Bridgeton, MO to Independence, MO is 225.5 miles and takes about 4h 23m via I 70, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This mostly highway drive stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region. You'll spend the bulk of your time on I 70, making this a straightforward trip for anyone looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B. With a single recommended day and a relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a quick relocation or a visit between nearby areas.
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
112.8 miles from Bridgeton, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
215.4 mi
4h 4m
South Noland Road
3 mi
5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.7 mi
3m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.4 mi
1m
Gallatin Lane
1.2 mi
4m
Natural Bridge Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Saint Charles Rock Road
0.2 mi
<1m
East Walnut Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 215.4 mi, about 4h 4m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,943 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~346 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bridgeton, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on Gist Road
62 ft·3 sec·Gist Road
2
Turn right onto Gallatin Lane
1.2 mi·4 min·Gallatin Lane
3
At end of road, turn right onto Natural Bridge Road
0.3 mi·27 sec·Natural Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto MO 180
0.2 mi·23 sec·Saint Charles Rock Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·9 sec
Toward I 70, I 270 South: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Tulsa, MemphisUse the left / straight lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward I 70: Kansas City, Saint LouisUse the slight left lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·41 sec
Exit 20BToward I 70 West: Kansas CityUse the slight right lane.
Exit 12Toward Noland RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto South Noland Road
3.0 mi·5 min·South Noland Road
13
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
466 ft·22 sec·East Walnut Street
14
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
394 ft·22 sec·South Lynn Street
15
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
145 ft·6 sec·East Kansas Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
East Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 23m estimated drive time and 225.5-mile distance, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid any potential rush hour congestion in the larger metropolitan areas you'll pass through. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in choosing where to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $35, and plan your refill accordingly, especially since the majority of the drive is on I 70.
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 112.8 miles from Bridgeton, MO, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 215.4 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 50 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.8 miles or 2h 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 3h 34m
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 Bridgeton, 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 Bridgeton, MO
This is one driving day of about 225.5 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Bridgeton, 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 215.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 222.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.2 mi into trip|~4m in|Natural Bridge Road
At end of road, turn right onto Natural Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
1.7 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 70, I 270 South: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Tulsa, Memphis
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward I 70, I 270 South: Kansas City, Saint Lo...
8
1.8 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis
8
2.1 mi into trip|~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20B
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
7
222.1 mi into trip|~4h 16m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.30 one way
$66.60 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$36.76
$73.53
premium
$4.72
$41.87
$83.74
diesel
$4.80
$42.58
$85.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.7
0
$23.68
$10.82
Efficient EV
56.4
0
$19.73
$9.02
EV Truck/SUV
90.2
1
$31.57
$14.43
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 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 as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Bridgeton, MO
Late night
in Bridgeton on Sunday
Local time
5:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Independence, MO
Late night
in Independence on Sunday
Local time
5:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
91°F
Columbia, MO
113 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 23m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 96% highway, meaning you'll be on I 70 for almost the entire 225.5-mile stretch. The longest continuous segment on the highway is 215.4 miles. You'll experience the typical characteristics of a long highway cruise, including frequent exits and merging traffic as you approach urban areas. The transition to surface roads like South Noland Road will occur near your destination.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 215.4 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and South Noland Road. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near Natural Bridge Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 225.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.2 miles (Natural Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Independence, known as the Queen City of the Trails, is a city in western Missouri just east of Kansas City with a population of approximately 110,000. Independence's founding predates that of Kansas City, and it was home to U.S. President Harry S. Truman and the legendary actress Ginger Rogers, as well as the starting point of three of America's great Westward Trails: the Santa Fe Trail, the California Trail, and the Oregon Trail. The city also hosts numerous historical sites related to the Community of Christ (formerly RLDS), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormons"), American Civil War and Western history.
While offering a full range of entertainment and lodging options for visitors, Independence generally tends to be more "quiet" than its larger neighbor to the west.
Top landmarks
•Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum — presidential library and museum for U.S. President Harry S. Truman, located in I...
•Temple Lot — Geographical location important in Latter Day Saint history
•Harry S. Truman National Historic Site — national Historic Site of the United States in Missouri
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 23m. Total distance: 225.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 215.4 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Independence, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (Natural Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
