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Trip from Independence, MO to Claycomo, MO

Drive Time

19m

Distance

12.1 mi

20 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Independence, MO, MO

Independence, MO

Ever Rayan

Downtown Claycomo, MO, MO

Claycomo, MO

Valeria Boltneva

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick connection within Missouri, the 12.1-mile trek from Independence to Claycomo is a straightforward choice. You can easily complete this journey in about 19 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting about $2 for fuel should cover your needs for this short distance. You will primarily navigate via West Truman Road, the Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway, and I-435 N. Because both towns sit within the Midwest region, you will experience a consistent local atmosphere throughout the entire drive.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

6.1 miles from Independence, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged as you transition between city streets and the interstate. Roughly 11 of your 12.1 miles are spent on highways, providing a blend of quick transit and urban navigation. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 6.2 miles you spend on the Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway. The route shifts from local roads into a faster-paced interstate environment, so be prepared for the change in driving tempo as you merge onto I-435 N. It is not an endless highway grind, but rather a functional, efficient path.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 6.2 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,034 ft 791 ft

Total Climb

0 ft

Total Descent

244 ft

Highest Point

1,034 ft

Elevation Range

244 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 early in the drive near South Main Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 19m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.3 miles (I 435; US 24 / Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 6 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Main Street

Turn right onto South Main Street

Navigation decision point

5
4.1 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the ramp toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Claycomo, Des Moines

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Claycomo, Des M...
5
4.3 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 435; US 24 / Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

Merge onto I 435; US 24 / Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
8
11.8 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward US 69: Claycomo

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 52A Toward US 69: Claycomo
5
12 mi into trip | ~18m in | US 69 / Lewis & Clark Trail

Turn left onto US 69 / Lewis & Clark Trail

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / right lanes.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Independence, MO to Claycomo, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Des Moines along the way.

Des Moines

4.1 mi in | ~9m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway 6.2 mi 7m
West Truman Road 3.9 mi 8m
I435 N 1.3 mi 1m
South Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
Lewis & Clark Trail 0.1 mi <1m
I 435 <0.1 mi <1m
East Kansas Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway — 6.2 mi, about 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Independence, MO and Claycomo, MO.

1

Start on East Kansas Avenue

63 ft · 4 sec · East Kansas Avenue
2

Turn right onto South Main Street

0.2 mi · 49 sec · South Main Street
3

Turn left onto West Truman Road

3.9 mi · 8 min · West Truman Road
4

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Claycomo, Des Moines
5

Merge onto I 435; US 24

6.2 mi · 7 min · Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
6

Continue on I435 N

1.3 mi · 1 min · I435 N
7

Continue on I 435

365 ft · 4 sec · I 435
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 52A Toward US 69: Claycomo Use the slight right lane.
9

Turn left onto US 69

487 ft · 22 sec · Lewis & Clark Trail
Use the left / right lanes.
10

Continue on US 69

281 ft · 14 sec · Lewis & Clark Trail
11

Arrive at destination

US 69

Trip Plan

Since this is a brief 19-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You will not need to plan for any stops along the way, as the distance is short enough to drive straight through without a break. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, stay alert when navigating the local sections before hitting the main highway corridors. Keep your focus on the signs for I-435 N to ensure a smooth transition onto the interstate portion of your journey. Enjoy the ease of this quick Midwestern connection.

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 6.1 miles from Independence, MO, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.2 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 12.1 miles or 19m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 6.1 miles or 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 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Claycomo, MO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Independence, 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 Independence, MO

This is one driving day of about 12.1 miles and 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Independence, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway for about 6.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 6.1 mi from Independence, MO · 11m into the drive

Downtown Kansas City, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kansas City, MO

6 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

Kansas City, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kansas City, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 6.1 miles from Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Claycomo, MO

The final approach into Claycomo, 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 Claycomo, 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

$1.84 one way

$3.68 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $2.03 $4.05
premium $4.80 $2.28 $4.57
diesel $5.64 $2.69 $5.38

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.6 0 $1.27 $0.58
Efficient EV 3 0 $1.06 $0.48
EV Truck/SUV 4.8 0 $1.69 $0.77

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Independence, MO

Afternoon in Independence on Sunday

Local time

2:25 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSE 5 to 13 mph 24% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Destination

Claycomo, MO

Afternoon in Claycomo on Sunday

Local time

2:25 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 7 to 14 mph 29% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

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

19m 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 Claycomo, MO covers 12.1 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway, West Truman Road, I435 N. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.1 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 $1.84 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 is a straightforward 19m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.3 miles (I 435; US 24 / Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Independence, MO to Claycomo, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Des Moines along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 791 ft to 1,034 ft elevation with about 0 ft of total climbing.

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Return Trip

Claycomo, MO to Independence, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

12.2 mi 19m

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