Connecting Velda Village Hills to Independence, this 233.6-mile trek across Missouri is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 31 minutes. Because the route is compact and efficient, you can easily complete the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $35 for fuel to cover the distance. Since both your start and end points are located within the Midwest, you will experience the classic landscape of the region throughout the drive. It is a highly practical transit route, ideal for travelers who value speed and direct access over winding backroads. Overall, this highway-focused drive offers a reliable way to cross the state while staying on schedule.
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
116.8 miles from Velda Village Hills, 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
Florissant Road
1 mi
1m
Natural Bridge Road
0.9 mi
1m
Avondale Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
University Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 223 mi, about 4h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Velda Village Hills, MO and Independence, MO.
1
Start on Myron Avenue
70 ft·5 sec·Myron Avenue
2
Turn right onto Avondale Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Avondale Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto MO 115
0.9 mi·1 min·Natural Bridge Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Enter roundabout onto MO N
49 ft·0 sec·Florissant Road
5
Continue on MO N
1.0 mi·1 min·Florissant Road
6
Continue on MO N
0.3 mi·29 sec·University Boulevard
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·36 sec
Toward I 70 West
8
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.
13
Turn right onto South Noland Road
3.0 mi·5 min·South Noland Road
14
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
466 ft·22 sec·East Walnut Street
15
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
394 ft·22 sec·South Lynn Street
16
Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue
145 ft·6 sec·East Kansas Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
East Kansas Avenue
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one stop to break up the 4-hour and 31-minute duration. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential congestion on I-70, especially as you navigate through busier sections of the state. Since the longest stretch covers 223 miles, ensure your fuel tank is topped off before hitting the interstate to avoid unnecessary detours. Because this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal pace. As a specific tip, keep a close eye on your GPS when transitioning off I-70 onto the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway, as the switch from major interstate to local roads happens quickly.
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 116.8 miles from Velda Village Hills, 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 116.8 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 40m
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 Velda Village Hills, 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 Velda Village Hills, MO
This is one driving day of about 233.6 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Velda Village Hills, 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 233.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|MO 115 / Natural Bridge Road
At end of road, turn left onto MO 115 / Natural Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
3 mi into trip|~5m 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
3.1 mi into trip|~5m in|I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
230.2 mi into trip|~4h 24m 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
233.5 mi into trip|~4h 30m in|South Lynn Street
Turn right onto South Lynn Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.52 one way
$73.04 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$40.10
$80.20
premium
$4.89
$44.95
$89.91
diesel
$5.61
$51.58
$103.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.1
0
$24.53
$11.21
Efficient EV
58.4
0
$20.44
$9.34
EV Truck/SUV
93.4
1
$32.70
$14.95
Gas CO2
82 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 Apr 11, 2026
Origin
Velda Village Hills, MO
Afternoon
in Velda Village Hills on Sunday
Local time
3:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
SE 9 mph20% 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
Destination
Independence, MO
Afternoon
in Independence on Sunday
Local time
3:23 PM
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
1 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
4h 31m 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?
Expect a focused interstate experience, as 95% of your travel occurs on major highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-70, which accounts for a significant 223-mile stretch of the journey. The drive maintains a consistent, fast-paced rhythm, making it well-suited for those who prefer to settle into a cruise-control pace. As you approach Independence, the transition from open highway to local infrastructure occurs via South Noland Road and the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. This creates a clear shift from high-speed transit to the more localized traffic patterns of your destination.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 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 0.4 miles in near MO 115 / Natural Bridge Road.
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 31m 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: at 0.4 miles (MO 115 / Natural Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,034 ft531 ft
Total Climb
976 ft
Total Descent
497 ft
Highest Point
1,034 ft
~233.2 mi in
Elevation Range
504 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 31m. Total distance: 233.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 223 miles on I 70. 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.
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 0.4 miles (MO 115 / Natural Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
