If you are planning a trip from Independence to Montgomery City, you are looking at a 167.1-mile journey across the Missouri Midwest. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 10 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily utilize the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, and MO 161 to complete the trek. With fuel costs estimated at around $25, the trip is quite budget-friendly for a solo driver or a small group. Since the entire route is contained within Missouri, the transition between these two towns feels like a natural progression through the heart of the state. You can easily manage this drive in one go, leaving you plenty of time to explore your destination upon arrival.
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
83.6 miles from Independence, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
95.3 mi
1h 46m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
MO 161
6 mi
9m
South Noland Road
3.1 mi
5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.6 mi
3m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 95.3 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, MO and Montgomery City, MO.
32 mi·34 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
41 mi·47 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 170Toward MO 161, MO J: Danville Montgomery City
16
Turn left onto MO 161; MO J
0.5 mi·49 sec·MO 161; MO J
17
Turn left onto MO 161
5.5 mi·8 min·MO 161
18
Arrive at destination
East 2nd Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3-hour and 10-minute drive, consider planning for at least one dedicated stop to break up the local road segments. Since the route is relatively short, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though leaving early helps you avoid potential congestion on the more local stretches. Keep your eyes on your fuel gauge, as the $25 estimate is based on standard consumption and can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because this is a turn-heavy drive, pay close attention to your navigation when transitioning onto MO 161. Taking advantage of the shorter duration allows you to arrive in Montgomery City feeling refreshed rather than fatigued from a long day on the road.
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 83.6 miles from Independence, MO, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.3 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 37 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.6 miles or 1h 33m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montgomery City, 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 167.1 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 95.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 160.9 — 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|South Lynn Street
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Walnut Street
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|South Noland Road
Turn right onto South Noland Road
Navigation decision point
6
3.3 mi into trip|~6m in
Turn left toward I 70 East: Columbia, Saint Louis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East: Columbia, Saint Louis
6
160.9 mi into trip|~3h in
Take the exit toward MO 161, MO J: Danville Montgomery City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 170
Toward MO 161, MO J: Danville Montgomery City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.12 one way
$52.25 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.68
$57.37
premium
$4.89
$32.16
$64.31
diesel
$5.61
$36.89
$73.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.1
0
$17.55
$8.02
Efficient EV
41.8
0
$14.62
$6.68
EV Truck/SUV
66.8
0
$23.39
$10.69
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 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 11, 2026
Origin
Independence, MO
Late night
in Independence on Sunday
Local time
2:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 5 to 13 mph24% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Montgomery City, MO
Late night
in Montgomery City on Sunday
Local time
2:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°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
22 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
3h 10m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 167.1-mile route offers a distinct mix of road types, characterized primarily as a turn-heavy local drive. You will spend roughly 4% of your time on highways, meaning much of your focus will shift toward local roads as you navigate toward Montgomery City. The longest uninterrupted portion of your trip occurs on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, covering 95.3 miles of relatively steady travel. As you transition away from the main highway stretches, the road personality shifts to accommodate more technical turns and local traffic patterns. Be prepared for a change in rhythm, as the drive requires more active engagement than a simple, monotonous interstate cruise.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.3 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Lynn Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 10m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Lynn Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Noland Road): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,034 ft590 ft
Total Climb
808 ft
Total Descent
1,006 ft
Highest Point
1,034 ft
Elevation Range
445 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 167.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 95.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. 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.
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 (South Lynn Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Noland Road): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Montgomery City, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
