Frontenac, MO to Independence, MO is 228.6 miles and takes about 4h 22m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region. The drive primarily uses surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate experience. With only one recommended stop and a duration under five hours, this route is very manageable for a single day.
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
114.3 miles from Frontenac, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi
1h 35m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
Avenue of the Saints
27.6 mi
33m
South Noland Road
3 mi
5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.7 mi
3m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 54 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,893 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,398
Quietest
1 AM
~270 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.7×
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 Frontenac, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on I 64; US 40; US 61
28 mi·33 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
2
Take the exit onto US 40
0.6 mi·1 min·US 40
Exit 1AToward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight left lanes.
3
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
4
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
5
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
6
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
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 relatively short duration of 4h 22m, you can comfortably start your drive anytime. Planning for one stop is sufficient for this 228.6-mile trip. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you transition between towns, with an estimated cost of $36. Since this is a single-day drive with no significant highway segments, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace and departure time as needed.
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 114.3 miles from Frontenac, MO, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.7 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 50 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.3 miles or 2h 16m 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 35m
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 Frontenac, 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 Frontenac, MO
This is one driving day of about 228.6 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Frontenac, 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 Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 80.7 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 228.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Depart onto I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
27.6 mi into trip|~33m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
7
225.2 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
5
228.5 mi into trip|~4h 22m in|South Lynn Street
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
Navigation decision point
5
228.6 mi into trip|~4h 22m in|East Kansas Avenue
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.76 one way
$67.52 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$37.27
$74.54
premium
$4.72
$42.44
$84.89
diesel
$4.80
$43.16
$86.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.6
0
$24.00
$10.97
Efficient EV
57.2
0
$20.00
$9.14
EV Truck/SUV
91.4
1
$32.00
$14.63
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% 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
Frontenac, MO
Late night
in Frontenac on Monday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
W 9 mph8% 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 Monday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 mph21% 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
87°F
Centralia, MO
114 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
2 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 22m 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 route is mostly surface roads, with 0% highway driving. You'll encounter 80.7 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, which is the longest continuous stretch. Expect a consistent pace with frequent intersections and local traffic as you navigate through towns and rural areas.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.7 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 22m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 225.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.7 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 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.
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: near the start (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 225.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
