This 87-mile drive from Sedalia to Independence, Missouri, is a straightforward 1-hour and 41-minute journey. It's easily manageable as a single-day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $13, making it a budget-friendly option. You'll primarily be on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and US 65, with a relatively low 19% of the drive on highways. This route is a practical choice for getting from one Missouri town to another without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.5 miles from Sedalia, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
52.5 mi
56m
US 65
16.1 mi
18m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
8.8 mi
9m
South Noland Road
3 mi
5m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.7 mi
3m
South Ohio Avenue
1.5 mi
4m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.4 mi
1m
MO 765
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 52.5 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sedalia, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on South Ohio Avenue
1.5 mi·4 min·South Ohio Avenue
2
Continue on MO 765
0.2 mi·18 sec·MO 765
3
Continue on MO 765
0.1 mi·11 sec·MO 765
Toward US 65 North: Marshall
4
Merge onto US 65
16 mi·18 min·US 65
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
6
Merge onto I 70; US 40
8.8 mi·9 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Exit 12Toward Noland RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto South Noland Road
3.0 mi·5 min·South Noland Road
12
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
466 ft·22 sec·East Walnut Street
13
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
394 ft·22 sec·South Lynn Street
14
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
145 ft·6 sec·East Kansas Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
East Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
With a duration of just over 1.5 hours, this trip offers flexibility, so you can leave whenever it suits you best. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps in one of the towns along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially since the longest uninterrupted stretch is over 50 miles. The relatively low highway share means you'll likely encounter more local traffic patterns, so be prepared for that as you approach Independence.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.5 miles from Sedalia, MO, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.5 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.5 miles or 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 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 Sedalia, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sedalia, MO
This is one driving day of about 87 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Sedalia, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 52.5 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.9 and 87 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
17.9 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
7
83.6 mi into trip|~1h 34m 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
4
86.8 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|East Walnut Street
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
86.9 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|South Lynn Street
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
Navigation decision point
5
87 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|East Kansas Avenue
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.60 one way
$27.20 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.93
$29.87
premium
$4.89
$16.74
$33.48
diesel
$5.61
$19.21
$38.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.1
0
$9.13
$4.18
Efficient EV
21.8
0
$7.61
$3.48
EV Truck/SUV
34.8
0
$12.18
$5.57
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 20, 2026
Origin
Sedalia, MO
Late night
in Sedalia on Tuesday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Independence, MO
Late night
in Independence on Tuesday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
1h 41m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" for most of this 87-mile trip. While 19% of your journey will be on highways, the majority involves navigating local roads and potentially more frequent turns. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 52.5 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This suggests a driving experience that is more about connecting various local routes than a monotonous interstate cruise.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.5 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 17.9 miles in.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Sedalia, MO to Independence, MO is easy. At 1h 41m with 19% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 83.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.8 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point.
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.
The longest stretch is about 52.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 83.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.8 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Independence, MO before heading back.
