Independence, MO to Goodman, MO is 184 miles and takes about 3 hours 25 minutes via I 49 and Purple Heart Trail, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you entirely within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to itself. The route is mostly highway, making it a straightforward drive. It's a good option if you're looking for a relatively quick trip across the state, ideal for a single-day journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
92 miles from Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 49
129.8 mi
2h 19m
Purple Heart Trail
8.9 mi
9m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
8.3 mi
9m
Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway
6.6 mi
7m
Governor Warren E Hearnes Memorial Highway
6.2 mi
6m
Special Agent Tom Crowell Memorial Highway
6 mi
6m
James B. Tatum Highway
5.8 mi
6m
South Noland Road
3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 129.8 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, MO and Goodman, 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
130 mi·2 hr 19 min·I 49; US 71
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 53Toward MO 571 South, MO 96, I 49 Business, MO 171 North: Webb City
15
Turn right onto I 49 Business; MO 96; MO 171
6.6 mi·7 min·Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 249
6.2 mi·6 min·Governor Warren E Hearnes Memorial Highway
Toward MO 249 South: Joplin
17
Continue on I 49; US 71
8.9 mi·9 min·Purple Heart Trail
18
Continue on I 49; US 71
6.0 mi·6 min·Special Agent Tom Crowell Memorial Highway
19
Continue on I 49; US 71
5.8 mi·6 min·James B. Tatum Highway
20
Continue on I 49; US 71
1.2 mi·1 min·Corporal Bobbie J. Harper Memorial Highway
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 17Toward MO C, MO B: Goodman
22
Turn left onto MO B; MO C
0.6 mi·47 sec·MO B; MO C
23
At end of road, turn right onto MO 59; MO C
0.2 mi·23 sec·MO 59; MO C
24
Turn sharp left onto MO C
0.5 mi·1 min·Splitlog Avenue
25
Turn left onto MO C
0.1 mi·16 sec·South School Street
26
Turn slight right onto MO C
0.3 mi·51 sec·Main Street
27
Turn left onto North Ozark Trail
0.2 mi·42 sec·North Ozark Trail
28
Turn slight right onto Barnes Street
365 ft·16 sec·Barnes Street
29
Arrive at destination
North Wade Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 25-minute duration, leaving Independence, MO in the morning is practical, allowing you to arrive in Goodman, MO with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a 129.8-mile highway stretch, you can easily complete this drive without needing to break it up. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $29, and plan to refuel before you hit the final stretch on surface roads if needed. This route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, giving you flexibility in your timing.
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 92 miles from Independence, MO, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.8 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 41 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92 miles or 1h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Goodman, 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 184.1 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 I 49 for about 129.8 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.3 and 146.9 — 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
146.9 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward MO 571 South, MO 96, I 49 Business, MO 171 North: Webb City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 53
Toward MO 571 South, MO 96, I 49 Business, MO 1...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.78 one way
$57.56 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.60
$63.20
premium
$4.89
$35.43
$70.86
diesel
$5.61
$40.65
$81.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.2
0
$19.33
$8.84
Efficient EV
46
0
$16.11
$7.36
EV Truck/SUV
73.6
0
$25.77
$11.78
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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
Independence, MO
Late night
in Independence on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Goodman, MO
Late night
in Goodman on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Nevada, MO
92 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
11 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
3h 25m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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.
George Washington Carver National Monument
National Monument
The young child known as the "Plant Doctor" tended his secret garden while observing the day-to-day operations of a 19th century farm. Nature and nurture ultimately influenced George on his quest for...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 71% of this 184-mile drive on highways, primarily on I 49. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 129.8 miles, also on I 49. After that, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Expect a fairly consistent driving experience with a significant portion on limited-access highways.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129.8 mi on I 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and Purple Heart Trail. 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 Effort9/10
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 18 significant decision points across 184.1 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.
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 Independence, MO to Goodman, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Lee's Summit 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 25m. Total distance: 184.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 129.8 miles on I 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 Goodman, 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 10 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 — George Washington Carver National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Goodman, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
