Origin
North Kansas City, MO
Evening in North Kansas City on Wednesday
Local time
6:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Kansas City, MO to Independence, MO
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
24m
Distance
12.3 mi
20 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Kansas City, MO
Edgar Colomba
Independence, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short, 12.3-mile drive from North Kansas City, MO, to Independence, MO, is easily manageable in about 24 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. With a low estimated fuel cost of just $2, it's an economical excursion. The route primarily utilizes local roads like East Truman Road and East Front Street, with a portion on Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway, indicating a more connected, community-level journey rather than an open highway experience. Given its brevity and minimal stops, this drive is ideal for a quick outing within the Midwest region, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
6.2 miles from North Kansas City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with only about a third of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 4 miles along East Truman Road. This suggests a driving experience characterized by frequent turns and navigating through more developed areas, rather than expansive, open stretches. The road will likely feel more like traversing city streets and connecting local thoroughfares, requiring your attention for navigation throughout the 24-minute trip.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Truman Road is the longest continuous segment at about 4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Ozark Street.
Route Complexity
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 12.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Ozark Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Ozark Street
Turn right onto Ozark Street
Navigation decision point
9
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 29 South, I 35 South, US 71 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 29 South, I 35 South, US 71 South
8
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward Front Street, Berkley Parkway
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 4B
Toward Front Street, Berkley Parkway
8
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward East Front Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward East Front Street
8
7.7 mi into trip
|
~13m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| East Truman Road | 4 mi | 8m |
| East Front Street | 3.7 mi | 7m |
| Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| I 29 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Bedford Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Ozark Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 12th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East Truman Road
— 4 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Kansas City, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on this road
194 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on East 12th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
East 12th Avenue
3
Turn right onto Ozark Street
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
Ozark Street
4
Turn left onto Bedford Road
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Bedford Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I 29 South, I 35 South, US 71 South
Use the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto I 29; I 35; US 71
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
I 29; I 35; US 71
8
Take the exit
503 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 4B
Toward Front Street, Berkley Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
321 ft
·
8 sec
Toward East Front Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on East Front Street
3.7 mi
·
7 min
·
East Front Street
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 435 South: Grandview
12
Merge onto I 435
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 60
Toward MO 12 East: 12th Street, Truman Road
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto MO 12
4.0 mi
·
8 min
·
East Truman Road
15
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Main Street
16
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
63 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Kansas Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
East Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
For this quick 12.3-mile trip, departing at your convenience is key, as the short duration means you can easily fit it into any part of your day. With only an estimated $2 fuel cost, fuel stops aren't a major concern. Since there are no recommended stops and the longest stretch is only 4 miles, you can push through without needing a break. A practical tip for this route: pay close attention to East Truman Road, as it's your longest uninterrupted segment and the primary artery for a significant portion of the drive.
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 6.2 miles from North Kansas City, MO, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 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 12 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.2 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Independence, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving North Kansas City, MO.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North Kansas City, MO
This is one driving day of about 12.3 miles and 24m.
At 12.3 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on East Truman Road for about 4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.2 mi from North Kansas City, MO · 12m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 6.2 miles from North Kansas City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Independence, MO
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Independence, MO if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.92 one way
$3.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.11 | $4.22 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.37 | $4.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.72 | $5.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.29 | $0.59 |
| Efficient EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.08 | $0.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.79 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Evening in Independence on Wednesday
Local time
6:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
24m 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 North Kansas City, MO to Independence, MO covers 12.3 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Truman Road, East Front Street, Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.2 miles from North Kansas City, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.92 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 is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 12.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Ozark Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from North Kansas City, MO to Independence, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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