Hillsboro, MO to Independence, MO is 257.7 miles and takes about 5h 3m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway and other roads, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, connecting two points in Missouri. The profile indicates it's mostly surface roads, suggesting a more local feel rather than a pure interstate cruise. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is a straightforward option for connecting these two areas without requiring overnight accommodations.
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
128.8 miles from Hillsboro, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m 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
22.1 mi
26m
Veterans Memorial Highway
17.1 mi
19m
MO 141
15.3 mi
23m
South Noland Road
3 mi
5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 27 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 Hillsboro, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on MO 21 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·Old State Highway 21
2
Turn left onto MO A
174 ft·3 sec·MO A
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward MO 21 North: Saint Louis
4
Merge onto MO 21
17 mi·19 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·24 sec
Toward MO 141: Arnold, Fenton
6
Turn left onto MO 141
4.0 mi·5 min·MO 141
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 141
11 mi·17 min·MO 141
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Take the exit
133 ft·7 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
9
Turn left
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
10
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
22 mi·26 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
11
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.
12
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
15
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16
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.
21
Turn right onto South Noland Road
3.0 mi·5 min·South Noland Road
22
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
466 ft·22 sec·East Walnut Street
23
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
394 ft·22 sec·South Lynn Street
24
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
145 ft·6 sec·East Kansas Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
East Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 3m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning from Hillsboro, MO should allow you to reach Independence, MO with plenty of daylight. The route is primarily surface roads, so plan for a steady pace with potential for traffic in populated areas. With a fuel cost estimated around $39, it's a budget-friendly trip. Consider taking advantage of the single recommended stop to break up the 80.7-mile stretch on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway before you transition to the surface roads.
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 128.8 miles from Hillsboro, MO, or about 2h 40m 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 57 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.8 miles or 2h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
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 Hillsboro, 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 Hillsboro, MO
This is one driving day of about 257.7 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Hillsboro, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.7 and 254.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
18.7 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward MO 141: Arnold, Fenton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 141: Arnold, Fenton
5
18.9 mi into trip|~23m in|MO 141
Turn left onto MO 141
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
22.9 mi into trip|~29m in|MO 141
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 141
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
56.7 mi into trip|~1h 14m 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
254.2 mi into trip|~4h 57m 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
$38.06 one way
$76.11 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$42.01
$84.03
premium
$4.72
$47.85
$95.69
diesel
$4.80
$48.66
$97.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.3
0
$27.06
$12.37
Efficient EV
64.4
0
$22.55
$10.31
EV Truck/SUV
103.1
1
$36.08
$16.49
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% 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
Hillsboro, MO
Late night
in Hillsboro on Sunday
Local time
1:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
W 3 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Independence, MO
Late night
in Independence on Sunday
Local time
1:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
SW 7 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
5h 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.
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...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
$19
near mile 26.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive covers 257.7 miles, with about 7% on highways. You'll experience about 80.7 miles on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, after which the profile shifts to mostly surface roads. Expect a driving experience with frequent intersections and local traffic as you transition from highway cruising to navigating through communities.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 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?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.7 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 257.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 18.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.9 miles (MO 141): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.9 miles (MO 141): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,034 ft497 ft
Total Climb
1,000 ft
Total Descent
760 ft
Highest Point
1,034 ft
~257.7 mi in
Elevation Range
538 ft
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 Hillsboro, MO to Independence, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Fenton along the way.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 3m. Total distance: 257.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
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 31 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.
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. There are 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 18.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.9 miles (MO 141): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.9 miles (MO 141): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Independence, MO before the return drive.
