How far is Lake Ozark, MO from Independence, MO?

The driving distance from Lake Ozark, MO to Independence, MO is about 158.3 miles (254.8 km), with a travel time of about 02h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 114 miles (183.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 27m 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
158.35 mi
02h 43m
Flight
113.99 mi
183.45 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake Ozark.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
113.99 mi
Kilometers
183.45 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
158.35 mi
Kilometers
254.84 km
Drive Time
02h 43m

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 02h 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Independence
Sun, Apr 19, 1:24 AM CDT
Return by in Lake Ozark
Sun, Apr 19, 4:08 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Ozark
2026-04-18T22:41
Arrive Independence
Sun, Apr 19, 1:24 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:44 AM to 12:44 PM CDT

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

Leave by
1:02 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lake Ozark
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
Hughesville
MO

Township in Pettis County, Missouri

From Lake Ozark
76.9 mi
01h 21m
To Independence
81.4 mi
01h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 mph NW
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 Lake Ozark and Independence.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Ozark and Independence.

  1. 1

    Start on Bagnell Dam Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 4 min · Bagnell Dam Boulevard

  2. 2

    Exit the roundabout onto Willmore Lane

    952 ft · 19 sec · Willmore Lane

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    70 m · 4 sec

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout

    684 ft · 19 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    7.3 mi · 8 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 54 Business, MO 52: Eldon, Tuscumbia

    1144 ft · 27 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left

    2.4 mi · 4 min

  8. 8

    Turn left onto West 17th Street

    530 ft · 15 sec · West 17th Street

  9. 9

    Continue on South Grand Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · South Grand Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn left onto West 4th Street

    15 mi · 19 min · West 4th Street

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    14.5 mi · 19 min

  12. 12

    Turn left

    16.3 mi · 21 min

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    8 mi · 12 min

  14. 14

    Turn right onto South Engineer Avenue

    2756 ft · 1 min · South Engineer Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn left onto West Saline Street

    1764 ft · 48 sec · West Saline Street

  16. 16

    Continue on East Pettis Street

    2233 ft · 1 min · East Pettis Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto North Ohio Avenue

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North Ohio Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on MO 765

    576 ft · 12 sec · MO 765

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    16.1 mi · 19 min

  20. 20

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

    1351 ft · 46 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

    8.8 mi · 9 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 Lake Ozark and Independence.

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
30 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
19 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
52.5 mi · 33%
West 4th Street
37.4 mi · 24%
MO 765
16.2 mi · 10%
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
8.83 mi · 6%
Willmore Lane
7.7 mi · 5%
South Noland Road
3.04 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

52.5 mi · 00h 57m

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
02h 43m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.3 mi
114 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hughesville
01h 21m from Lake Ozark
Leave By
1:02 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Lake Ozark 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 Lake Ozark to Independence?

The road trip is about 158.3 miles (254.8 km) and usually takes 02h 43m 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?

Hughesville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 76.9 miles from Lake Ozark and 81.4 miles from Independence.

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

The direct path is about 114 miles (183.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:02 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.08 one way or $42.16 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Lake Ozark and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Independence.

Stop Ideas Near Hughesville

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

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

RAIL

Sedalia

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

Warrensburg

39 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Lee's Summit

94 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Independence

102 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Ozark and Independence. Straight-line distance: 113.99 mi (183.45 km).

Lake Ozark

#1 Lake Ozark

City in Miller County, Missouri, United States

Population1,853
Coordinates38.1986400, -92.6388000
Altitude229
CountryUnited States
Independence

#2 Independence

A city in Jackson County, Missouri.

Population116,774
Coordinates39.0911200, -94.4155100
Altitude315
CountryUnited States
Start: Bagnell Dam Boulevard (-92.638831, 38.198764)
End: East Kansas Avenue (-94.415514, 39.091027)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 255 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.59 gal
21.15 L · about $21.08
Round trip
$42.16
11.18 gal · 42.3 L
Estimated CO2
49.7 kg one way
Round trip: 99.4 kg / 219 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $21.08 $42.16
Mid-grade $4.25 $23.77 $47.55
Premium $4.65 $26.02 $52.03
Diesel $5.30 $29.65 $59.30

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 Ozark and Independence. The current time is 22:41:02.

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.