Origin
Mound City, MO
Morning in Mound City on Thursday
Local time
11:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mound City, MO to Independence, MO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 55m
Distance
100.5 mi
162 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 47m
★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mound City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Independence, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mound City, MO to Independence, MO covers 100.5 miles and takes about 1h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 29, I 435, East Truman Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 69.4 miles on I 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.71 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
50.3 miles from Mound City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 100.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 55m highway drive covering 100.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 29 and I 435. The longest continuous stretch is about 69.4 miles on I 29.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 29 is the longest continuous segment at about 69.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and I 435. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 59 / State Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 100.5 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 59 / State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 67.9 miles (I 29; I 435; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 59 / State Street
Turn right onto US 59 / State Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 29 South: Saint Joseph
Navigation decision point
Toward I 29 South: Saint Joseph
5
67.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
I 29; I 435; US 71
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
70.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
I 435
Keep slight right at fork onto I 435 toward I 435 East: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 14
Toward I 435 East: Saint Louis
8
95.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward MO 12 East: 12th Street, Truman Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 60
Toward MO 12 East: 12th Street, Truman Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 69.4 mi | 1h 14m |
| I 435 | 25.8 mi | 28m |
| East Truman Road | 4 mi | 8m |
| MO 118 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| State Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Kansas Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 69.4 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mound City, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on this road
97 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto US 59
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
State Street
3
Turn left onto MO 118
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
MO 118
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 29 South: Saint Joseph
5
Merge onto I 29
67 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
I 29
6
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 29; I 435; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 435
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 435
Exit 14
Toward I 435 East: Saint Louis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 60
Toward MO 12 East: 12th Street, Truman Road
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto MO 12
4.0 mi
·
8 min
·
East Truman Road
10
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Main Street
11
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
63 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Kansas Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
East Kansas 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 50.3 miles from Mound City, MO, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.4 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 22 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.3 miles or 55m 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 30m
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 Mound City, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mound City, MO
This is one driving day of about 100.5 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Mound City, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 69.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.3 mi from Mound City, MO · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 50.3 miles from Mound City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 29 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69.4 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.71 one way
$31.42 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.25 | $34.50 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.34 | $38.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.19 | $44.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.2 | 0 | $10.55 | $4.82 |
| Efficient EV | 25.1 | 0 | $8.79 | $4.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.2 | 0 | $14.07 | $6.43 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Morning in Independence on Thursday
Local time
11:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
2 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 55m 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 Mound City, MO to Independence, MO covers 100.5 miles and takes about 1h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 29, I 435, East Truman Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.3 miles from Mound City, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.71 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 100.5 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 59 / State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 67.9 miles (I 29; I 435; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Mound City, MO to Independence, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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