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Trip from Independence, MO to Sedalia, MO

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 40m

Distance

86.7 mi

140 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 33m ★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 56m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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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 Sedalia, MO, MO

Sedalia, MO

Valeria Boltneva

Trip Overview

The drive from Independence, MO to Sedalia, MO covers 86.7 miles and takes about 1h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, US 65, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 52.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.55 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.

Midpoint

43.3 miles from Independence, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 86.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (19%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 40m drive with frequent turns across 86.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 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?

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.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 40m drive. You will face about 7 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): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These 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

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Noland Road

Turn right onto South Noland Road

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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 52.5 mi 56m
US 65 15.9 mi 18m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway 8.5 mi 9m
South Noland Road 3.1 mi 5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway 2.6 mi 3m
North Ohio Avenue 1.5 mi 4m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway 1.5 mi 1m
MO 765 0.3 mi <1m
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 Sedalia, 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

1.5 mi · 4 min · North Ohio Avenue
15

Arrive at destination

South Ohio Avenue

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 43.3 miles from Independence, MO, or about 49m 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 19 miles or 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 43.3 miles or 49m 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 23m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sedalia, 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 86.7 miles and 1h 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Independence, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 43.3 mi from Independence, MO · 49m into the drive

Downtown Higginsville, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Higginsville, MO

43 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

Odessa, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Concordia, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.3 miles from Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Sedalia, MO

The final approach into Sedalia, 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

$13.55 one way

$27.11 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.88 $29.76
premium $4.89 $16.68 $33.37
diesel $5.61 $19.14 $38.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26 0 $9.10 $4.16
Efficient EV 21.7 0 $7.59 $3.47
EV Truck/SUV 34.7 0 $12.14 $5.55

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026

Origin

Independence, MO

Morning in Independence on Friday

Local time

10:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Partly Cloudy

SSW 18 mph 55% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 13 at 10:12PM CDT until April 13 at 10:45PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hil...

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 13 at 10:11PM CDT until April 13 at 10:30PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hil...

Destination

Sedalia, MO

Morning in Sedalia on Friday

Local time

10:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy

SSW 17 mph 32% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 13 at 10:12PM CDT until April 13 at 10:45PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hil...

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 13 at 10:11PM CDT until April 13 at 10:30PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hil...

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 40m 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 Sedalia, MO covers 86.7 miles and takes about 1h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, US 65, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 43.3 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 $13.55 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.

This is a straightforward 1h 40m drive. You will face about 7 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 0.2 miles (South Noland Road): Navigation decision point.

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

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

Sedalia, MO to Independence, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

87 mi 1h 41m

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