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Trip from New Franklin, MO to Independence, MO

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 55m

Distance

99.1 mi

159 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 48m ★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 13m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 3m
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.

Downtown New Franklin, MO, MO

New Franklin, MO

Tima Miroshnichenko

city in Jackson and Clay counties in Missouri, United States, that is one of two county seats in Jackson County

Independence, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 99.1-mile drive from New Franklin to Independence, Missouri, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in under two hours. Primarily utilizing US 40 and MO 5, it's a highway-focused trip with 89% of the route on higher-speed roads. Given its manageable length and estimated fuel cost of around $15, it's ideal as a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. This route keeps you within the Midwest region, offering a consistent driving experience without significant landscape changes. Plan for a smooth transition as you head towards Independence.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

49.5 miles from New Franklin, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 99.1 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 (89%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with a significant 89% of the drive on faster roads. You'll encounter an uninterrupted stretch of 84.9 miles on US 40, indicating long periods of consistent travel. The road character is likely to be straightforward and efficient, designed for covering distance. While the specific terrain isn't detailed, the focus on highways suggests a functional drive rather than a winding, scenic exploration. This setup is built for reaching your destination with minimal detours or slow-downs.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 84.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 40 and MO 5. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 5.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from New Franklin, MO to Independence, MO is easy. At 1h 55m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 5): Navigation decision point; at 95.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.9 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 6 key points

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

3
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | MO 5

Turn right onto MO 5

Navigation decision point

7
95.6 mi into trip | ~1h 49m 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
4
98.9 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in | East Walnut Street

Turn left onto East Walnut Street

Navigation decision point

5
99 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in | South Lynn Street

Turn right onto South Lynn Street

Navigation decision point

5
99.1 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in | East Kansas Avenue

Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 40 84.9 mi 1h 31m
MO 5 3.6 mi 7m
South Noland Road 3 mi 5m
East Ashley Road 3 mi 5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway 2.7 mi 3m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway 1.4 mi 1m
East Walnut Street <0.1 mi <1m
South Lynn Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 40 — 84.9 mi, about 1h 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New Franklin, MO and Independence, MO.

1

Start on MO 5

41 ft · 5 sec · MO 5
2

Turn right onto MO 5

3.6 mi · 7 min · MO 5
3

Turn slight right

129 ft · 4 sec
4

Turn slight right onto I 70 Bus; US 40; MO 5

3.0 mi · 5 min · East Ashley Road
5

Turn slight right onto US 40

85 mi · 1 hr 31 min · US 40
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
6

Continue on I 70

2.7 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
7

Continue on I 70

1.4 mi · 1 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 12 Toward Noland Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Turn right onto South Noland Road

3.0 mi · 5 min · South Noland Road
10

Turn left onto East Walnut Street

466 ft · 22 sec · East Walnut Street
11

Turn right onto South Lynn Street

394 ft · 22 sec · South Lynn Street
12

Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue

145 ft · 6 sec · East Kansas Avenue
13

Arrive at destination

East Kansas Avenue

Trip Plan

With a duration of just 1 hour and 55 minutes, this route offers excellent flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps after a late breakfast in New Franklin, and still arrive in Independence with plenty of daylight. The longest stretch on US 40 is quite substantial, so consider planning a brief pause around the halfway mark for a quick stretch or to refuel if your tank is getting low, even though the total fuel cost is estimated at a low $15. There are no specified stops, so you're free to make this journey as direct as possible or to incorporate personal breaks as needed.

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 49.5 miles from New Franklin, MO, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.9 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 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 49.5 miles or 59m 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 33m

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 New Franklin, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from New Franklin, MO

This is one driving day of about 99.1 miles and 1h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from New Franklin, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 40 for about 84.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 49.5 mi from New Franklin, MO · 59m into the drive

Downtown Higginsville, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Higginsville, MO

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.

Popular next leg

Higginsville, MO to Independence, MO

45.5 mi · 55m

Pacing Suggestions

Sweet Springs, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Higginsville, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 49.5 miles from New Franklin, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84.9 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

$15.49 one way

$30.99 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $17.01 $34.02
premium $4.89 $19.07 $38.14
diesel $5.61 $21.88 $43.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 34.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.7 0 $10.41 $4.76
Efficient EV 24.8 0 $8.67 $3.96
EV Truck/SUV 39.6 0 $13.87 $6.34

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

New Franklin, MO

Night in New Franklin on Thursday

Local time

10:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Independence, MO

Night in Independence on Thursday

Local time

10:43 PM

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

18 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

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 New Franklin, MO to Independence, MO covers 99.1 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 US 40, MO 5, South Noland 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 49.5 miles from New Franklin, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.49 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.
The drive from New Franklin, MO to Independence, MO is easy. At 1h 55m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 5): Navigation decision point; at 95.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.9 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from New Franklin, MO to Independence, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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