Buffalo, MO to Independence, MO is 151.3 miles and takes about 3 hours 14 minutes via MO 13 and MO 7, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a fairly straightforward drive, primarily on highways, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points. Expect a mostly highway-focused experience with about 80% of the journey on faster roads. With only one recommended stop and a short duration, this route is easily manageable within a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.7 miles from Buffalo, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MO 13
59.7 mi
1h 10m
MO 7
39.2 mi
43m
West Dallas Street
20.3 mi
31m
South Noland Road
8.9 mi
15m
MO 58
8.5 mi
11m
MO 291
8.3 mi
12m
US 50
2.7 mi
3m
Blue Parkway
2.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
MO 13
— 59.7 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on South Maple Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·South Maple Street
2
Turn right onto MO 32
20 mi·31 min·West Dallas Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward MO 13 North: Humansville
4
Merge onto MO 13
60 mi·1 hr 10 min·MO 13
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on MO 7
36 mi·39 min·MO 7
6
Take the exit onto MO 7
3.3 mi·3 min·MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 160Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
8
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft·6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
9
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi·12 min·MO 291
10
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi·11 min·MO 58; MO 291
11
Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Southwest Jefferson Street
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward US 50 West: Kansas City
13
Merge onto US 50
2.7 mi·3 min·US 50
14
Continue on MO 350
2.5 mi·3 min·Blue Parkway
15
Turn right onto MO V
5.9 mi·9 min·South Noland Road
16
Continue on South Noland Road
3.1 mi·5 min·South Noland Road
17
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
466 ft·22 sec·East Walnut Street
18
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
394 ft·22 sec·South Lynn Street
19
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
145 ft·6 sec·East Kansas Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
East Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 3-hour 14-minute drive time, you have the flexibility to depart from Buffalo, MO, at your convenience. Aiming for a morning departure will give you ample daylight to reach Independence, MO, with a fuel cost estimated around $24. While there's only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the 59.7-mile stretch on MO 13 with a brief pause for fuel or a stretch. Pay attention as you transition from MO 7 to local roads like West Dallas Street as you approach your destination.
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 75.7 miles from Buffalo, MO, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.7 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 33 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.7 miles or 1h 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 2h 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 Buffalo, 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 Buffalo, MO
This is one driving day of about 151.3 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Buffalo, 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 MO 13 for about 59.7 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 20.8 and 136.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
20.8 mi into trip|~32m in|MO 13
Merge onto MO 13
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
116.4 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|MO 7
Take the exit onto MO 7 toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kan...
5
119.7 mi into trip|~2h 26m in
Take the exit toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 160
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
6
119.8 mi into trip|~2h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
5
136.8 mi into trip|~2h 51m in
Take the exit toward US 50 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 50 West: Kansas City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.65 one way
$47.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.97
$51.94
premium
$4.89
$29.12
$58.23
diesel
$5.61
$33.41
$66.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.4
0
$15.89
$7.26
Efficient EV
37.8
0
$13.24
$6.05
EV Truck/SUV
60.5
0
$21.18
$9.68
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Buffalo, MO
Late night
in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Independence, MO
Late night
in Independence on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Garden City, MO
76 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
3h 14m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 80% of the 151.3 miles utilizing faster roads like MO 13 and MO 7. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 59.7 miles on MO 13, offering a chance to maintain a steady pace. As you progress toward Independence, MO, the route incorporates some local road segments, including West Dallas Street, which will require adjustments in speed and attention. The character is largely one of efficient travel, designed for covering ground rather than leisurely sightseeing.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.7 mi on MO 13.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 13 and MO 7. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 20.8 miles in near MO 13.
Driving Effort5/10
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 151.3 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 20.8 miles (MO 13): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.4 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 151.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.7 miles on MO 13. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 20.8 miles (MO 13): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.4 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
