Gerald, MO to Independence, MO is 207.5 miles and takes about 4h 3m via U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region. With most of the route on surface roads, expect a more local feel rather than a high-speed interstate experience. The relatively short duration and straightforward path make it an approachable trip 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
103.8 miles from Gerald, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
Fitzgerald
36.2 mi
41m
US 63
28.1 mi
31m
US 50
17.7 mi
21m
South Noland Road
3 mi
5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.7 mi
3m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gerald, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on Main Street
31 ft·6 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto 4th Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·4th Street
3
Merge onto US 50
36 mi·41 min·Fitzgerald
4
Continue on MO U
0.3 mi·38 sec·MO U
5
Turn right onto County Route 605
1.5 mi·5 min·County Route 605
6
Turn right onto County Route 604
0.6 mi·2 min·County Route 604
7
Continue on Loose Creek Highway
1.0 mi·2 min·Loose Creek Highway
8
Turn left onto Wolf Ridge Trail
0.4 mi·1 min·Wolf Ridge Trail
9
Turn right onto US 50
18 mi·21 min·US 50
10
Take the exit onto US 63
0.3 mi·40 sec·US 63
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
11
Merge onto US 54; US 63
1.4 mi·1 min·US 54; US 63
12
Take the exit onto US 63
28 mi·30 min·US 63
Toward US 63 North: Columbia
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint LouisUse the left / straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 63 Conn
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 63 Conn
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the left lane.
16
Merge onto I 70; US 40
1.3 mi·1 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
17
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
18
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
19
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.
24
Turn right onto South Noland Road
3.0 mi·5 min·South Noland Road
25
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
466 ft·22 sec·East Walnut Street
26
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
394 ft·22 sec·South Lynn Street
27
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
145 ft·6 sec·East Kansas Avenue
28
Arrive at destination
East Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, departing in the morning should give you plenty of daylight to reach Independence, MO. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility to decide where and when to break up the 207.5-mile drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $32, and be aware that the longest stretch between services might be around 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. This is a manageable drive to complete in one day, allowing for a relaxed pace.
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 103.8 miles from Gerald, MO, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 46 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.8 miles or 2h 8m 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 19m
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 Gerald, 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 Gerald, MO
This is one driving day of about 207.5 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Gerald, 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 U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 204.1 — 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|4th Street
Turn left onto 4th Street
Navigation decision point
5
57.9 mi into trip|~1h 16m in|US 63
Take the exit onto US 63 toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbi...
7
87.4 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint L...
9
88 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Take the exit 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 left lane.
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
7
204.1 mi into trip|~3h 56m 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
$32.44 one way
$64.88 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$35.62
$71.24
premium
$4.89
$39.93
$79.86
diesel
$5.61
$45.81
$91.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.3
0
$21.79
$9.96
Efficient EV
51.9
0
$18.16
$8.30
EV Truck/SUV
83
1
$29.05
$13.28
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Gerald, MO
Late night
in Gerald on Tuesday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Independence, MO
Late night
in Independence on Tuesday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°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
14 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
4h 3m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip involves a 24% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. You'll likely notice more frequent intersections and slower speeds as you transition from highway segments to local routes. The profile indicates mostly surface roads, so prepare for a drive with frequent changes in scenery and pace.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 4th 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 207.5 miles you will encounter 16 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 (4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 57.9 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gerald, MO and Independence, MO, road signs point toward Columbia, Mo Pp: Kansas City and Saint Louis.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 3m. Total distance: 207.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (24%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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 (4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 57.9 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
