How far is Arnold, MO from Independence, MO?

The driving distance from Arnold, MO to Independence, MO is about 244.3 miles (393.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 222.2 miles (357.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
244.24 mi
03h 50m
Flight
222.23 mi
357.64 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Arnold.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
222.23 mi
Kilometers
357.64 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
244.24 mi
Kilometers
393.06 km
Drive Time
03h 50m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Independence
Thu, Apr 23, 7:05 AM CDT
Return by in Arnold
Thu, Apr 23, 10:56 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arnold
2026-04-23T03:15
Arrive Independence
Thu, Apr 23, 7:05 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:51 AM to 11:51 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:18 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Arnold
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Columbia
MO

The most populous city in the state of Missouri.

From Arnold
122.3 mi
01h 55m
To Independence
121.9 mi
01h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph S
Destination
77°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 to 21 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Arnold and Independence.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arnold and Independence.

  1. 1

    Start on Jeffco Boulevard

    1.4 km · 2 min · Jeffco Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn left

    1283 ft · 28 sec

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North

    1225 ft · 31 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway

    1.4 km · 1 min · Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Rosa Parks Highway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Rosa Parks Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago

    1279 ft · 27 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 270 West: Kansas City

    118 m · 8 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on I 270 West

    1.2 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    11.5 mi · 14 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis

    705 ft · 17 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville

    2009 ft · 49 sec

  13. 13

    Continue on I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville

    674 ft · 10 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    25.4 mi · 31 min · Avenue of the Saints

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight left toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City

    3047 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

    80.7 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

    2 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

    54.4 mi · 58 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    52.5 mi · 57 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  22. 22

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward Noland Road

    1110 ft · 24 sec

  25. 25

    Turn right onto South Noland Road

    3 mi · 5 min · South Noland Road

  26. 26

    Turn left onto East Walnut Street

    142 m · 23 sec · East Walnut Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto South Lynn Street

    120 m · 23 sec · South Lynn Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue

    44 m · 6 sec · East Kansas Avenue

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Kansas Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Arnold and Independence.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
29 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi · 33%
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi · 22%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi · 22%
Avenue of the Saints
25.4 mi · 10%
I 270 West
12.5 mi · 5%
South Noland Road
3.04 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

80.7 mi · 01h 35m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 50m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.1 mi
222.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Columbia
01h 55m from Arnold
Leave By
9:18 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Arnold and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Independence.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Arnold to Independence?

The road trip is about 244.3 miles (393.1 km) and usually takes 03h 50m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Columbia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 122.3 miles from Arnold and 121.9 miles from Independence.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 222.2 miles (357.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:18 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.51 one way or $65.01 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 76.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Arnold and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Independence.

Stop Ideas Near Columbia

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Columbia, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Columbia.

RAIL

Jefferson City

44 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Sedalia

82 mi away
100 block of Main Street, through parking lot
RAIL

Hermann

83 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Arnold and Independence. Straight-line distance: 222.23 mi (357.64 km).

Arnold

#1 Arnold

City in Missouri

Population21,145
Coordinates38.4328300, -90.3776200
Altitude184
CountryUnited States
Independence

#2 Independence

A city in Jackson County, Missouri.

Population116,774
Coordinates39.0911200, -94.4155100
Altitude315
CountryUnited States
Start: Jeffco Boulevard (-90.377666, 38.43287)
End: East Kansas Avenue (-94.415514, 39.091027)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 393 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 08m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 06m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 04m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.62 gal
32.62 L · about $32.51
Round trip
$65.01
17.24 gal · 65.24 L
Estimated CO2
76.6 kg one way
Round trip: 153.2 kg / 338 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $32.51 $65.01
Mid-grade $4.25 $36.66 $73.32
Premium $4.65 $40.12 $80.23
Diesel $5.30 $45.72 $91.44

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Missouri · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Arnold and Independence. The current time is 03:15:18.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.