Origin
Independence, MO
Morning in Independence on Friday
Local time
6:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Independence, MO to La Monte, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
72.3 mi
116 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, MO
Wikimedia Commons
La Monte, MO
Anatolii Maks
Trip Overview
The drive from Independence, MO to La Monte, MO covers 72.3 miles and takes about 1h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, MO 13, US 50 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.30 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 72.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Independence, MO to La Monte, MO covers 72.3 miles and takes about 1h 27m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 32.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Lynn Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 72.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 3.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese 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
6
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn left toward I 70 East: Columbia, Saint Louis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East: Columbia, Saint Louis
6
39.9 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 49
Toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg
6
57.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East: Sedalia, Jefferson City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 East: Sedalia, Jefferson City
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Independence, MO and La Monte, MO, road signs point toward Warrensburg and Jefferson City.
Warrensburg
39.9 mi in
|
~46m
Jefferson City
57.2 mi in
|
~1h 8m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 32.3 mi | 35m |
| MO 13 | 17.2 mi | 21m |
| US 50 | 13.7 mi | 15m |
| South Noland Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Front Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 32.3 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, MO and La Monte, 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
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
South Noland Road
5
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 70 East: Columbia, Saint Louis
6
Merge onto I 70
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
7
Continue on I 70
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
8
Continue on I 70
32 mi
·
35 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 49
Toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg
10
Turn right onto MO 13
12 mi
·
15 min
·
MO 13
11
Enter roundabout onto MO 13
206 ft
·
3 sec
·
MO 13
12
Continue on MO 13
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
MO 13
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 50 East: Sedalia, Jefferson City
14
Merge onto US 50
14 mi
·
15 min
·
US 50
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
16
Turn left
84 ft
·
4 sec
17
Turn right onto MO 127
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Front Street
18
Turn left onto MO 127
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
19
Turn left onto West Pine Street
219 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Pine Street
20
Arrive at destination
West Pine Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.2 mi from Independence, MO · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.2 miles from Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in La Monte, MO
The final approach into La Monte, 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
$11.30 one way
$22.61 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.41 | $24.82 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.91 | $27.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.96 | $31.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.59 | $3.47 |
| Efficient EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.33 | $2.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.12 | $4.63 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
La Monte, MO
Morning in La Monte on Friday
Local time
6:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Odessa, MO
36 mi in
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
20 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 27m 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 Independence, MO to La Monte, MO covers 72.3 miles and takes about 1h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, MO 13, US 50. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.2 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 $11.30 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 72.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 3.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Independence, MO and La Monte, MO, road signs point toward Warrensburg and Jefferson City.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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