Origin
Independence, MO
Evening in Independence on Wednesday
Local time
7:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Independence, MO to Lake Ozark, MO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 11m
Distance
153.6 mi
247 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 0m
★
6 AM
3h 12m
8 AM
3h 35m
10 AM
3h 20m
12 PM
3h 18m
3 PM
3h 21m
5 PM
3h 34m
8 PM
3h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Lake Ozark, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking from Independence, MO, to Lake Ozark, MO, this 153.6-mile journey is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 11 minutes. The route primarily utilizes the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and US 65, with a 36% highway share, making it a convenient escape from the Midwest region. With an estimated fuel cost of $24, this drive offers a straightforward and efficient way to reach your destination. It's a practical option if you're looking for a relatively short drive with minimal fuss, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.8 miles from Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive presents a mixed experience, blending highway speeds with more local road segments. You'll spend a good portion on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 52.5 miles. As you transition to East Broadway Boulevard and then US 65, expect the pace to vary, offering a dynamic feel behind the wheel. While 36% of the route is on highways, the remaining portion involves navigating through towns and along more varied terrain.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 31 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 52.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Lynn Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 11m drive. You will face about 19 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 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 19 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
5
68.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Sedalia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 78A
Toward US 65 South: Sedalia
6
151.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 7m in
|
US 54 Business / Bagnell Dam Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto US 54 Business / Bagnell Dam Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 52.5 mi | 56m |
| East Broadway Boulevard | 24.3 mi | 32m |
| US 65 | 15.9 mi | 18m |
| MO 52 | 15 mi | 19m |
| MO 5 | 14.5 mi | 18m |
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| US 54 | 7.3 mi | 7m |
| South Noland Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 52.5 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, MO and Lake Ozark, 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
53 mi
·
56 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 78A
Toward US 65 South: Sedalia
11
Merge onto US 65
16 mi
·
18 min
·
US 65
12
Turn slight left onto MO 765
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
MO 765
Toward MO 765: Sedalia
13
Continue on MO 765
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
MO 765
14
Turn straight onto North Ohio Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Ohio Avenue
15
Turn left onto East Pettis Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Pettis Street
16
Continue on West Saline Street
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Saline Street
17
Turn right onto North Engineer Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Engineer Avenue
18
Turn left onto US 50
24 mi
·
32 min
·
East Broadway Boulevard
19
Turn right onto MO 5
14 mi
·
18 min
·
MO 5
Use the right lane.
20
At end of road, turn left onto MO 52
15 mi
·
19 min
·
MO 52
21
Turn right onto South Grand Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Grand Avenue
22
Turn slight left onto West 17th Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
West 17th Street
23
Turn right onto US 54 Bus; MO 52
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
US 54 Bus; MO 52
24
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward US 54 West: Lake of the Ozarks
25
Merge onto US 54
7.3 mi
·
7 min
·
US 54
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward US 54 Business
27
Enter roundabout onto US 54 Business
114 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bagnell Dam Boulevard
28
Continue on US 54 Business
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Bagnell Dam Boulevard
29
Enter roundabout onto US 54 Business
117 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bagnell Dam Boulevard
30
Continue on US 54 Business
1.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Bagnell Dam Boulevard
31
Arrive at destination
US 54 Business
Trip Plan
For this 153.6-mile drive, leaving in the morning provides ample time to reach Lake Ozark and enjoy your destination. With a duration of just over 3 hours, you'll likely only need one brief stop for fuel or a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without major services is 52.5 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The $24 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra on hand. Given the manageable distance, you have the flexibility to depart when it suits you best.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.8 miles from Independence, MO, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.5 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 34 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.8 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Ozark, 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 153.6 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Independence, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 52.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 76.8 mi from Independence, MO · 1h 26m 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 76.8 miles from Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lake Ozark, MO
The final approach into Lake Ozark, 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 Lake Ozark, 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
$24.01 one way
$48.03 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.37 | $52.73 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.56 | $59.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.91 | $67.83 |
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: 53.7 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 | 46.1 | 0 | $16.13 | $7.37 |
| Efficient EV | 38.4 | 0 | $13.44 | $6.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.4 | 0 | $21.50 | $9.83 |
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
Lake Ozark, MO
Evening in Lake Ozark on Wednesday
Local time
7:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Marshall, 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 11m 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 Lake Ozark, MO covers 153.6 miles and takes about 3h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, East Broadway Boulevard, US 65. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76.8 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 $24.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 11m drive. You will face about 19 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
The route from Independence, MO to Lake Ozark, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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