This 222.6-mile drive from Saint Clair, MO, to Independence, MO, is best tackled as a single-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 25 minutes. With 96% of the journey on highways, it's a straightforward, efficient route through the Midwest. You can expect a fuel cost of around $35 for this trip. While the route is primarily highway-focused, it offers a direct path connecting two points within Missouri. This drive is designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss, making it a practical choice for a quick journey.
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
111.3 miles from Saint Clair, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
176.4 mi
3h 14m
MO 47
36.6 mi
54m
South Noland Road
3 mi
5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.7 mi
3m
South Main Street
1.5 mi
3m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.4 mi
1m
US 50
0.5 mi
<1m
East Walnut Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 176.4 mi, about 3h 14m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 42 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
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 Saint Clair, MO and Independence, MO.
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
With a total duration of 4 hours and 25 minutes, this 222.6-mile drive is easily manageable in one day. Consider an early morning departure from Saint Clair to maximize daylight and minimize traffic, especially as you approach the Kansas City metropolitan area near Independence. The longest stretch is a significant 176.4 miles on I-70, so plan for a single substantial stop around the halfway point for fuel and a break. With a fuel cost estimated at $35, it's a budget-friendly excursion. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstate stretches.
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 111.3 miles from Saint Clair, MO, or about 2h 19m 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 49 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.3 miles or 2h 19m 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 37m
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 Saint Clair, 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 Saint Clair, MO
This is one driving day of about 222.6 miles and 4h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Saint Clair, 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 7 and 222.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
7 mi into trip|~10m 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
7.4 mi into trip|~11m in|MO 47
Turn right onto MO 47
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
38.5 mi into trip|~59m 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
219.2 mi into trip|~4h 18m 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
222.5 mi into trip|~4h 24m in|South Lynn Street
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.87 one way
$65.75 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$36.29
$72.58
premium
$4.72
$41.33
$82.66
diesel
$4.80
$42.03
$84.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.8
0
$23.37
$10.68
Efficient EV
55.7
0
$19.48
$8.90
EV Truck/SUV
89
1
$31.16
$14.25
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 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
Saint Clair, MO
Late night
in Saint Clair on Tuesday
Local time
4:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
W 7 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Independence, MO
Late night
in Independence on Tuesday
Local time
4:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 6 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
87°F
Centralia, MO
111 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 25m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 222.6-mile trip, with 96% of your travel occurring on interstates and major roads. The bulk of your time will be spent on I-70, which features a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 176.4 miles. This means you'll experience long periods of consistent driving speeds. You'll transition onto MO 47 and South Noland Road towards the end, offering a slight change in scenery as you approach your destination. The overall feel is one of efficient travel across the landscape.
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: 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 7 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 4h 25m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7 miles (US 50; MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles (MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 38.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,034 ft490 ft
Total Climb
1,112 ft
Total Descent
853 ft
Highest Point
1,034 ft
~222.6 mi in
Elevation Range
544 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 Saint Clair, MO to Independence, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Jonesburg along the way.
Jonesburg
38.5 mi in|~59m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
St. Louis Area is the region around St. Louis, Missouri. It borders St. Louis Metro East (Illinois) along the Mississippi River. Within Missouri, it borders Southeast Missouri, Central Missouri, and Northeast Missouri.
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.
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 7 miles (US 50; MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles (MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 38.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Independence, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
