Trip from Independence, MO to Montgomery City, MO

Drive Time

3h 10m

Distance

167.1 mi

269 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Independence, MO

Ever Rayan

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Independence to Montgomery City, you are looking at a 167.1-mile journey across the Missouri Midwest. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 10 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily utilize the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, and MO 161 to complete the trek. With fuel costs estimated at around $25, the trip is quite budget-friendly for a solo driver or a small group. Since the entire route is contained within Missouri, the transition between these two towns feels like a natural progression through the heart of the state. You can easily manage this drive in one go, leaving you plenty of time to explore your destination upon arrival.

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

83.6 miles from Independence, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .

Drive Character

This 167.1-mile route offers a distinct mix of road types, characterized primarily as a turn-heavy local drive. You will spend roughly 4% of your time on highways, meaning much of your focus will shift toward local roads as you navigate toward Montgomery City. The longest uninterrupted portion of your trip occurs on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, covering 95.3 miles of relatively steady travel. As you transition away from the main highway stretches, the road personality shifts to accommodate more technical turns and local traffic patterns. Be prepared for a change in rhythm, as the drive requires more active engagement than a simple, monotonous interstate cruise.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 18 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 95.3 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,034 ft 590 ft

Total Climb

808 ft

Total Descent

1,006 ft

Highest Point

1,034 ft

Elevation Range

445 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 Lynn Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 10m drive. You will face about 9 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 0.2 miles (South Noland Road): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Lynn Street

Turn right onto South Lynn Street

Navigation decision point

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

Turn left onto East Walnut Street

Navigation decision point

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Noland Road

Turn right onto South Noland Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

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

160.9 mi into trip | ~3h in

Take the exit toward MO 161, MO J: Danville Montgomery City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 170 Toward MO 161, MO J: Danville Montgomery City

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	95.3 mi	1h 46m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway	54.4 mi	58m
MO 161	6 mi	9m
South Noland Road	3.1 mi	5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway	2.6 mi	3m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway	1.9 mi	2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway	1.6 mi	1m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway	1.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 95.3 mi, about 1h 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on East Kansas Avenue

145 ft · 8 sec · East Kansas Avenue

Turn right onto South Lynn Street

394 ft · 22 sec · South Lynn Street

Turn left onto East Walnut Street

466 ft · 25 sec · East Walnut Street

Turn right onto South Noland Road

3.1 mi · 5 min · South Noland Road

Use the none lane.

Turn left

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Toward I 70 East: Columbia, Saint Louis

Merge onto I 70

1.5 mi · 1 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

Continue on I 70

2.6 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 70

53 mi · 56 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 70; US 40

32 mi · 34 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

22 mi · 24 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.6 mi · 1 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.9 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

41 mi · 47 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Exit 170 Toward MO 161, MO J: Danville Montgomery City

Turn left onto MO 161; MO J

0.5 mi · 49 sec · MO 161; MO J

Turn left onto MO 161

5.5 mi · 8 min · MO 161

Arrive at destination

East 2nd Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 3-hour and 10-minute drive, consider planning for at least one dedicated stop to break up the local road segments. Since the route is relatively short, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though leaving early helps you avoid potential congestion on the more local stretches. Keep your eyes on your fuel gauge, as the $25 estimate is based on standard consumption and can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because this is a turn-heavy drive, pay close attention to your navigation when transitioning onto MO 161. Taking advantage of the shorter duration allows you to arrive in Montgomery City feeling refreshed rather than fatigued from a long day on the road.

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 83.6 miles from Independence, MO, or about 1h 33m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.3 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 80 miles or 1h 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 83.6 miles or 1h 33m 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 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montgomery 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 167.1 miles and 3h 10m.

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.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 95.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 83.6 mi from Independence, MO · 1h 33m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kansas City, MO

84 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kansas City, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 83.6 miles from Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 95.3 miles.

Arriving in Montgomery City, MO

The final approach into Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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

$25.38 one way

$50.76 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 59 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$27.98	$55.96
premium	$4.80	$31.55	$63.09
diesel	$5.64	$37.12	$74.25

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 58.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	50.1	$17.55	$8.02
Efficient EV	41.8	$14.62	$6.68
EV Truck/SUV	66.8	$23.39	$10.69

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

20 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 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

Montgomery City, MO

Afternoon in Montgomery City on Sunday

Local time

2:25 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°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

22 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 10m 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 Montgomery City, MO covers 167.1 miles and takes about 3h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, MO 161. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 83.6 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 $25.38 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 10m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The route from Independence, MO to Montgomery City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 590 ft to 1,034 ft elevation with about 808 ft of total climbing.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Montgomery City, MO to Independence, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

166.9 mi 3h 9m

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