Normandy, MO to Independence, MO is 232.5 miles and takes about 4h 30m via I 70 and Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, connecting two points in the Midwest region. With 96% of the drive on the highway, expect a straightforward and efficient transit between these two locations. This is a solid choice if you're looking for a direct route with minimal complexity, perfect for a single-day excursion.
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
116.3 miles from Normandy, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
223 mi
4h 14m
South Noland Road
3 mi
5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.7 mi
3m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.4 mi
1m
Bermuda Drive
0.6 mi
1m
Ellington Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Holborn Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
East Walnut Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 223 mi, about 4h 14m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 38 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,509 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,050
Quietest
2 AM
~316 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Normandy, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on Holborn Drive
0.2 mi·47 sec·Holborn Drive
2
Turn right onto Ellington Drive
0.2 mi·52 sec·Ellington Drive
3
At end of road, turn right onto Bermuda Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Bermuda Drive
4
Take the ramp
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 70 West: Wentzville
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·12 sec
Toward I 70 West: WentzvilleUse the slight left lane.
Exit 12Toward Noland RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto South Noland Road
3.0 mi·5 min·South Noland Road
11
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
466 ft·22 sec·East Walnut Street
12
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
394 ft·22 sec·South Lynn Street
13
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
145 ft·6 sec·East Kansas Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
East Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4.5-hour duration, leaving Normandy in the morning allows ample time to reach Independence before evening. The route is primarily highway, so keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is key, especially during the 223-mile stretch on I 70. While the $36 fuel cost is an estimate, it's wise to fill up before departing or at a major junction. This 232.5-mile drive is easily completed in one day, offering flexibility; however, if you prefer a more relaxed pace, a brief stop around the halfway point would be manageable.
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 116.3 miles from Normandy, MO, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 223 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 51 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.3 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 39m
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 Normandy, 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 Normandy, MO
This is one driving day of about 232.5 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Normandy, 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 223 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 1.9 and 232.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Wentzville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Wentzville
5
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in|I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
229.1 mi into trip|~4h 23m 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
232.4 mi into trip|~4h 29m in|South Lynn Street
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
Navigation decision point
5
232.5 mi into trip|~4h 30m in|East Kansas Avenue
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.33 one way
$68.67 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$37.90
$75.81
premium
$4.72
$43.17
$86.34
diesel
$4.80
$43.90
$87.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.8
0
$24.41
$11.16
Efficient EV
58.1
0
$20.34
$9.30
EV Truck/SUV
93
1
$32.55
$14.88
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Normandy, MO
Late night
in Normandy on Sunday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
W 10 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:57AM 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
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:57AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
87°F
Centralia, MO
116 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
2 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
4h 30m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly highway travel, with 96% of the 232.5 miles on major roads like I 70 and Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. You'll experience a longest stretch of 223 miles on I 70, meaning extended periods of steady cruising. The transition to surface streets occurs late in the trip, with South Noland Road marking the final segment into Independence. Expect frequent exits and potential for merging traffic as you approach your destination.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 223 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and South Noland Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 30m 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: at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 229.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 223 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 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.
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: at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 229.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
