Origin
Joplin, MO
Afternoon in Joplin on Sunday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Joplin, MO to Independence, MO
Drive Time
2h 35m
Distance
160.9 mi
259 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 25m
★
6 AM
2h 35m
8 AM
2h 56m
10 AM
2h 42m
12 PM
2h 40m
3 PM
2h 43m
5 PM
2h 55m
8 PM
2h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Joplin, MO
Miloš Steklý
Independence, MO
Ever Rayan
Trip Overview
The drive from Joplin, MO to Independence, MO covers 160.9 miles and takes about 2h 35m 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, North Main Street Road, Demott Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.44 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.5 miles from Joplin, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 35m drive with frequent turns across 160.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 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 Joplin, MO to Independence, MO is easy. At 2h 35m 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 Joplin, MO to Independence, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Main Street Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Demott Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West MacArthur Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| the route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Central Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 49 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| George Washington Carver Memorial Highway | 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 Joplin, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on the route
82 ft
·
12 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left
59 ft
·
6 sec
3
Turn right onto South Main Street
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
South Main Street
4
Turn straight onto North Main Street Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street Road
5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Demott Drive
13 ft
·
Demott Drive
6
Exit the roundabout onto Demott Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Demott Drive
7
Continue on West MacArthur Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West MacArthur Drive
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
233 ft
·
3 sec
·
the route
9
Exit the roundabout
7.8 mi
·
8 min
10
Continue on West Central Avenue
453 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Central Avenue
11
Turn left onto I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
12
Merge slight left onto George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
13
Continue on Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
14
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
93 mi
·
1 hr 39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
15
Take the exit slight right toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
16
Keep slight right to continue on MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
243 ft
·
6 sec
·
MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
17
Merge slight left
8.3 mi
·
12 min
18
Turn slight left
8.5 mi
·
11 min
19
Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Southwest Jefferson Street
20
Take the exit slight left toward US 50 West: Kansas City
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 50 West: Kansas City
21
Merge slight left
2.7 mi
·
3 min
22
Continue on Blue Parkway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Blue Parkway
23
Turn right onto South Noland Road
5.9 mi
·
9 min
·
South Noland Road
24
Continue on South Noland Road
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
South Noland Road
25
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
466 ft
·
23 sec
·
East Walnut Street
26
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
394 ft
·
23 sec
·
South Lynn Street
27
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
144 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Kansas Avenue
28
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.5 miles from Joplin, MO, or about 1h 17m 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 80 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.5 miles or 1h 17m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Independence, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Joplin, 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 Joplin, MO
This is one driving day of about 160.9 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Joplin, 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 80.5 mi from Joplin, MO · 1h 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80.5 miles from Joplin, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Independence, MO
The final approach into Independence, 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 Independence, 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
$24.44 one way
$48.88 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $26.94 | $53.88 |
| premium | $4.80 | $30.37 | $60.75 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $35.75 | $71.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.3 | 0 | $16.89 | $7.72 |
| Efficient EV | 40.2 | 0 | $14.08 | $6.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.4 | 0 | $22.53 | $10.30 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Independence, MO
Afternoon in Independence on Sunday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
54°F
Nevada, MO
80 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
8 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
2h 35m 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 Joplin, MO to Independence, MO covers 160.9 miles and takes about 2h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Main Street, North Main Street Road, Demott Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80.5 miles from Joplin, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.44 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Joplin, MO to Independence, MO is easy. At 2h 35m 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 Joplin, MO to Independence, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Joplin, MO to Independence, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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