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Trip from Independence, MO to Kansas City, MO

Drive Time

19m

Distance

10.7 mi

17 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 Kansas City, MO, MO

Kansas City, MO

Matthew Chirinos

Trip Overview

Traveling between Independence and Kansas City, Missouri, is a straightforward 10.7-mile journey that typically takes about 19 minutes. Because this is a short trip within the Midwest, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via East 23rd Street South, East 23rd Trafficway, and the George Brett Super Highway. With an estimated fuel cost of just $2, this is an incredibly economical route to manage. Whether you are commuting or just exploring the local area, the brevity of the drive offers significant flexibility for your schedule.

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

5.3 miles from Independence, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. Only 2% of this 10.7-mile route takes place on a highway, meaning you will spend most of your time navigating local surface streets. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 3-mile segment on East 23rd Street South. Because the route relies heavily on local thoroughfares, you will experience a stop-and-go pace that contrasts sharply with long-haul highway driving. It is a practical, utilitarian connection between these two Missouri cities.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East 23rd Street South is the longest continuous segment at about 3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Lynn Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 10.7 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (South Lynn Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 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 Lynn Street

Turn right onto South Lynn Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Walnut Street

Turn left onto East Walnut Street

Navigation decision point

5
7.9 mi into trip | ~15m in | I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway

Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway

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

Use the none lane.
9
9.9 mi into trip | ~18m in | I 670; I 70 Alt

Keep slight left at fork onto I 670; I 70 Alt toward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, Wichita

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 2L Toward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South:...
9
10.2 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward 13th Street, Downtown

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 2P Toward 13th Street, Downtown

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Independence, MO to Kansas City, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Wichita along the way.

Wichita

9.9 mi in | ~18m | via I 670; I 70 Alt

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East 23rd Street South 3 mi 5m
East 23rd Trafficway 2.5 mi 3m
George Brett Super Highway 2 mi 2m
East 23rd Street 1.4 mi 3m
South Noland Road 0.7 mi 1m
East 13th Street 0.2 mi <1m
I 670 0.2 mi <1m
East Walnut Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: East 23rd Street South — 3 mi, about 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East Kansas Avenue

145 ft · 8 sec · East Kansas Avenue
2

Turn right onto South Lynn Street

394 ft · 22 sec · South Lynn Street
3

Turn left onto East Walnut Street

466 ft · 25 sec · East Walnut Street
4

Turn right onto South Noland Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Noland Road
5

Turn right onto MO 78

3.0 mi · 5 min · East 23rd Street South
6

Continue on MO 78

2.5 mi · 3 min · East 23rd Trafficway
7

Continue on East 23rd Street

1.4 mi · 3 min · East 23rd Street
Use the none lane.
8

Take the ramp onto Askew Avenue

109 ft · 3 sec · Askew Avenue
9

Turn slight left

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 24 West, US 40 West
10

Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40

2.0 mi · 2 min · George Brett Super Highway
Use the none lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 670; I 70 Alt

0.2 mi · 21 sec · I 670; I 70 Alt
Exit 2L Toward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, Wichita Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 2P Toward 13th Street, Downtown Use the slight right lane.
13

Continue on East 13th Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · East 13th Street
14

Turn right onto Oak Street

454 ft · 13 sec · Oak Street
15

Arrive at destination

Oak Street

Trip Plan

Since the trip is only 19 minutes long, you have the advantage of total scheduling flexibility. You do not need to worry about planning for rest stops or mid-trip fuel breaks, as your $2 fuel budget covers the entire distance easily. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route requires your full attention on local signage. Given the short duration, try to avoid peak traffic hours on these local roads to ensure the smoothest possible transit. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to familiarize yourself with the transition points between East 23rd Street and the George Brett Super Highway before you head out.

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 5.3 miles from Independence, MO, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 3 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 10.7 miles or 19m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 5.3 miles or 10m 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 Kansas City, 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 10.7 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 East 23rd Street South for about 3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 5.3 mi from Independence, MO · 10m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lawson, MO

5 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.

Popular next leg

Lawson, MO to Kansas City, MO

35.2 mi · 48m

Pacing Suggestions

Lawson, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lawson, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 5.3 miles from Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Kansas City, MO

The final approach into Kansas City, 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 Kansas City, 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

$1.63 one way

$3.25 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $1.79 $3.58
premium $4.80 $2.02 $4.04
diesel $5.64 $2.38 $4.75

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: 3.7 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 3.2 0 $1.12 $0.51
Efficient EV 2.7 0 $0.94 $0.43
EV Truck/SUV 4.3 0 $1.50 $0.68

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

Kansas City, MO

Afternoon in Kansas City on Sunday

Local time

2:25 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°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

26 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

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 Kansas City, MO covers 10.7 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 23rd Street South, East 23rd Trafficway, George Brett Super Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.3 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 $1.63 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 10.7 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (South Lynn Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles (I 70; US 24; US 40 / George Brett Super Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Independence, MO to Kansas City, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Wichita along the way.

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