Trip from Montgomery City, MO to Independence, MO

Drive Time

3h 9m

Distance

166.9 mi

269 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Independence, MO

Ever Rayan

Trip Overview

Spanning 166.9 miles across the Missouri heartland, this trip from Montgomery City to Independence is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 9 minutes. Because the total travel time is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Budgeting around $25 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the trip. You will navigate a mix of routes, including the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, and Danville Road. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, the route offers a reliable path through the Midwest.

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

83.5 miles from Montgomery City, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition between different road types. While you will spend a significant portion of your journey on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, you should prepare for a longest uninterrupted stretch of 95.4 miles on that specific road. The route lacks a high highway percentage, shifting instead into more technical local segments that break up the monotony of interstate travel. You will experience a varied driving environment that keeps the pace interesting from start to finish. Staying alert is key, as the character of the road changes frequently throughout the 166.9-mile journey.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 19 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 95.4 miles.

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. The trickiest moment comes around 5.5 miles in near MO 161.

Route Complexity 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Montgomery City, MO to Independence, MO is easy. At 3h 9m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.5 miles (MO 161): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 163.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5.5 mi into trip | ~8m in | MO 161

At end of road, turn right onto MO 161

Navigation decision point

5.9 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the ramp toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia

163.5 mi into trip | ~3h 3m in

Take the exit toward Noland Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 12 Toward Noland Road

166.8 mi into trip | ~3h 9m in | South Lynn Street

Turn right onto South Lynn Street

Navigation decision point

166.9 mi into trip | ~3h 9m in | East Kansas Avenue

Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	95.4 mi	1h 46m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway	54.4 mi	58m
Danville Road	5.2 mi	7m
South Noland Road	3 mi	5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway	2.7 mi	3m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway	2 mi	2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway	1.6 mi	1m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway	1.4 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 95.4 mi, about 1h 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Montgomery City, MO and Independence, MO.

Start on East 2nd Street

0.4 mi · 33 sec · East 2nd Street

Turn straight onto MO 161

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Danville Road

Continue on MO 161

5.0 mi · 7 min · Danville Road

At end of road, turn right onto MO 161

0.4 mi · 38 sec · MO 161

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 13 sec

Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia

Merge onto I 70; US 40

41 mi · 47 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

2.0 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.6 mi · 1 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

54 mi · 58 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

Continue on I 70; US 40

52 mi · 56 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 70

2.7 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 70

1.4 mi · 1 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Exit 12 Toward Noland Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto South Noland Road

3.0 mi · 5 min · South Noland Road

Turn left onto East Walnut Street

466 ft · 22 sec · East Walnut Street

Turn right onto South Lynn Street

394 ft · 22 sec · South Lynn Street

Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue

145 ft · 6 sec · East Kansas Avenue

Arrive at destination

East Kansas Avenue

Trip Plan

With a total travel time of just over three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. We recommend mapping out at least one stop to break up the drive, which helps keep you fresh behind the wheel. Given the mix of highway and local roads, be prepared to adjust your speed as you transition off the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Keep your eyes on your fuel gauge, as the $25 estimate is a baseline that can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency. Since this is a relatively short trip, try to leave during off-peak hours to ensure a smoother experience on the more technical, turn-heavy sections of the route.

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 83.5 miles from Montgomery City, MO, or about 1h 36m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.4 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 83.5 miles or 1h 36m 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 34m

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 Montgomery City, 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 Montgomery City, MO

This is one driving day of about 166.9 miles and 3h 9m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Montgomery City, 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.

The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 95.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 83.5 mi from Montgomery City, MO · 1h 36m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kansas City, MO

83 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

Kansas City, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kansas City, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 83.5 miles from Montgomery City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 95.4 miles.

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

$25.35 one way

$50.70 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$27.95	$55.89
premium	$4.80	$31.51	$63.01
diesel	$5.64	$37.08	$74.16

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 58.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	50.1	$17.52	$8.01
Efficient EV	41.7	$14.60	$6.68
EV Truck/SUV	66.8	$23.37	$10.68

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

20 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Montgomery City, MO

Afternoon in Montgomery City on Sunday

Local time

2:25 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Independence, MO

Afternoon in Independence on Sunday

Local time

2:25 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSE 5 to 13 mph 24% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

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

22 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

3h 9m 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 Montgomery City, MO to Independence, MO covers 166.9 miles and takes about 3h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

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

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 83.5 miles from Montgomery City, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.35 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The drive from Montgomery City, MO to Independence, MO is easy. At 3h 9m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

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

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Explore More

Return Trip

Independence, MO to Montgomery City, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

167.1 mi 3h 10m

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