Origin
Carterville, MO
Late night in Carterville on Saturday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carterville, MO to Independence, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 23m
Distance
153 mi
246 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 13m
★
6 AM
2h 23m
8 AM
2h 43m
10 AM
2h 30m
12 PM
2h 28m
3 PM
2h 31m
5 PM
2h 42m
8 PM
2h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Carterville, MO to Independence, MO covers 153 miles and takes about 2h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 49, Edward F, West Central Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.92 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
76.5 miles from Carterville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 153 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 23m drive with frequent turns across 153 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 49 is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Carterville, MO to Independence, MO is easy. At 2h 23m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carterville, MO to Independence, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 49 | — | — |
| Edward F | — | — |
| West Central Avenue | — | — |
| I 49 North | — | — |
| George Washington Carver Memorial Highway | — | — |
| Trooper Charles P | — | — |
| Purple Heart Trail | — | — |
| MO 291 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 49
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carterville, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on West Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
2
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
3
Take the ramp left toward I 49 Business, MO 171 South: Carthage
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
I 49 Business, MO 171 South: Carthage
4
Merge slight left onto Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway
5
Continue on West Central Avenue
453 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Central Avenue
6
Turn left onto I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
7
Merge slight left onto George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
8
Continue on Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
9
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
93 mi
·
1 hr 39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
10
Take the exit slight right toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
11
Keep slight right to continue on MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
243 ft
·
6 sec
·
MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
12
Merge slight left
8.3 mi
·
12 min
13
Turn slight left
8.5 mi
·
11 min
14
Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Southwest Jefferson Street
15
Take the exit slight left toward US 50 West: Kansas City
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 50 West: Kansas City
16
Merge slight left
2.7 mi
·
3 min
17
Continue on Blue Parkway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Blue Parkway
18
Turn right onto South Noland Road
5.9 mi
·
9 min
·
South Noland Road
19
Continue on South Noland Road
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
South Noland Road
20
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
466 ft
·
23 sec
·
East Walnut Street
21
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
394 ft
·
23 sec
·
South Lynn Street
22
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
144 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Kansas Avenue
23
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 76.5 miles from Carterville, MO, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
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 34 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.5 miles or 1h 11m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Independence, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carterville, 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 Carterville, MO
This is one driving day of about 153 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Carterville, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 76.5 mi from Carterville, MO · 1h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 76.5 miles from Carterville, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Independence, MO
The final approach into Independence, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Independence, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.92 one way
$47.84 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.26 | $52.53 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.44 | $58.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.78 | $67.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.5 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 | 45.9 | 0 | $16.06 | $7.34 |
| Efficient EV | 38.3 | 0 | $13.39 | $6.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.2 | 0 | $21.42 | $9.79 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Destination
Independence, MO
Late night in Independence on Saturday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Garden City, MO
77 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 23m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Carterville, MO to Independence, MO covers 153 miles and takes about 2h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 49, Edward F, West Central Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76.5 miles from Carterville, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.92 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Carterville, MO to Independence, MO is easy. At 2h 23m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carterville, MO to Independence, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Carterville, MO to Independence, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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