Trip from Independence, MO to Lamar, MO

Drive Time

2h 20m

Distance

125 mi

201 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 11m ★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 40m
10 AM
2h 27m
12 PM
2h 25m
3 PM
2h 28m
5 PM
2h 39m
8 PM
2h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Independence, MO, MO

Independence, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Lamar, MO, MO

Lamar, MO

Valeria Boltneva

Trip Overview

The drive from Independence, MO to Lamar, MO covers 125 miles and takes about 2h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Lynn Street, East Walnut Street, South Noland Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.99 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

62.5 miles from Independence, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 20m drive with frequent turns across 125 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Lynn Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Independence, MO to Lamar, MO is easy. At 2h 20m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Independence, MO to Lamar, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Lynn Street Unavailable Refreshing
East Walnut Street Unavailable Refreshing
South Noland Road Unavailable Refreshing
I 70 West Unavailable Refreshing
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway Unavailable Refreshing
George Brett Super Highway Unavailable Refreshing
I 435 South Unavailable Refreshing
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: South Lynn Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East Kansas Avenue

144 ft · 8 sec · East Kansas Avenue
2

Turn right onto South Lynn Street

394 ft · 23 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

3.0 mi · 4 min · South Noland Road
5

Take the ramp slight right toward I 70 West: Kansas City

0.1 mi · 19 sec · I 70 West: Kansas City
6

Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

2.9 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
7

Continue on George Brett Super Highway

1.1 mi · 1 min · George Brett Super Highway
8

Take the exit slight right toward I 435 South: Wichita

0.4 mi · 48 sec · I 435 South: Wichita
9

Merge slight left onto Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

8.3 mi · 9 min · Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
10

Take the exit slight right toward I 49 South, US 71 South, I 470 East, US 50 East: Joplin, Lee's Summit

0.7 mi · 46 sec · I 49 South, US 71 South, I 470 East, US 50 East: Joplin, Lee's Summit
11

Keep slight left to continue on I 49, I 470, US 50 East, US 71 South: Joplin, Lee's Summit

0.1 mi · 13 sec · I 49, I 470, US 50 East, US 71 South: Joplin, Lee's Summit
12

Keep slight left to continue on I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin

0.3 mi · 39 sec · I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
13

Merge slight left

106 mi · 1 hr 54 min
14

Take the exit slight right toward US 160: Lamar, Mindenmines

0.2 mi · 24 sec · US 160: Lamar, Mindenmines
15

Turn left

1.3 mi · 2 min
16

Turn left onto Broadway Street

436 ft · 17 sec · Broadway Street
17

Turn left onto 11th Street West

197 ft · 8 sec · 11th Street West
18

Turn right

135 ft · 10 sec
19

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 62.5 miles from Independence, MO, or about 1h 10m into the drive.

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 80 miles or 1h 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 62.5 miles or 1h 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 1h 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lamar, 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 125 miles and 2h 20m.

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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 62.5 mi from Independence, MO · 1h 10m into the drive

Downtown Nevada, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Nevada, MO

63 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

Nevada, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Nevada, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 62.5 miles from Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lamar, MO

The final approach into Lamar, 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 Lamar, 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

$18.99 one way

$37.97 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 44 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $20.93 $41.86
premium $4.80 $23.60 $47.19
diesel $5.64 $27.77 $55.54

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 43.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 37.5 0 $13.13 $6.00
Efficient EV 31.3 0 $10.94 $5.00
EV Truck/SUV 50 0 $17.50 $8.00

Gas CO2

44 kg

EV CO2

15 kg (66% 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 3 days ago

Origin

Independence, MO

Afternoon in Independence on Monday

Local time

2:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lamar, MO

Afternoon in Lamar on Monday

Local time

2:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

54°F

Nevada, MO

63 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

6 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 20m 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 Lamar, MO covers 125 miles and takes about 2h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Lynn Street, East Walnut Street, South Noland Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.5 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 $18.99 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.
The drive from Independence, MO to Lamar, MO is easy. At 2h 20m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Independence, MO to Lamar, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Independence, MO to Lamar, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Lamar, MO to Independence, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

123.8 mi 1h 56m

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