US 71
3.2 mi·3 min·George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
8
Continue on I 49; US 71
10 mi·11 min·Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 49; US 71
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·Purple Heart Trail
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 160Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
11
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft·6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
12
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi·12 min·MO 291
13
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi·11 min·MO 58; MO 291
14
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.6 mi·52 sec·MO 291
Toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
15
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.2 mi·37 sec·MO 291
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen RoadUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn left
300 ft·7 sec
17
Continue on MO 291
13 mi·18 min·MO 291
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward East Truman Road
19
At end of road, turn left onto East Truman Road
1.2 mi·2 min·East Truman Road
20
Turn left onto Main Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Road
21
Turn right onto East 9th Street South
79 ft·3 sec·East 9th Street South
22
Arrive at destination
East 9th Street South
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 54 minute duration, you can easily complete this drive in one go, though planning for one stop is recommended to break up the local road sections. Since this is a turn-heavy route, try to depart during daylight hours to better navigate the local road segments comfortably. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $23 estimated cost is a reliable baseline for your budget. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to prioritize your rest break during the 92.9-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, as this is where you will likely find the most consistent rhythm before hitting the more technical final miles. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so adjust your pace to account for the local traffic patterns you encounter along the way.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.1 miles from Webb City, MO, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.9 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 33 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.1 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 13m
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 Webb City, 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 Webb City, MO
This is one driving day of about 148.3 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Webb City, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 92.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 133 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|I 49 Business; MO 171
Enter roundabout onto I 49 Business; MO 171
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
8.6 mi into trip|~10m in
Turn left toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
5
115.4 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 160
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
6
115.6 mi into trip|~2h 4m 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
133 mi into trip|~2h 29m 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
$23.19 one way
$46.37 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.46
$50.91
premium
$4.89
$28.54
$57.08
diesel
$5.61
$32.74
$65.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.5
0
$15.57
$7.12
Efficient EV
37.1
0
$12.98
$5.93
EV Truck/SUV
59.3
0
$20.76
$9.49
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 18, 2026
Origin
Webb City, MO
Morning
in Webb City on Sunday
Local time
9:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Independence, MO
Morning
in East Independence on Sunday
Local time
9:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
55°F
Adrian, MO
74 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
16 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
2h 54m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
George Washington Carver National Monument
National Monument
The young child known as the "Plant Doctor" tended his secret garden while observing the day-to-day operations of a 19th century farm. Nature and nurture ultimately influenced George on his quest for...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience that shifts away from typical high-speed interstate monotony. With only 26% of the trip spent on highways, you will spend most of your time navigating local roads that demand more attention. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 92.9 miles along the Purple Heart Trail, providing the most consistent portion of your travel. As you transition between sections, the road's character changes from open stretches to more technical segments. Keep your eyes on the road, as the winding nature of the path requires a more active driving style than a standard highway cruise.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92.9 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near I 49 Business; MO 171.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 148.3 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (I 49 Business; MO 171): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Joplin is in Southwest Missouri. It's mentioned in the song "Route 66". Joplin is the "hub" of the southwest corner of Missouri, southeast Kansas, and northeast Oklahoma. The population of Joplin in 2020 was 51,762, but, with several "suburbs" around Joplin, the population of the Joplin metro area was over 210,077.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 148.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (26%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 92.9 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.7 miles (I 49 Business; MO 171): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — George Washington Carver National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at East Independence, MO before heading back.
