Chillicothe, MO to Independence, MO is 87.9 miles and takes about 1h 51m via Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and MO 291, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, connecting two points in the Midwest. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on highways, making it a quick and efficient way to get from point A to point B. Consider this route if you're looking for minimal fuss and a direct path to your destination within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44 miles from Chillicothe, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
37 mi
43m
MO 110
33.9 mi
36m
MO 291
8.3 mi
11m
Lightburne Street
2.7 mi
5m
US 24
2 mi
4m
North Washington Street
1.5 mi
3m
North Noland Road
0.6 mi
1m
South Leonard Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 37 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chillicothe, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on Locust Street
52 ft·4 sec·Locust Street
2
Turn right onto MO V
321 ft·18 sec·West Calhoun Street
3
Turn left onto US 65
1.5 mi·3 min·North Washington Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·12 sec
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Hamilton
5
Merge onto US 36; MO 110
37 mi·43 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
6
Turn left onto MO 110
34 mi·36 min·MO 110
Toward I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
8
At end of road, turn left onto Plattsburg Road
0.1 mi·11 sec·Plattsburg Road
9
Continue on Lightborne Road
0.2 mi·16 sec·Lightborne Road
10
Continue on Lightburne Street
2.7 mi·5 min·Lightburne Street
11
Continue on South Leonard Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Leonard Street
12
Take the ramp
147 ft·2 sec
13
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi·11 min·MO 291
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 24
15
Keep slight right at fork
214 ft·6 sec
Toward US 24
16
Turn slight right onto US 24
2.0 mi·4 min·US 24
17
Turn left onto North Noland Road
0.6 mi·1 min·North Noland Road
18
Turn right onto East Lexington Avenue
0.2 mi·28 sec·East Lexington Avenue
19
Turn left onto South Lynn Street
406 ft·19 sec·South Lynn Street
20
Turn right onto East Kansas Avenue
145 ft·6 sec·East Kansas Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
East Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just under two hours, this route offers significant flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning or afternoon and still arrive with plenty of daylight. With only 87.9 miles and a fuel cost estimated at $14, there's no pressing need to rush or meticulously plan stops. However, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a change in major road is 37 miles on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. It's always wise to top off your tank before leaving Chillicothe to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted journey.
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 44 miles from Chillicothe, MO, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44 miles or 53m 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 28m
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 Chillicothe, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chillicothe, MO
This is one driving day of about 87.9 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Chillicothe, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for about 37 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 85 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MO V / West Calhoun Street
Turn right onto MO V / West Calhoun Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Hamilton
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Hamilton
6
38.7 mi into trip|~47m in|MO 110
Turn left onto MO 110 toward I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City
5
72.9 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|Plattsburg Road
At end of road, turn left onto Plattsburg Road
Navigation decision point
6
85 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 24
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 24
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.74 one way
$27.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.09
$30.18
premium
$4.89
$16.92
$33.83
diesel
$5.61
$19.41
$38.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.4
0
$9.23
$4.22
Efficient EV
22
0
$7.69
$3.52
EV Truck/SUV
35.2
0
$12.31
$5.63
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Chillicothe, MO
Late night
in Chillicothe on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Independence, MO
Late night
in Independence on Sunday
Local time
12:58 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
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
1h 51m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, experiencing a longest uninterrupted stretch of 37 miles. The drive is predominantly on well-maintained highways, suggesting a consistent pace and minimal slowdowns. While the profile is largely highway, the inclusion of MO 110 and MO 291 indicates some transitions between expressways and state routes, though the overall feel remains geared towards efficient travel.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37 mi on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and MO 110. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO V / West Calhoun Street.
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 87.9 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (MO V / West Calhoun Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.7 miles (MO 110): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 87.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO V / West Calhoun Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.7 miles (MO 110): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Independence, MO before heading back.
