How far is Independence, MO from Strafford, MO?

The driving distance from Independence, MO to Strafford, MO is about 178.4 miles (287.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 144.3 miles (232.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 57m 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
178.4 mi
03h 28m
Flight
144.33 mi
232.28 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Independence.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
144.33 mi
Kilometers
232.28 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
178.4 mi
Kilometers
287.1 km
Drive Time
03h 28m

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 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Strafford
Fri, May 1, 8:47 PM CDT
Return by in Independence
Sat, May 2, 12:16 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Independence
2026-05-01T17:18
Arrive Strafford
Fri, May 1, 8:47 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:29 AM to 11:29 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
10:02 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Independence
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
Deepwater
MO

City in Missouri, USA

From Independence
89.2 mi
01h 44m
To Strafford
89.2 mi
01h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph NNE
Destination
61°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Kansas Avenue

    44 m · 8 sec · East Kansas Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Lynn Street

    120 m · 23 sec · South Lynn Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Walnut Street

    142 m · 25 sec · East Walnut Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto South Noland Road

    3 mi · 5 min · South Noland Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 70 West: Kansas City

    766 ft · 19 sec

  6. 6

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on George Brett Super Highway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · George Brett Super Highway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 435 South: Wichita

    1955 ft · 48 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

    8.3 mi · 10 min · Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 49 South, US 71 South, I 470 East, US 50 East: Joplin, Lee's Summit

    1.1 km · 46 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 49, I 470, US 50 East, US 71 South: Joplin, Lee's Summit

    749 ft · 13 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin

    1594 ft · 39 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    26 mi · 29 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 7 South: Clinton

    924 ft · 20 sec

  15. 15

    Turn slight left onto MO 7 South: Clinton

    55.5 mi · 1 hr 4 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    68 mi · 1 hr 19 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight left toward I 44 East: Rolla, Saint Louis

    954 ft · 23 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Payne Stewart Highway

    10.8 mi · 12 min · Payne Stewart Highway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 125: Fair Grove, Strafford

    1208 ft · 26 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right

    107 m · 8 sec

  21. 21

    Turn right

    27 m · 3 sec

  22. 22

    Turn slight right

    605 ft · 16 sec

  23. 23

    Continue straight

    1052 ft · 26 sec

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
24 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
MO 7 South
124 mi · 69%
I 49 South
27 mi · 15%
Payne Stewart Highway
10.8 mi · 6%
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
8.3 mi · 5%
South Noland Road
3.01 mi · 2%
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.9 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

MO 7 South

Continue straight

68 mi · 01h 19m

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 28m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.1 mi
144.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Deepwater
01h 44m from Independence
Leave By
10:02 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Independence and Partly Sunny near Strafford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 178.4 miles (287.1 km) and usually takes 03h 28m 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?

Deepwater is a useful midpoint, sitting about 89.2 miles from Independence and 89.2 miles from Strafford.

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

The direct path is about 144.3 miles (232.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.1 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 10:02 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.76 one way or $47.51 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 56 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Independence and Partly Sunny near Strafford.

Stop Ideas Near Deepwater

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

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

RAIL

Warrensburg

56 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Sedalia

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

Lee's Summit

90 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Independence

108 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Independence and Strafford. Straight-line distance: 144.33 mi (232.28 km).

Independence

#1 Independence

A city in Jackson County, Missouri.

Population116,774
Coordinates39.0911200, -94.4155100
Altitude315
CountryUnited States
Strafford

#2 Strafford

City in Greene County, Missouri, United States

Population2,502
Coordinates37.2683800, -93.1171300
Altitude454
CountryUnited States
Start: Independence (-94.41551, 39.09112)
End: Strafford (-93.11713, 37.26838)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 287 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.3 gal
23.83 L · about $23.76
Round trip
$47.51
12.6 gal · 47.66 L
Estimated CO2
56 kg one way
Round trip: 112 kg / 247 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.76 $47.51
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.79 $53.59
Premium $4.65 $29.32 $58.64
Diesel $5.30 $33.42 $66.83

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 · May 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Independence and Strafford. The current time is 17:18:59.

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.