The drive from Independence, MO to Archie, MO covers 54 miles and takes about 1h 4m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 49, Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway, South Noland Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.6 miles on I 49.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.44 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 54 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 4m highway drive covering 54 miles, with most of the trip on I 49 and Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 35.6 miles on I 49.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 49 is the longest continuous segment at about 35.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.3 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54 miles you will encounter 16 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 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
7.3 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward I 435 South: Wichita
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8A
Toward I 435 South: Wichita
8
16 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward I 49 South, US 71 South, I 470 East, US 50 East: Joplin, Lee's Summit
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 71
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South, I 470 East, US...
8
16.6 mi into trip|~21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 49, I 470, US 50 East, US 71 South: Joplin, Lee's Summit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 49, I 470, US 50 East, US 71 South: Jo...
7
16.8 mi into trip|~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
6
52.7 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward MO B, MO A: Drexel, Archie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 147
Toward MO B, MO A: Drexel, Archie
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 Independence, MO to Archie, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Lee's Summit along the way.
Lee's Summit
16 mi in|~21m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 49
35.6 mi
38m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
8.3 mi
9m
South Noland Road
3 mi
4m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.9 mi
3m
George Brett Super Highway
1.1 mi
1m
High School Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
South West Outer Road
0.3 mi
<1m
MO A
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 35.6 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, MO and Archie, MO.
The midpoint is around 27 miles from Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Archie, MO
The final approach into Archie, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.44 one way
$16.88 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg19 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$9.27
$18.54
premium
$4.89
$10.39
$20.78
diesel
$5.61
$11.92
$23.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
16.2
0
$5.67
$2.59
Efficient EV
13.5
0
$4.73
$2.16
EV Truck/SUV
21.6
0
$7.56
$3.46
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Independence, MO
Morning
in Independence on Friday
Local time
8:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 to 20 mph78% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 2:14AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 1:42AM CDT until April 18 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Destination
Archie, MO
Morning
in Archie on Friday
Local time
8:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
8 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
1h 4m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Independence, MO to Archie, MO covers 54 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 49, Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway, South Noland Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27 miles from Independence, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.44 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Independence, MO to Archie, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Lee's Summit along the way.
