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Trip from Weston, MO to Independence, MO

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

57m

Distance

43.8 mi

70 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 53m ★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Platte County, Missouri, United States

Weston, MO

Wikimedia Commons

city in Jackson and Clay counties in Missouri, United States, that is one of two county seats in Jackson County

Independence, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 43.8-mile drive from Weston, MO to Independence, MO is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in under an hour, making it perfect for a day trip. You'll primarily be on interstate highways, with about 73% of the journey on I-435 and I-29. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $7, which is quite budget-friendly. This route stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel as you travel between these two Missouri towns. Given its short length and highway-focused profile, it's designed for efficient travel.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 435 25.8 mi 28m
I 29 6.1 mi 6m
273 Highway 4.6 mi 6m
East Truman Road 4 mi 8m
JJ Highway 1.5 mi 2m
Walnut Street 0.8 mi 2m
Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
North Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 435 — 25.8 mi, about 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Weston, MO and Independence, MO.

1

Start on Thomas Street

33 ft · 3 sec · Thomas Street
2

Turn right onto Main Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Main Street
3

Turn right onto Walnut Street

0.8 mi · 2 min · Walnut Street
4

Continue on MO JJ

1.5 mi · 2 min · JJ Highway
5

Continue on MO 273

4.0 mi · 5 min · 273 Highway
6

At end of road, turn left onto MO 273

0.6 mi · 1 min · 273 Highway
Use the left lane.
7

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
8

Merge onto I 29; US 71

3.8 mi · 4 min · I 29; US 71
9

Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71

2.2 mi · 2 min · I 29; I 435; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 435

26 mi · 28 min · I 435
Exit 14 Toward I 435 East: Saint Louis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Exit 60 Toward MO 12 East: 12th Street, Truman Road Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn left onto MO 12

4.0 mi · 8 min · East Truman Road
13

Turn right onto North Main Street

0.2 mi · 49 sec · North Main Street
14

Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue

63 ft · 2 sec · East Kansas Avenue
15

Arrive at destination

East Kansas Avenue

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Liberty, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Liberty, MO

22 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Leavenworth, KS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gladstone, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.9 miles from Weston, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 39.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Main Street

Turn right onto Main Street

Navigation decision point

7
6.4 mi into trip | ~10m in | MO 273 / 273 Highway

At end of road, turn left onto MO 273 / 273 Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
7 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the ramp toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
8
13.4 mi into trip | ~18m in | I 435

Keep slight right at fork onto I 435 toward I 435 East: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 14 Toward I 435 East: Saint Louis
8
39.2 mi into trip | ~47m in

Take the exit toward MO 12 East: 12th Street, Truman Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 60 Toward MO 12 East: 12th Street, Truman Road

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.85 one way

$13.70 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $7.52 $15.04
premium $4.89 $8.43 $16.86
diesel $5.61 $9.67 $19.34

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.1 0 $4.60 $2.10
Efficient EV 11 0 $3.83 $1.75
EV Truck/SUV 17.5 0 $6.13 $2.80

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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

Weston, MO

Late night in Weston on Sunday

Local time

12:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

54°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

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

19 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

57m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 57-minute journey. With 73% of the route utilizing interstates like I-435 and I-29, you'll experience consistent speeds and straightforward navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 25.8 miles on I-435, allowing for a good period of steady driving. While primarily interstate, the inclusion of 273 Highway offers a brief change of pace before you reach your destination. This profile suggests a drive geared towards getting you there efficiently.

73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.8 mi on I 435.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 435 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 43.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.4 miles (MO 273 / 273 Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 43.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

57m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 25.8 miles on I 435. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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.

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: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.4 miles (MO 273 / 273 Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Independence, MO before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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