Connecting Mexico to Independence, this 156-mile journey across the Missouri Midwest is an ideal candidate for a straightforward one-day trip. You should anticipate roughly 2 hours and 58 minutes of travel time, making it a manageable trek for those looking to reach their destination without an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $24, the drive is quite economical for a solo traveler or a small group. You will navigate a mix of thoroughfares, including the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, and US 54. Because this route stays entirely within Missouri, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish.
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
78 miles from Mexico, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
72.9 mi
1h 22m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
US 54
13.4 mi
14m
South Clark Street
3.6 mi
5m
South Noland Road
3 mi
5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.7 mi
3m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 72.9 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mexico, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on South Jefferson Street
167 ft·8 sec·South Jefferson Street
2
Turn right onto High Street
0.1 mi·34 sec·High Street
3
Turn left onto South Clark Street
3.6 mi·5 min·South Clark Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward US 54 West: Jefferson City
5
Merge onto US 54
13 mi·14 min·US 54
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
7
Merge onto I 70; US 40
19 mi·23 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Exit 12Toward Noland RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto South Noland Road
3.0 mi·5 min·South Noland Road
17
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
466 ft·22 sec·East Walnut Street
18
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
394 ft·22 sec·South Lynn Street
19
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
145 ft·6 sec·East Kansas Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
East Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the total travel time of nearly three hours, planning a single dedicated stop will help keep you refreshed for the duration of the trip. You have plenty of flexibility with your schedule since this route is designed to be completed in a single day. Be mindful that the turn-heavy nature of the local roads means your actual speed may vary, so allow for a little extra time if you encounter heavy traffic. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge early on to ensure your $24 budget remains on track. For the best experience, try to depart during daylight hours to better navigate the more technical sections of the local roads with ease.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 78 miles from Mexico, MO, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.9 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 34 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78 miles or 1h 31m 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 24m
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 Mexico, 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 Mexico, MO
This is one driving day of about 156 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Mexico, 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 72.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 155.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|High Street
Turn right onto High Street
Navigation decision point
5
17.4 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
7
152.5 mi into trip|~2h 51m 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
155.9 mi into trip|~2h 58m in|South Lynn Street
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
Navigation decision point
5
155.9 mi into trip|~2h 58m in|East Kansas Avenue
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.39 one way
$48.78 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.78
$53.56
premium
$4.89
$30.02
$60.04
diesel
$5.61
$34.44
$68.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.8
0
$16.38
$7.49
Efficient EV
39
0
$13.65
$6.24
EV Truck/SUV
62.4
0
$21.84
$9.98
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Mexico, MO
Late night
in Mexico on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Independence, MO
Late night
in Independence on Sunday
Local time
12:57 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
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
21 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
2h 58m 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 trip is characterized by a turn-heavy local feel that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While you will spend about 9% of your time on highways, the experience is largely defined by local roads that break up the rhythm of the drive. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 72.9 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, providing the most consistent pace of the entire journey. Expect the road to shift frequently as you transition between these different highway segments and local connectors. It is a drive that requires active steering rather than the repetitive monotony of a long, straight interstate haul.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.9 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 High 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 2h 58m drive. You will face about 10 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 (High Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 156 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 72.9 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (High Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Independence, MO before heading back.
