How far is Independence, MO from North Kansas City, MO?

The driving distance from Independence, MO to North Kansas City, MO is about 12.2 miles (19.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 8.3 miles (13.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
12.21 mi
00h 24m
Flight
8.31 mi
13.37 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Independence.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
8.31 mi
Kilometers
13.37 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
12.21 mi
Kilometers
19.65 km
Drive Time
00h 24m

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 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in North Kansas City
Sun, Apr 19, 7:01 PM CDT
Return by in Independence
Sun, Apr 19, 7:26 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Independence
2026-04-19T18:37
Arrive North Kansas City
Sun, Apr 19, 7:01 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:24 AM to 7:24 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:42 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Independence
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Sugar Creek
MO

City in Missouri

From Independence
6.1 mi
00h 12m
To North Kansas City
6.1 mi
00h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 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 Independence and North Kansas City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Independence and North Kansas City.

  1. 1

    Start on East Kansas Avenue

    19 m · 5 sec · East Kansas Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1003 ft · 49 sec · South Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Truman Road

    3.9 mi · 9 min · West Truman Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Claycomo, Des Moines

    753 ft · 18 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward East Front Street

    746 ft · 18 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto East Front Street, Riverfront Park Access

    54 m · 5 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on East Front Street

    3.8 mi · 7 min · East Front Street

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 29 North, I 35 North, US 71 North

    913 ft · 22 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    2070 ft · 32 sec

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Bedford Avenue

    776 ft · 17 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Bedford Avenue

    1049 ft · 26 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Bedford Road

    1039 ft · 29 sec · Bedford Road

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Ozark Street

    1176 ft · 58 sec · Ozark Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto East 12th Avenue

    616 ft · 28 sec · East 12th Avenue

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout toward the route

    72 m · 11 sec

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
17 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
139.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
East Front Street
3.97 mi · 33%
West Truman Road
3.94 mi · 32%
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
2.47 mi · 20%
I 29 North
0.56 mi · 5%
Bedford Avenue
0.35 mi · 3%
Ozark Street
0.22 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

West Truman Road

Turn left onto West Truman Road

3.94 mi · 00h 09m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 24m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.9 mi
8.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sugar Creek
00h 12m from Independence
Leave By
7:42 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Independence and Sunny near North Kansas City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Independence to North Kansas City?

The road trip is about 12.2 miles (19.7 km) and usually takes 00h 24m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Sugar Creek is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6.1 miles from Independence and 6.1 miles from North Kansas City.

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

The direct path is about 8.3 miles (13.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.9 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:42 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.62 one way or $3.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Sugar Creek

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Sugar Creek and the surrounding midpoint area.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Scenic stop 4.3 mi away

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Kansas City , MO
1616 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Rating 4.8/5 1,825 reviews Tourist attraction,National museum
Parkville City Hall
Meeting point 12 mi away

Parkville City Hall

Parkville , MO
8880 Clark Ave, Parkville, MO 64152
Rating 5.0/5 4 reviews City Hall,City government office
St. Louis - Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council
Nearby stop 4.6 mi away

St. Louis - Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council

Kansas City , MO
8955 E 38 Terrace #100, Kansas City, MO 64129
Rating 4.9/5 16 reviews Labor union
Shawnee Town
Scenic stop 13.9 mi away

Shawnee Town

Shawnee , KS
11501 W 57th St, Shawnee, KS 66203
Rating 4.6/5 112 reviews Tourist attraction,Museum

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Sugar Creek.

RAIL

Independence

3 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.
RAIL

Union Station

12 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.
RAIL

Lee's Summit

23 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Lawrence

70 mi away
413 East 7th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Independence and North Kansas City. Straight-line distance: 8.31 mi (13.37 km).

Independence

#1 Independence

A city in Jackson County, Missouri.

Population116,774
Coordinates39.0911200, -94.4155100
Altitude315
CountryUnited States
North Kansas City

#2 North Kansas City

City in Clay County, Missouri, United States

Population4,571
Coordinates39.1300000, -94.5621800
Altitude226
CountryUnited States
Start: Independence (-94.41551, 39.09112)
End: North Kansas City (-94.56218, 39.13)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 20 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.43 gal
1.63 L · about $1.62
Round trip
$3.24
0.86 gal · 3.26 L
Estimated CO2
3.8 kg one way
Round trip: 7.6 kg / 17 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $1.62 $3.24
Mid-grade $4.25 $1.83 $3.66
Premium $4.65 $2.00 $4.00
Diesel $5.30 $2.28 $4.56

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 Independence and North Kansas City. The current time is 18:37:47.

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.