Purdy, MO to Independence, MO is 181.9 miles and takes about 3h 46m via Purple Heart Trail, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within the Midwest, moving from one Missouri town to another. Expect a route with frequent turns, so pay attention to navigation. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost under $30, this is a straightforward and budget-friendly trip perfect for a single day.
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
91 miles from Purdy, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Purdy, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on Washington Avenue
0.1 mi·32 sec·Washington Avenue
2
Turn right onto North City Highway 37
0.5 mi·1 min·North City Highway 37
3
Keep slight right at fork onto North City Highway 37
0.5 mi·1 min·North City Highway 37
4
At end of road, turn right onto MO 37
5.8 mi·8 min·MO 37
5
Turn left onto US 60
4.4 mi·5 min·US 60
6
Turn right onto MO 97
1.7 mi·2 min·MO 97
7
Turn straight onto MO 97
0.5 mi·53 sec·Ford Street
8
Turn left onto MO 37
12 mi·21 min·West Commercial Street
9
Turn left onto I 44 Business; MO 37
0.3 mi·26 sec·High Street
10
Continue on I 44 Business; MO 37
2.0 mi·3 min·Blackberry Road
11
Turn right onto I 44 Business; MO 37
0.5 mi·1 min·I 44 Business; MO 37
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
13
Merge onto I 44
7.5 mi·8 min·Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 18BToward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansas City
15
Merge onto I 49; US 71
10 mi·11 min·George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
16
Continue on I 49; US 71
10 mi·11 min·Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
17
Continue on I 49; US 71
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·Purple Heart Trail
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 160Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
19
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft·6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
20
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi·12 min·MO 291
21
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi·11 min·MO 58; MO 291
22
Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Southwest Jefferson Street
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward US 50 West: Kansas City
24
Merge onto US 50
2.7 mi·3 min·US 50
25
Continue on MO 350
2.5 mi·3 min·Blue Parkway
26
Turn right onto MO V
5.9 mi·9 min·South Noland Road
27
Continue on South Noland Road
3.1 mi·5 min·South Noland Road
28
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
466 ft·22 sec·East Walnut Street
29
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
394 ft·22 sec·South Lynn Street
30
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
145 ft·6 sec·East Kansas Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
East Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 46m drive time and the 'turn-heavy' nature of this route, departing in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the journey. Plan for your single recommended stop to be around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel if needed, though the $28 fuel estimate suggests you likely won't need to worry too much about gas prices. The most crucial tip for this trip is to have a reliable GPS or navigation app readily available, as the frequent turns on local roads can be easy to miss if you're not paying close attention.
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 91 miles from Purdy, MO, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.9 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 40 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91 miles or 1h 55m 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 57m
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 Purdy, 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 Purdy, MO
This is one driving day of about 181.9 miles and 3h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Purdy, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 92.9 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 28.5 and 167.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
28.5 mi into trip|~47m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West: Joplin
Navigation decision point
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
6
36.2 mi into trip|~56m in
Take the exit toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18B
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansa...
5
150.3 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 160
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
6
150.5 mi into trip|~2h 59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
5
167.5 mi into trip|~3h 23m in
Take the exit toward US 50 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 50 West: Kansas City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.44 one way
$56.88 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.22
$62.45
premium
$4.89
$35.01
$70.01
diesel
$5.61
$40.16
$80.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.6
0
$19.10
$8.73
Efficient EV
45.5
0
$15.92
$7.28
EV Truck/SUV
72.8
0
$25.47
$11.64
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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 15, 2026
Origin
Purdy, MO
Late night
in Purdy on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Independence, MO
Late night
in Independence on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Nevada, MO
91 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 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 46m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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.
George Washington Carver National Monument
National Monument
The young child known as the "Plant Doctor" tended his secret garden while observing the day-to-day operations of a 19th century farm. Nature and nurture ultimately influenced George on his quest for...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 37.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be navigating a series of local roads and highways rather than a simple interstate cruise. Only 19% of this route is on highways, so anticipate a more engaging driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 92.9 miles on the Purple Heart Trail. This suggests a drive where you'll need to stay alert to your surroundings and follow directions closely as you transition between different road types.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92.9 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 28.5 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 181.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 28.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 36.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Purdy, MO to Independence, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Kansas City along the way.
Kansas City
36.2 mi in|~56m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 46m. Total distance: 181.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 92.9 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Independence, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 28.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 36.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — George Washington Carver National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
