How far is Garden City, MO from Independence, MO?

The driving distance from Garden City, MO to Independence, MO is about 52 miles (83.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 38.6 miles (62.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 49m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
52 mi
00h 54m
Flight
38.56 mi
62.05 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Garden City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
38.56 mi
Kilometers
62.05 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
52 mi
Kilometers
83.68 km
Drive Time
00h 54m

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 00h 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Independence
Sun, Apr 19, 3:46 AM CDT
Return by in Garden City
Sun, Apr 19, 4:40 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Garden City
2026-04-19T02:51
Arrive Independence
Sun, Apr 19, 3:46 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:55 AM to 10:55 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:40 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Garden City
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Lake Winnebago
MO

City in Missouri

From Garden City
22.4 mi
00h 27m
To Independence
29.6 mi
00h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph WNW
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 Garden City and Independence.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Garden City and Independence.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    842 ft · 37 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right

    1.2 km · 1 min

  3. 3

    Take the ramp left

    1609 ft · 44 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    8.6 mi · 9 min

  5. 5

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

    3.3 mi · 4 min

  6. 6

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

    817 ft · 17 sec

  7. 7

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

    74 m · 6 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    8.3 mi · 12 min

  9. 9

    Turn slight left

    8.5 mi · 12 min

  10. 10

    Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street

    860 ft · 23 sec · Southwest Jefferson Street

  11. 11

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

    833 ft · 20 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    2.7 mi · 3 min

  13. 13

    Continue on Blue Parkway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Blue Parkway

  14. 14

    Turn right onto South Noland Road

    5.9 mi · 10 min · South Noland Road

  15. 15

    Continue on South Noland Road

    3.1 mi · 6 min · South Noland Road

  16. 16

    Turn left onto East Walnut Street

    142 m · 23 sec · East Walnut Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto South Lynn Street

    120 m · 23 sec · South Lynn Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue

    44 m · 6 sec · East Kansas Avenue

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Kansas Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
19 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
36.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Main Street
9.04 mi · 17%
South Noland Road
8.95 mi · 17%
MO 291 North
8.53 mi · 16%
I 49 North
3.28 mi · 6%
US 50 West
2.87 mi · 6%
Blue Parkway
2.47 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Main Street

Merge slight left

8.58 mi · 00h 09m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 54m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13.4 mi
38.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lake Winnebago
00h 27m from Garden City
Leave By
4:40 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Garden City and Sunny near Independence.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Garden City to Independence?

The road trip is about 52 miles (83.7 km) and usually takes 00h 54m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lake Winnebago is a useful midpoint, sitting about 22.4 miles from Garden City and 29.6 miles from Independence.

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

The direct path is about 38.6 miles (62.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:40 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.94 one way or $13.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Garden City and Sunny near Independence.

Stop Ideas Near Lake Winnebago

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lake Winnebago, 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 Lake Winnebago.

RAIL

Lee's Summit

9 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Independence

29 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.
RAIL

Union Station

34 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.
RAIL

Warrensburg

54 mi away
100 South Holden St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Garden City and Independence. Straight-line distance: 38.56 mi (62.05 km).

Garden City

#1 Garden City

City in Cass County, Missouri, United States

Population1,638
Coordinates38.5611200, -94.1913300
Altitude281
CountryUnited States
Independence

#2 Independence

A city in Jackson County, Missouri.

Population116,774
Coordinates39.0911200, -94.4155100
Altitude315
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-94.191418, 38.561049)
End: East Kansas Avenue (-94.415514, 39.091027)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 84 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 51m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.84 gal
6.95 L · about $6.94
Round trip
$13.88
3.68 gal · 13.9 L
Estimated CO2
16.4 kg one way
Round trip: 32.7 kg / 72 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.94 $13.88
Mid-grade $4.25 $7.83 $15.65
Premium $4.65 $8.56 $17.13
Diesel $5.30 $9.76 $19.52

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 Garden City and Independence. The current time is 02:51:15.

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.