How far is Bethany, MO from Independence, MO?

The driving distance from Bethany, MO to Independence, MO is about 389.4 miles (626.6 km), with a travel time of about 06h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 292.5 miles (470.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
389.34 mi
06h 16m
Flight
292.47 mi
470.68 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bethany.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
292.47 mi
Kilometers
470.68 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
389.34 mi
Kilometers
626.59 km
Drive Time
06h 16m

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 06h 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Independence
Sun, Apr 19, 9:47 AM CDT
Return by in Bethany
Sun, Apr 19, 4:03 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bethany
2026-04-19T03:31
Arrive Independence
Sun, Apr 19, 9:47 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:16 PM to 1:46 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:28 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bethany
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Fordland
MO

City in Webster County, Missouri, United States

From Bethany
190.8 mi
03h 08m
To Independence
198.6 mi
03h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW
Destination
64°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on County Road 102

    1.3 km · 3 min · County Road 102

  2. 2

    Turn left

    3.5 mi · 9 min

  3. 3

    Continue straight

    5.2 mi · 9 min

  4. 4

    Turn right

    19.5 mi · 29 min

  5. 5

    Turn right onto South Westwood Boulevard

    2.4 mi · 4 min · South Westwood Boulevard

  6. 6

    Continue on State Street

    1396 ft · 26 sec · State Street

  7. 7

    Continue on North Westwood Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 2 min · North Westwood Boulevard

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    2283 ft · 38 sec

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    4 mi · 5 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    172.6 mi · 3 hr 23 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 65 North: Sedalia

    1511 ft · 32 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Schoolcraft Freeway

    8.1 mi · 10 min · Schoolcraft Freeway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 44 West: Joplin

    1.3 km · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Payne Stewart Highway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · Payne Stewart Highway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 13: Bolivar

    596 ft · 15 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on MO 13: Bolivar

    46 m · 4 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on MO 13 North: Bolivar

    64 m · 7 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto North Kansas Expressway

    87.2 mi · 1 hr 43 min · North Kansas Expressway

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    35.9 mi · 39 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City

    3.3 mi · 4 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit

    817 ft · 17 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on MO 291 North: Lee's Summit

    74 m · 6 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    8.3 mi · 12 min

  24. 24

    Turn slight left

    8.5 mi · 12 min

  25. 25

    Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street

    860 ft · 23 sec · Southwest Jefferson Street

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight left toward US 50 West: Kansas City

    833 ft · 20 sec

  27. 27

    Merge slight left

    2.7 mi · 3 min

  28. 28

    Continue on Blue Parkway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Blue Parkway

  29. 29

    Turn right onto South Noland Road

    5.9 mi · 10 min · South Noland Road

  30. 30

    Continue on South Noland Road

    3.1 mi · 6 min · South Noland Road

  31. 31

    Turn left onto East Walnut Street

    142 m · 23 sec · East Walnut Street

  32. 32

    Turn right onto South Lynn Street

    120 m · 23 sec · South Lynn Street

  33. 33

    Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue

    44 m · 6 sec · East Kansas Avenue

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Kansas Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
34 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
5 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Westwood Boulevard
179 mi · 46%
North Kansas Expressway
123 mi · 32%
South Noland Road
8.95 mi · 2%
MO 291 North
8.53 mi · 2%
Schoolcraft Freeway
8.06 mi · 2%
County Road 102
6.01 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

North Westwood Boulevard

Take the exit slight right

173 mi · 03h 23m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 16m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+96.9 mi
292.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fordland
03h 08m from Bethany
Leave By
11:28 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny leaving Bethany and Sunny near Independence.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 389.4 miles (626.6 km) and usually takes 06h 16m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Fordland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 190.8 miles from Bethany and 198.6 miles from Independence.

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

The direct path is about 292.5 miles (470.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 96.9 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $51.81 one way or $103.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 122.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny around Bethany and Sunny near Independence.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bethany and Independence. Straight-line distance: 292.47 mi (470.68 km).

Bethany

#1 Bethany

City in Missouri, United States

Population3,049
Coordinates36.6117200, -90.0692600
Altitude135
CountryUnited States
Independence

#2 Independence

A city in Jackson County, Missouri.

Population116,774
Coordinates39.0911200, -94.4155100
Altitude315
CountryUnited States
Start: (-90.065761, 36.612686)
End: East Kansas Avenue (-94.415514, 39.091027)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 627 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 47m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 51m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
13.74 gal
52.01 L · about $51.81
Round trip
$103.63
27.48 gal · 104.02 L
Estimated CO2
122.1 kg one way
Round trip: 244.2 kg / 538 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $51.81 $103.63
Mid-grade $4.25 $58.44 $116.87
Premium $4.65 $63.95 $127.89
Diesel $5.30 $72.88 $145.75

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Bethany and Independence. The current time is 03:31:18.

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.