How far is Herculaneum, MO from Independence, MO?

The driving distance from Herculaneum, MO to Independence, MO is about 256.8 miles (413.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 224.9 miles (362 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 03m 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
256.73 mi
04h 01m
Flight
224.94 mi
362 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Herculaneum.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
224.94 mi
Kilometers
362 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
256.73 mi
Kilometers
413.16 km
Drive Time
04h 01m

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 04h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Independence
Sat, Apr 18, 8:17 AM CDT
Return by in Herculaneum
Sat, Apr 18, 12:19 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Herculaneum
2026-04-18T04:16
Arrive Independence
Sat, Apr 18, 8:17 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:02 AM to 12:02 PM CDT

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

Leave by
8:56 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Herculaneum
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
Kingdom City
MO

Human settlement in Callaway County, Missouri, United States of America

From Herculaneum
128.6 mi
02h 00m
To Independence
128.2 mi
02h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph W
Destination
58°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 17 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    17 m · 7 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Joachim Avenue

    1 km · 2 min · Joachim Avenue

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Commercial Boulevard

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Commercial Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn left

    2237 ft · 45 sec

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North: Saint Louis

    1719 ft · 42 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    13.9 mi · 15 min

  7. 7

    Continue on Rosa Parks Highway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Rosa Parks Highway

  8. 8

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

    1279 ft · 27 sec

  9. 9

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

    118 m · 8 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on I 270 West

    1.2 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    11.5 mi · 14 min

  12. 12

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

    705 ft · 17 sec

  13. 13

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

    2009 ft · 49 sec

  14. 14

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

    674 ft · 10 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    25.4 mi · 31 min · Avenue of the Saints

  16. 16

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

    3047 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

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

  18. 18

    Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

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

  19. 19

    Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

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

  20. 20

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

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

  22. 22

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    52.5 mi · 57 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

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

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward Noland Road

    1110 ft · 24 sec

  26. 26

    Turn right onto South Noland Road

    3 mi · 5 min · South Noland Road

  27. 27

    Turn left onto East Walnut Street

    142 m · 23 sec · East Walnut Street

  28. 28

    Turn right onto South Lynn Street

    120 m · 23 sec · South Lynn Street

  29. 29

    Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue

    44 m · 6 sec · East Kansas Avenue

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Kansas Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Herculaneum 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
30 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi · 31%
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi · 21%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi · 21%
Avenue of the Saints
25.4 mi · 10%
I 55 North
14.2 mi · 6%
I 270 West
12.5 mi · 5%
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
04h 01m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.9 mi
224.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kingdom City
02h 00m from Herculaneum
Leave By
8:56 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Herculaneum 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 Herculaneum to Independence?

The road trip is about 256.8 miles (413.2 km) and usually takes 04h 01m 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?

Kingdom City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 128.6 miles from Herculaneum and 128.2 miles from Independence.

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

The direct path is about 224.9 miles (362 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.9 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:56 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.17 one way or $68.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Herculaneum and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Independence.

Stop Ideas Near Kingdom City

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Kingdom City, 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 Kingdom City.

RAIL

Jefferson City

46 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Hermann

52 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.
RAIL

Washington

91 mi away
301 West Front St.
RAIL

Sedalia

115 mi away
100 block of Main Street, through parking lot

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Herculaneum and Independence. Straight-line distance: 224.94 mi (362 km).

Herculaneum

#1 Herculaneum

Roman town

Population4,261
Coordinates38.2683900, -90.3801200
Altitude135
CountryUnited States
Independence

#2 Independence

A city in Jackson County, Missouri.

Population116,774
Coordinates39.0911200, -94.4155100
Altitude315
CountryUnited States
Start: (-90.380133, 38.268455)
End: East Kansas Avenue (-94.415514, 39.091027)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 413 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.06 gal
34.29 L · about $34.17
Round trip
$68.33
18.12 gal · 68.58 L
Estimated CO2
80.5 kg one way
Round trip: 161 kg / 355 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $34.17 $68.33
Mid-grade $4.25 $38.53 $77.06
Premium $4.65 $42.17 $84.33
Diesel $5.30 $48.05 $96.11

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Herculaneum and Independence. The current time is 04:16:02.

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.