Origin
Independence, MO
Late night in Independence on Friday
Local time
12:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Independence, MO to Ava, MO
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
4h 37m
Distance
232.1 mi
373 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 24m
★
6 AM
4h 38m
8 AM
5h 5m
10 AM
4h 47m
12 PM
4h 44m
3 PM
4h 49m
5 PM
5h 3m
8 PM
4h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Ava, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Independence, MO to Ava, MO covers 232.1 miles and takes about 4h 37m 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 $36.29 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
116 miles from Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 37m. Total distance: 232.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 37m drive with frequent turns across 232.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
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 4h 37m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Independence, MO to Ava, 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 Ava, 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
26 mi
·
28 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward MO 7 South: Clinton
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
MO 7 South: Clinton
15
Turn slight left onto MO 7 South: Clinton
55 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
MO 7 South: Clinton
16
Continue straight
68 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
17
Take the exit slight left toward I 44 East: Rolla, Saint Louis
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
I 44 East: Rolla, Saint Louis
18
Merge slight left onto Payne Stewart Highway
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Payne Stewart Highway
19
Take the exit slight right toward US 65 South: Branson
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
US 65 South: Branson
20
Merge slight left onto Schoolcraft Freeway
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Schoolcraft Freeway
21
Take the exit slight right toward US 60 East: Cabool
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
US 60 East: Cabool
22
Merge slight left
38 mi
·
45 min
23
Take the exit slight right toward MO EE, MO 5 South, US 60 BUS: Mansfield, Ava
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
MO EE, MO 5 South, US 60 BUS: Mansfield, Ava
24
Turn right
11 mi
·
14 min
25
Continue straight
1.7 mi
·
2 min
26
Turn left onto Springfield Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Springfield Road
27
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward North Jefferson Street
16 ft
·
North Jefferson Street
28
Exit the roundabout onto North Jefferson Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Jefferson Street
29
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 116 miles from Independence, MO, or about 2h 18m 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 51 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116 miles or 2h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ava, 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 232.1 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 116 mi from Independence, MO · 2h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 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 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 116 miles from Independence, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ava, MO
The final approach into Ava, 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 Ava, 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
$36.29 one way
$72.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
81 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $39.84 | $79.68 |
| premium | $4.89 | $44.67 | $89.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.24 | $102.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.6 | 0 | $24.37 | $11.14 |
| Efficient EV | 58 | 0 | $20.31 | $9.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 92.8 | 1 | $32.49 | $14.85 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Ava, MO
Late night in Ava on Friday
Local time
12:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Warsaw, MO
116 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
19 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
4h 37m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Ava, MO covers 232.1 miles and takes about 4h 37m 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 116 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 $36.29 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 37m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Independence, MO to Ava, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Independence, MO to Ava, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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