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Trip from Independence, MO to Rich Hill, MO

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

1h 32m

Distance

80.5 mi

130 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 25m ★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 28m

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

city in Jackson and Clay counties in Missouri, United States, that is one of two county seats in Jackson County

Independence, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Rich Hill, MO, MO

Rich Hill, MO

cottonbro studio

Trip Overview

The drive from Independence, MO to Rich Hill, MO covers 80.5 miles and takes about 1h 32m 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 $12.59 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

40.2 miles from Independence, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 32m drive with frequent turns across 80.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

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.
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 Rich Hill, MO is easy. At 1h 32m 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 Rich Hill, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

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

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Independence, MO and Rich Hill, 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

63 mi · 1 hr 7 min
14

Take the exit slight right toward MO B, MO A: Osceola, Rich Hill

0.2 mi · 22 sec · MO B, MO A: Osceola, Rich Hill
15

Turn right onto East Walnut Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Walnut Street
16

Turn left onto 7th Street

390 ft · 19 sec · 7th Street
17

Turn right onto Park Street

118 ft · 5 sec · Park Street
18

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 40.2 miles from Independence, MO, or about 46m 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 18 miles or 20m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 40.2 miles or 46m 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 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rich Hill, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Independence, MO

This is one driving day of about 80.5 miles and 1h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Independence, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 40.2 mi from Independence, MO · 46m into the drive

city in Jackson and Cass counties in Missouri, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lee's Summit, MO

40 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

Raytown, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lee's Summit, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 40.2 miles from Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Rich Hill, MO

The final approach into Rich Hill, 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

$12.59 one way

$25.17 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.82 $27.64
premium $4.89 $15.49 $30.98
diesel $5.61 $17.77 $35.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 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 24.2 0 $8.45 $3.86
Efficient EV 20.1 0 $7.04 $3.22
EV Truck/SUV 32.2 0 $11.27 $5.15

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Independence, MO

Afternoon in Independence on Wednesday

Local time

4:40 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rich Hill, MO

Afternoon in Rich Hill on Wednesday

Local time

4:40 PM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

48°F

Lee's Summit, MO

40 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

1h 32m 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 Rich Hill, MO covers 80.5 miles and takes about 1h 32m 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 40.2 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 $12.59 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 Rich Hill, MO is easy. At 1h 32m 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 Rich Hill, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Independence, MO to Rich Hill, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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