How far is Lake Lotawana, MO from East Independence, MO?

The driving distance from Lake Lotawana, MO to East Independence, MO is about 19.6 miles (31.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 13.3 miles (21.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 00m 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
19.65 mi
00h 30m
Flight
13.33 mi
21.45 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake Lotawana.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
13.33 mi
Kilometers
21.45 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
19.65 mi
Kilometers
31.63 km
Drive Time
00h 30m

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 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in East Independence
Sat, Apr 18, 10:32 PM CDT
Return by in Lake Lotawana
Sat, Apr 18, 11:02 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Lotawana
2026-04-18T22:02
Arrive East Independence
Sat, Apr 18, 10:32 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:30 AM to 7:30 PM CDT

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

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

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
Unity Village
MO

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

From Lake Lotawana
9.8 mi
00h 15m
To East Independence
9.8 mi
00h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph NW
Destination
56°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lake Lotawana and East Independence.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Lotawana and East Independence.

  1. 1

    Start on X Street

    970 ft · 43 sec · X Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Y Street

    1903 ft · 1 min · Y Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Z Street

    1.1 mi · 4 min · Z Street

  4. 4

    Continue on South Lake Shore Drive

    1102 ft · 53 sec · South Lake Shore Drive

  5. 5

    Turn left onto East Colbern Road

    3155 ft · 1 min · East Colbern Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Northeast Colbern Road

    4.7 mi · 8 min · Northeast Colbern Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Northeast Todd George Parkway

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Northeast Todd George Parkway

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Northeast Strother Road

    1586 ft · 47 sec · Northeast Strother Road

  9. 9

    Take the ramp right toward I 470 North, MO 291 North: Independence

    1207 ft · 30 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    8.6 mi · 12 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward East Truman Road

    1459 ft · 45 sec

  12. 12

    At the end of the road, turn left onto East Truman Road

    1.2 mi · 3 min · East Truman Road

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Main Road

    1341 ft · 1 min · Main Road

  14. 14

    Turn right onto East 9th Street South

    24 m · 3 sec · East 9th Street South

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 9th Street South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lake Lotawana and East 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
15 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
76.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 470 North
8.83 mi · 45%
Northeast Colbern Road
4.66 mi · 24%
Northeast Todd George Parkway
1.61 mi · 8%
East Truman Road
1.44 mi · 7%
Z Street
1.15 mi · 6%
East Colbern Road
0.6 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 470 North

Merge slight left

8.6 mi · 00h 12m

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 30m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.3 mi
13.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Unity Village
00h 15m from Lake Lotawana
Leave By
7:30 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Sunny leaving Lake Lotawana and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near East Independence.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake Lotawana to East Independence?

The road trip is about 19.6 miles (31.6 km) and usually takes 00h 30m 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?

Unity Village is a useful midpoint, sitting about 9.8 miles from Lake Lotawana and 9.8 miles from East Independence.

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

The direct path is about 13.3 miles (21.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.3 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 7:30 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.60 one way or $5.20 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Sunny around Lake Lotawana and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near East Independence.

Stop Ideas Near Unity Village

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 Unity Village and the surrounding midpoint area.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Scenic stop 13.5 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
Vesper Hall
Meeting point 5.5 mi away

Vesper Hall

Blue Springs , MO
400 NW Vesper St, Blue Springs, MO 64014
Rating 4.6/5 15 reviews City Hall,City government office
Country Club Plaza
Nearby stop 13.4 mi away

Country Club Plaza

Kansas City , MO
4706 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64112, United States
Rating 4.5/5 9,627 reviews Shopping mall
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 8.4 mi away

Indepence Maintenance Dept

Independence , MO
320 W Lexington Ave, Independence, MO 64050
Rating 4.3/5 8 reviews Park

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Unity Village.

RAIL

Lee's Summit

5 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Independence

15 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.
RAIL

Union Station

22 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.
RAIL

Warrensburg

61 mi away
100 South Holden St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Lotawana and East Independence. Straight-line distance: 13.33 mi (21.45 km).

Lake Lotawana

#1 Lake Lotawana

City in Jackson County, Missouri, United States

Population2,131
Coordinates38.9230600, -94.2441100
Altitude274
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 East Independence

A census-designated place in Jackson County, Missouri.

Population110,675
Coordinates39.0955600, -94.3552300
Altitude256
CountryUnited States
Start: X Street (-94.244059, 38.923125)
End: East 9th Street South (-94.355237, 39.09539)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 32 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.69 gal
2.63 L · about $2.60
Round trip
$5.20
1.38 gal · 5.26 L
Estimated CO2
6.1 kg one way
Round trip: 12.3 kg / 27 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $2.60 $5.20
Mid-grade $4.25 $2.93 $5.87
Premium $4.65 $3.21 $6.42
Diesel $5.30 $3.66 $7.32

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 Lake Lotawana and East Independence. The current time is 22:02:05.

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.