Independence, MO to Branson, MO is 214 miles and takes about 4 hours 12 minutes via MO 13, MO 7, and I-49, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive entirely within Missouri, connecting two Midwest hubs. Given its relatively short distance and primarily highway profile, this route is perfect for a single-day trip, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination. It's a practical option if you're looking for a direct path south without significant detours.
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
107.1 miles from Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MO 13
68 mi
1h 19m
MO 7
55.6 mi
1h 4m
I 49
26 mi
28m
American Legion Memorial Highway
18.4 mi
21m
US Highway 65
12 mi
13m
Schoolcraft Freeway
10.7 mi
13m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
8.3 mi
9m
Payne Stewart Highway
4.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
MO 13
— 68 mi, about 1h 19m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,376 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,081
Quietest
2 AM
~360 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 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 Independence, MO and Branson, MO.
Exit 8AToward I 435 South: WichitaUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 435
8.3 mi·9 min·Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·45 sec
Exit 71Toward I 49 South, US 71 South, I 470 East, US 50 East: Joplin, Lee's SummitUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward I 49, I 470, US 50 East, US 71 South: Joplin, Lee's SummitUse the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
13
Merge onto I 49; US 71
26 mi·28 min·I 49; US 71
14
Take the exit onto MO 7
0.2 mi·19 sec·MO 7
Exit 157Toward MO 7 South: Clinton
15
Turn slight left onto MO 7
55 mi·1 hr 3 min·MO 7
Exit 157Toward MO 7 South: ClintonUse the left lane.
16
Continue on MO 13
68 mi·1 hr 19 min·MO 13
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 44 East: Rolla, Saint Louis
18
Merge onto I 44
4.3 mi·5 min·Payne Stewart Highway
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 82AToward US 65 South: Branson
20
Merge onto US 65
11 mi·13 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on US 65
11 mi·12 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
22
Continue on US 65
12 mi·13 min·US Highway 65
23
Continue on US 65
7.5 mi·8 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward MO 248, CR 165, Red Route
25
Keep slight left at fork
260 ft·6 sec
Toward Red Route East
26
Turn straight onto Red Route
0.6 mi·1 min·Branson Landing Boulevard
27
Enter roundabout onto Red Route
154 ft·4 sec·Veterans Boulevard
28
Continue on Red Route
0.4 mi·51 sec·Veterans Boulevard
29
Continue on US 65 Bus; MO 76
169 ft·6 sec·South Business 65
30
Turn right
63 ft·4 sec
31
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving Independence, MO in the morning is your best bet, especially if you want to arrive in Branson with plenty of daylight. Since the drive is manageable in one day, you can be flexible with your timing. Plan for one stop, perhaps midway, to stretch your legs and refuel, as the longest continuous stretch without a major road change is 68 miles on MO 13. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you get closer to Branson, as services can become more spread out in some areas.
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 107.1 miles from Independence, MO, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68 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 47 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.1 miles or 2h 5m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Branson, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Independence, 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 Independence, MO
This is one driving day of about 214.1 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Independence, 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 MO 13 for about 68 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.3 and 213 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
7.3 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward I 435 South: Wichita
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8A
Toward I 435 South: Wichita
8
16 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward I 49 South, US 71 South, I 470 East, US 50 East: Joplin, Lee's Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 71
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South, I 470 East, US...
8
16.6 mi into trip|~21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 49, I 470, US 50 East, US 71 South: Joplin, Lee's Summit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 49, I 470, US 50 East, US 71 South: Jo...
7
16.8 mi into trip|~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
6
213 mi into trip|~4h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Red Route East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Red Route East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.71 one way
$71.43 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$38.82
$77.63
premium
$5.26
$44.33
$88.66
diesel
$6.18
$52.08
$104.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.2
0
$22.48
$10.28
Efficient EV
53.5
0
$18.73
$8.56
EV Truck/SUV
85.6
1
$29.97
$13.70
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Independence, MO
Morning
in Independence on Monday
Local time
8:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
SSW 5 to 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Branson, MO
Morning
in Branson on Monday
Local time
8:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
SE 1 to 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
77°F
Lincoln, MO
107 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
5 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 12m 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.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 184.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 81% of the route on interstates and major roadways. You'll experience a solid 68-mile stretch on MO 13 before transitioning to other roads. Expect a good amount of highway cruising, but be prepared for a higher density of exits as you approach your destination in Branson. The transition from highway to surface roads is gradual and well-marked.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68 mi on MO 13.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 13 and MO 7. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.3 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 214.1 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 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,297 ft747 ft
Total Climb
578 ft
Total Descent
834 ft
Highest Point
1,297 ft
~183.5 mi in
Elevation Range
550 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Independence, MO and Branson, MO, road signs point toward Lee's Summit 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.
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
Branson is in the Ozarks and the southwest region Missouri. Today it is sometimes referred to as a "family-friendly Las Vegas" because of the many shows and attractions, the flashy building decorations, and the neon lights. The "strip", as it has been named, draws people from far and wide.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 12m. Total distance: 214.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68 miles on MO 13. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Branson, 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 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Branson, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
