Origin
Excelsior Springs, MO
Late night in Excelsior Springs on Sunday
Local time
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Excelsior Springs, MO to Independence, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
24.1 mi
39 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Excelsior Springs, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Independence, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 27-mile drive from Excelsior Springs, MO, to Independence, MO, will take you about 35 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $4, it's a budget-friendly trip. As a single-day excursion, this route is perfectly manageable, allowing you to enjoy the journey without feeling rushed. You'll be navigating primarily local roads, so expect a more hands-on driving experience. The route stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout your short journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MO 210 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| MO 291 | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| MO JJ | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Saint Louis Avenue | 3.2 mi | 7m |
| US 24 | 2 mi | 4m |
| MO H | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| North Noland Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Lexington Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MO 210
— 7.7 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Excelsior Springs, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on South Thompson Avenue
105 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Thompson Avenue
2
Turn sharp right onto MO 10
136 ft
·
7 sec
·
Saint Louis Avenue
3
Continue on MO 10
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Louis Avenue
4
Continue on MO H
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
MO H
5
Turn left onto MO JJ
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
MO JJ
6
Turn right onto MO 210
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
MO 210
7
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward MO 291 South: Independence
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto MO 291
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
MO 291
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward US 24
10
Keep slight right at fork
214 ft
·
6 sec
Toward US 24
11
Turn slight right onto US 24
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
US 24
12
Turn left onto North Noland Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Noland Road
13
Turn right onto East Lexington Avenue
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
East Lexington Avenue
14
Turn left onto South Lynn Street
406 ft
·
19 sec
·
South Lynn Street
15
Turn right onto East Kansas Avenue
145 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Kansas Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
East Kansas Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 24 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MO 10 / Saint Louis Avenue
Turn sharp right onto MO 10 / Saint Louis Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
4.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
MO JJ
Turn left onto MO JJ
Navigation decision point
6
16.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Turn left toward MO 291 South: Independence
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward MO 291 South: Independence
6
21.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 24
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 24
5
24 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
East Kansas Avenue
Turn right onto East Kansas Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.77 one way
$7.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.14 | $8.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.64 | $9.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.32 | $10.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.53 | $1.16 |
| Efficient EV | 6 | 0 | $2.11 | $0.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Destination
Independence, MO
Late night in Independence on Sunday
Local time
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
19 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
40m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a turn-heavy local drive, meaning you'll be making frequent adjustments rather than settling into a long, straight cruise. With a 0% highway share, you won't encounter any interstate stretches. The longest continuous stretch is not applicable due to the short distance and frequent turns. Expect the road to feel like a typical local route, winding through communities and connecting various points within the area.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.7 mi on MO 210.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 10 / Saint Louis Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 24.1 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: near the start (MO 10 / Saint Louis Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.5 miles (MO JJ): Navigation decision point; at 16.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 24.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.7 miles on MO 210. 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 10 / Saint Louis Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.5 miles (MO JJ): Navigation decision point; at 16.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Independence, MO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Independence, MO
More trips to Independence, MO
Explore more options from Excelsior Springs, MO or browse trips ending in Independence, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.