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Trip from Saint Joseph, MO to Independence, MO

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 18m

Distance

65.6 mi

106 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 13m ★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Buchanan County, Missouri, United States

Saint Joseph, MO

Wikimedia Commons

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

The drive from Saint Joseph, MO to Independence, MO covers 65.6 miles and takes about 1h 18m 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, I 229 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.4 miles on I 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.26 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

32.8 miles from Saint Joseph, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 1h 18m highway drive covering 65.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 29 and I 435. The longest continuous stretch is about 28.4 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 17 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 28.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and I 435. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Francis Street.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 65.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Francis Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Francis Street

Turn right onto Francis Street

Navigation decision point

6
1.8 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward I 229 South, US 59 South: Kansas City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 229 South, US 59 South: Kansas City
6
6.5 mi into trip | ~8m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
8
35.2 mi into trip | ~39m 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
61 mi into trip | ~1h 8m 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 28.4 mi 30m
I 435 25.8 mi 28m
I 229 4.5 mi 4m
East Truman Road 4 mi 8m
North 9th Street 1.2 mi 2m
Francis Street 0.2 mi <1m
North Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
US 36 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 29 — 28.4 mi, about 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph, MO and Independence, MO.

1

Start on Walter Welsh Avenue

417 ft · 8 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue
2

Turn right onto North 12th Street

297 ft · 10 sec · North 12th Street
3

Turn right onto Francis Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Francis Street
4

Turn left onto I 29 Business

1.2 mi · 2 min · North 9th Street
5

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 15 sec
6

Merge onto US 36

0.2 mi · 19 sec · US 36
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward I 229 South, US 59 South: Kansas City
8

Merge onto I 229; US 59

4.5 mi · 4 min · I 229; US 59
9

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 29 sec
Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
10

Merge onto I 29; US 71

26 mi · 27 min · I 29; US 71
11

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.
12

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.
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

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 32.8 miles from Saint Joseph, MO, or about 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.4 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 65.6 miles or 1h 18m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 32.8 miles or 37m 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 2m

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 Saint Joseph, 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 Saint Joseph, MO

This is one driving day of about 65.6 miles and 1h 18m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Saint Joseph, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 28.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 32.8 mi from Saint Joseph, MO · 37m into the drive

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kansas City, MO

33 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 65.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kansas City, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 32.8 miles from Saint Joseph, 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

$10.26 one way

$20.51 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $11.26 $22.52
premium $4.89 $12.62 $25.25
diesel $5.61 $14.48 $28.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 23 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.7 0 $6.89 $3.15
Efficient EV 16.4 0 $5.74 $2.62
EV Truck/SUV 26.2 0 $9.18 $4.20

Gas CO2

23 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (65% 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

Saint Joseph, MO

Morning in Saint Joseph on Wednesday

Local time

7:13 AM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Partly Cloudy

SSW 17 mph 7% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 13 at 9:58PM CDT until April 13 at 10:30PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill...

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 13 at 9:58PM CDT until April 13 at 10:45PM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill...

Destination

Independence, MO

Morning in Independence on Wednesday

Local time

7:13 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

7 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 18m 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 Saint Joseph, MO to Independence, MO covers 65.6 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 29, I 435, I 229. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.8 miles from Saint Joseph, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.26 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 demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 65.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Francis Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Saint Joseph, MO to Independence, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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