Embark on a 272-mile journey from Leadwood, MO to Independence, MO, a drive that will take approximately 5 hours and 42 minutes. This Midwest to Midwest trip primarily utilizes I-70 and MO-47, with a significant 94% of the route being highway driving. With an estimated fuel cost of $43, this route is easily manageable as a single-day trip, though you might consider splitting it if you prefer a more relaxed pace. The overall feel is a straightforward, highway-focused drive, perfect for covering ground efficiently within Missouri.
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
136 miles from Leadwood, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
176.4 mi
3h 14m
MO 47
51.5 mi
1h 22m
MO 21
11.1 mi
15m
MO 8
10.6 mi
15m
MO 30
6.2 mi
9m
North Main Street
6.2 mi
8m
South Noland Road
3 mi
5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 176.4 mi, about 3h 14m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 21 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,843 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,331
Quietest
2 AM
~261 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Leadwood, MO and Independence, MO.
Exit 12Toward Noland RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto South Noland Road
3.0 mi·5 min·South Noland Road
18
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
466 ft·22 sec·East Walnut Street
19
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
394 ft·22 sec·South Lynn Street
20
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
145 ft·6 sec·East Kansas Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
East Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour and 42-minute duration, leaving Leadwood early in the morning is your best bet for completing this 272-mile trip in one day. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to decide when and where to take breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 176.4-mile stretch on I-70, as services can be more spread out on interstates. The $43 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always have a little extra for unforeseen circumstances. This route is designed for efficient travel, so plan your stops to maximize your time at your destination in Independence.
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 136 miles from Leadwood, MO, or about 3h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.4 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 60 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136 miles or 3h 9m 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 45m
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 Leadwood, 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 Leadwood, MO
This is one driving day of about 272 miles and 5h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Leadwood, 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 70 for about 176.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 56.3 and 271.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
56.3 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|US 50; MO 47
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; MO 47
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
56.7 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|MO 47
Turn right onto MO 47
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
87.8 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesburg
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesbu...
7
268.5 mi into trip|~5h 35m 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
5
271.9 mi into trip|~5h 41m in|South Lynn Street
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.17 one way
$80.34 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$44.34
$88.69
premium
$4.72
$50.50
$101.00
diesel
$4.80
$51.36
$102.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.6
1
$28.56
$13.06
Efficient EV
68
0
$23.80
$10.88
EV Truck/SUV
108.8
1
$38.08
$17.41
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Leadwood, MO
Late night
in Leadwood on Sunday
Local time
1:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Clear
SW 3 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:48PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM 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
1:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Clear
SSW 9 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:48PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM 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 42m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the 272 miles on faster roads like I-70 and MO-47. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 176.4 miles on I-70, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While predominantly highway, the inclusion of MO-21 and MO-47 introduces some variation, likely providing brief glimpses of different Missouri landscapes as you transition between major arteries. Expect a consistent driving experience for the majority of this trip.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 176.4 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and MO 47. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 56.3 miles in near US 50; MO 47.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 42m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 56.3 miles (US 50; MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 56.7 miles (MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 87.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,034 ft525 ft
Total Climb
935 ft
Total Descent
706 ft
Highest Point
1,034 ft
~272 mi in
Elevation Range
509 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 Leadwood, MO to Independence, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Jonesburg 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
The longest stretch is about 176.4 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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.
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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 56.3 miles (US 50; MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 56.7 miles (MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 87.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 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.
