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Trip from Velda Village Hills, MO to Independence, MO

Drive Time

4h 31m

Distance

233.6 mi

376 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Independence, MO, MO

Independence, MO

Ever Rayan

Trip Overview

Connecting Velda Village Hills to Independence, this 233.6-mile trek across Missouri is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 31 minutes. Because the route is compact and efficient, you can easily complete the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $35 for fuel to cover the distance. Since both your start and end points are located within the Midwest, you will experience the classic landscape of the region throughout the drive. It is a highly practical transit route, ideal for travelers who value speed and direct access over winding backroads. Overall, this highway-focused drive offers a reliable way to cross the state while staying on schedule.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

116.8 miles from Velda Village Hills, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a focused interstate experience, as 95% of your travel occurs on major highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-70, which accounts for a significant 223-mile stretch of the journey. The drive maintains a consistent, fast-paced rhythm, making it well-suited for those who prefer to settle into a cruise-control pace. As you approach Independence, the transition from open highway to local infrastructure occurs via South Noland Road and the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. This creates a clear shift from high-speed transit to the more localized traffic patterns of your destination.

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 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 223 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,034 ft 531 ft

Total Climb

976 ft

Total Descent

497 ft

Highest Point

1,034 ft

~233.2 mi in

Elevation Range

504 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and South Noland Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near MO 115 / Natural Bridge Road.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 233.6 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 0.4 miles (MO 115 / Natural Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

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

7
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | MO 115 / Natural Bridge Road

At end of road, turn left onto MO 115 / Natural Bridge Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
7
3 mi into trip | ~5m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Wentzville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 70 West: Wentzville
5
3.1 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 70

Merge onto I 70

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
230.2 mi into trip | ~4h 24m 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
5
233.5 mi into trip | ~4h 30m in | South Lynn Street

Turn right onto South Lynn Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 70 223 mi 4h 14m
South Noland Road 3 mi 5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway 2.7 mi 3m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway 1.4 mi 1m
Florissant Road 1 mi 1m
Natural Bridge Road 0.9 mi 1m
Avondale Avenue 0.4 mi 1m
University Boulevard 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 70 — 223 mi, about 4h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Velda Village Hills, MO and Independence, MO.

1

Start on Myron Avenue

70 ft · 5 sec · Myron Avenue
2

Turn right onto Avondale Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · Avondale Avenue
3

At end of road, turn left onto MO 115

0.9 mi · 1 min · Natural Bridge Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
4

Enter roundabout onto MO N

49 ft · 0 sec · Florissant Road
5

Continue on MO N

1.0 mi · 1 min · Florissant Road
6

Continue on MO N

0.3 mi · 29 sec · University Boulevard
7

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 70 West
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 12 sec
Toward I 70 West: Wentzville Use the slight left lane.
9

Merge onto I 70

223 mi · 4 hr 14 min · I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 70

2.7 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the none lane.
11

Continue on I 70

1.4 mi · 1 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 12 Toward Noland Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Turn right onto South Noland Road

3.0 mi · 5 min · South Noland Road
14

Turn left onto East Walnut Street

466 ft · 22 sec · East Walnut Street
15

Turn right onto South Lynn Street

394 ft · 22 sec · South Lynn Street
16

Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue

145 ft · 6 sec · East Kansas Avenue
17

Arrive at destination

East Kansas Avenue

Trip Plan

To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one stop to break up the 4-hour and 31-minute duration. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential congestion on I-70, especially as you navigate through busier sections of the state. Since the longest stretch covers 223 miles, ensure your fuel tank is topped off before hitting the interstate to avoid unnecessary detours. Because this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal pace. As a specific tip, keep a close eye on your GPS when transitioning off I-70 onto the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, as the switch from major interstate to local roads happens quickly.

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 116.8 miles from Velda Village Hills, MO, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 223 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 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 116.8 miles or 2h 15m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 40m

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 Velda Village Hills, 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 Velda Village Hills, MO

This is one driving day of about 233.6 miles and 4h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Velda Village Hills, 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 I 70 for about 223 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 116.8 mi from Velda Village Hills, MO · 2h 15m into the drive

Downtown Quincy, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Quincy, IL

117 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

Alton, IL

Fuel and coffee

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

Quincy, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 116.8 miles from Velda Village Hills, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 223 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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$35.48 one way

$70.96 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 82 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $39.11 $78.23
premium $4.80 $44.10 $88.20
diesel $5.64 $51.90 $103.80

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 81.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 70.1 0 $24.53 $11.21
Efficient EV 58.4 0 $20.44 $9.34
EV Truck/SUV 93.4 1 $32.70 $14.95

Gas CO2

82 kg

EV CO2

27 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Velda Village Hills, MO

Afternoon in Velda Village Hills on Sunday

Local time

2:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

SE 9 mph 20% 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

Destination

Independence, MO

Afternoon in Independence on Sunday

Local time

2:24 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

Along the Route

55°F

Quincy, IL

117 mi in

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

1 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

4h 31m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Velda Village Hills, MO to Independence, MO covers 233.6 miles and takes about 4h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, South Noland Road, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 116.8 miles from Velda Village Hills, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.48 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 233.6 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 0.4 miles (MO 115 / Natural Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Velda Village Hills, MO to Independence, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 531 ft to 1,034 ft elevation with about 976 ft of total climbing.

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