Gray Summit, MO to Independence, MO is 220.8 miles and takes about 4h 20m via I 70, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest for its entirety. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that makes for an easy one-day journey. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so expect efficient travel rather than winding backroads. This route is ideal if you're looking for a quick and predictable drive between these two points.
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
110.4 miles from Gray Summit, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
176.4 mi
3h 14m
Franklin Avenue
24.5 mi
37m
MO 100
10.3 mi
14m
South Noland Road
3 mi
5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.7 mi
3m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.4 mi
1m
I 44
1.2 mi
1m
East Walnut Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 176.4 mi, about 3h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gray Summit, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on MO 100
0.5 mi·55 sec·MO 100
2
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: St. Clair
3
Merge onto I 44; US 50
1.2 mi·1 min·I 44; US 50
4
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 251Toward MO 100 West: WashingtonUse the slight right lane.
Exit 12Toward Noland RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto South Noland Road
3.0 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 4h 20m estimated duration, this trip is easily achievable in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow ample time for any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $35, planning is minimal. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the long 176.4-mile stretch on I 70, as services might be less frequent than you'd expect in more developed areas. The flexibility of a single-day drive means you can adjust your 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 110.4 miles from Gray Summit, MO, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.4 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 49 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.4 miles or 2h 15m 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 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 Gray Summit, 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 Gray Summit, MO
This is one driving day of about 220.8 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Gray Summit, 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 I 70 for about 176.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 220.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the exit toward I 44 West, US 50 West: St. Clair
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: St. Clair
7
1.9 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the exit toward MO 100 West: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 251
Toward MO 100 West: Washington
6
36.7 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesburg
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesbu...
7
217.4 mi into trip|~4h 13m 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
220.7 mi into trip|~4h 19m in|South Lynn Street
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.52 one way
$69.04 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.90
$75.80
premium
$4.89
$42.49
$84.98
diesel
$5.61
$48.75
$97.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.2
0
$23.18
$10.60
Efficient EV
55.2
0
$19.32
$8.83
EV Truck/SUV
88.3
1
$30.91
$14.13
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Gray Summit, MO
Late night
in Gray Summit on Sunday
Local time
2:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Independence, MO
Late night
in Independence on Sunday
Local time
2:33 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
4 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 20m 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 is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 85% of the journey on high-speed roads like I 70. You'll experience long stretches of consistent travel, including a significant 176.4-mile segment on I 70 without needing to exit. While much of the route follows this interstate profile, you'll also navigate portions of Franklin Avenue and MO 100, offering slight variations in scenery and speed. Expect a steady pace for the majority of your trip.
85% 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: 176.4 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Franklin Avenue. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 220.8 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: at 0.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.7 miles: 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.
On the drive from Gray Summit, MO to Independence, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Jonesburg along the way.
Jonesburg
36.7 mi in|~54m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 20m. Total distance: 220.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 176.4 miles on I 70. 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Independence, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
