Origin
Independence, MO
Afternoon in Independence on Monday
Local time
2:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Independence, MO to Saint Joseph, MO
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
66.3 mi
107 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Joseph, MO
Andrés Oliver Joya Zapata
Trip Overview
The drive from Independence, MO to Saint Joseph, MO covers 66.3 miles and takes about 1h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Main Street, West Truman Road, I 435 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.07 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
33.1 miles from Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 9m drive with frequent turns across 66.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Main 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 Saint Joseph, MO is easy. At 1h 9m 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 Saint Joseph, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Truman Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 435 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I435 N | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 29 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 229 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Central Business District | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on East Kansas Avenue
62 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Kansas Avenue
2
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
South Main Street
3
Turn left onto West Truman Road
3.9 mi
·
8 min
·
West Truman Road
4
Take the ramp right toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Claycomo, Des Moines
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 435 North, US 24 East: Claycomo, Des Moines
5
Merge slight left onto Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
6
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I435 N
7
Continue straight
21 mi
·
22 min
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
26 mi
·
27 min
·
I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
10
Continue straight
5.7 mi
·
6 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward Central Business District
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Central Business District
12
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Edmond Street
13
Turn left onto South 10th Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
South 10th Street
14
Turn right onto Frederick Avenue
381 ft
·
6 sec
·
Frederick Avenue
15
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
138 ft
·
3 sec
·
Walter Welsh Avenue
16
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 33.1 miles from Independence, MO, or about 34m 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 66.3 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.1 miles or 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Joseph, 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 66.3 miles and 1h 9m.
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 33.1 mi from Independence, MO · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 66.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.1 miles from Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Saint Joseph, MO
The final approach into Saint Joseph, 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 Saint Joseph, 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
$10.07 one way
$20.14 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $11.10 | $22.20 |
| premium | $4.80 | $12.52 | $25.03 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $14.73 | $29.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.96 | $3.18 |
| Efficient EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.80 | $2.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.28 | $4.24 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Saint Joseph, MO
Afternoon in Saint Joseph on Monday
Local time
2:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°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
4 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 9m 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 Saint Joseph, MO covers 66.3 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Main Street, West Truman Road, I 435 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.1 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 $10.07 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 Saint Joseph, MO is easy. At 1h 9m 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 Saint Joseph, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Independence, MO to Saint Joseph, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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