Connecting La Plata to Independence, this 164.7-mile journey through the Missouri Midwest is a straightforward drive that takes approximately 3 hours and 18 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget roughly $25 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating primarily via the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, MO 110, and US 63, you will find this route is highly efficient for travelers moving between these two points. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that prioritizes speed and directness over detours, making it an ideal choice if you are looking to reach your destination with minimal fuss.
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
82.4 miles from La Plata, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
95.6 mi
1h 50m
MO 110
33.9 mi
36m
US 63
18.9 mi
21m
MO 291
8.3 mi
11m
Lightburne Street
2.7 mi
5m
US 24
2 mi
4m
East Clark Street
0.7 mi
1m
North Noland Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 95.6 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Plata, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on East Moore Street
20 ft·6 sec·East Moore Street
2
Turn left onto South Gex Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·South Gex Street
3
Turn left onto MO 156
0.7 mi·1 min·East Clark Street
4
Turn right onto US 63
19 mi·21 min·US 63
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·11 sec
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Saint Joseph
6
Merge onto US 36; MO 110
96 mi·1 hr 50 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
7
Turn left onto MO 110
34 mi·36 min·MO 110
Toward I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
9
At end of road, turn left onto Plattsburg Road
0.1 mi·11 sec·Plattsburg Road
10
Continue on Lightborne Road
0.2 mi·16 sec·Lightborne Road
11
Continue on Lightburne Street
2.7 mi·5 min·Lightburne Street
12
Continue on South Leonard Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Leonard Street
13
Take the ramp
147 ft·2 sec
14
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi·11 min·MO 291
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 24
16
Keep slight right at fork
214 ft·6 sec
Toward US 24
17
Turn slight right onto US 24
2.0 mi·4 min·US 24
18
Turn left onto North Noland Road
0.6 mi·1 min·North Noland Road
19
Turn right onto East Lexington Avenue
0.2 mi·28 sec·East Lexington Avenue
20
Turn left onto South Lynn Street
406 ft·19 sec·South Lynn Street
21
Turn right onto East Kansas Avenue
145 ft·6 sec·East Kansas Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
East Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the 164.7-mile trek. Because the majority of your time is spent on high-speed expressways, keep a close watch on your fuel gauge before entering the longest 95.6-mile stretch to avoid any mid-route stress. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider timing your departure to avoid peak traffic hours near Independence. Taking advantage of the route's straightforward nature allows you to focus on a smooth, steady pace rather than navigating complex turns or winding backroads.
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 82.4 miles from La Plata, MO, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.6 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 36 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.4 miles or 1h 36m 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 35m
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 La Plata, 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 La Plata, MO
This is one driving day of about 164.7 miles and 3h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from La Plata, 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 Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for about 95.6 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 0 and 161.8 — 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 Gex Street
Turn left onto South Gex Street
Navigation decision point
6
19.8 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Saint Joseph
6
115.5 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|MO 110
Turn left onto MO 110 toward I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City
5
149.7 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|Plattsburg Road
At end of road, turn left onto Plattsburg Road
Navigation decision point
6
161.8 mi into trip|~3h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 24
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 24
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.75 one way
$51.50 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.27
$56.54
premium
$4.89
$31.70
$63.39
diesel
$5.61
$36.36
$72.73
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: 57.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.4
0
$17.29
$7.91
Efficient EV
41.2
0
$14.41
$6.59
EV Truck/SUV
65.9
0
$23.06
$10.54
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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 Apr 11, 2026
Origin
La Plata, MO
Morning
in La Plata on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Independence, MO
Morning
in Independence on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 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
42°F
New York, MO
82 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
29 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 18m 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?
Expect a highly efficient experience on this highway-focused route, where 96% of your drive occurs on major thoroughfares. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, which features a 95.6-mile stretch that allows for steady, uninterrupted progress. The character of the road is defined by its consistency and speed, keeping you away from slow-moving local traffic for the vast majority of the trip. As you transition between the highway segments and the state roads, the drive maintains a predictable rhythm. It is a functional, high-speed corridor designed to get you from point A to point B as quickly as possible.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.6 mi on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and MO 110. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Gex Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 164.7 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start (South Gex Street): Navigation decision point; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.5 miles (MO 110): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 18m. Total distance: 164.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 95.6 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. 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 Gex Street): Navigation decision point; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.5 miles (MO 110): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
