How far is Monroe City, MO from Independence, MO?

The driving distance from Monroe City, MO to Independence, MO is about 186 miles (299.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 148.4 miles (238.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 08m 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
185.96 mi
03h 04m
Flight
148.36 mi
238.77 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Monroe City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
148.36 mi
Kilometers
238.77 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
185.96 mi
Kilometers
299.27 km
Drive Time
03h 04m

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 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Independence
Fri, Apr 17, 2:34 AM CDT
Return by in Monroe City
Fri, Apr 17, 5:38 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Monroe City
2026-04-16T23:29
Arrive Independence
Fri, Apr 17, 2:34 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:04 AM to 11:04 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
10:52 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Monroe City
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
Cream Ridge
MO

Human settlement in Missouri, United States of America

From Monroe City
92.9 mi
01h 32m
To Independence
93.1 mi
01h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph SW
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Monroe City and Independence.

  1. 1

    Start on North Main Street

    1353 ft · 27 sec · North Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Stoddard Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · Stoddard Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    135.7 mi · 2 hr 37 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  4. 4

    Turn left onto I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City

    33.9 mi · 37 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right

    1274 ft · 34 sec

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Plattsburg Road

    552 ft · 11 sec · Plattsburg Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Lightborne Road

    820 ft · 16 sec · Lightborne Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Lightburne Street

    2.7 mi · 5 min · Lightburne Street

  9. 9

    Continue on South Leonard Street

    1 km · 2 min · South Leonard Street

  10. 10

    Take the ramp left

    45 m · 3 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight right

    8.3 mi · 12 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 24

    919 ft · 25 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on US 24

    65 m · 6 sec

  14. 14

    Turn slight right

    2 mi · 5 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto North Noland Road

    1 km · 1 min · North Noland Road

  16. 16

    Turn right onto East Lexington Avenue

    835 ft · 28 sec · East Lexington Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto South Lynn Street

    124 m · 20 sec · South Lynn Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto East Kansas Avenue

    44 m · 6 sec · East Kansas Avenue

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Kansas Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Monroe City 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
19 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
136 mi · 73%
I 35 South
34.1 mi · 18%
South Leonard Street
8.97 mi · 5%
Lightburne Street
2.72 mi · 1%
Stoddard Street
0.9 mi
North Noland Road
0.65 mi
Longest Stretch

Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

Turn left onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

136 mi · 02h 37m

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 04m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.6 mi
148.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cream Ridge
01h 32m from Monroe City
Leave By
10:52 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Monroe City and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Independence.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Monroe City to Independence?

The road trip is about 186 miles (299.3 km) and usually takes 03h 04m 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?

Cream Ridge is a useful midpoint, sitting about 92.9 miles from Monroe City and 93.1 miles from Independence.

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

The direct path is about 148.4 miles (238.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.6 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 10:52 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.74 one way or $49.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 58.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Monroe City and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Independence.

Stop Ideas Near Cream Ridge

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

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

RAIL

La Plata

88 mi away
535 N. Owensby St.
RAIL

Independence

114 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.
RAIL

Warrensburg

116 mi away
100 South Holden St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Monroe City and Independence. Straight-line distance: 148.36 mi (238.77 km).

Monroe City

#1 Monroe City

City in Monroe County, Missouri, United States

Population2,438
Coordinates39.6536500, -91.7346100
Altitude227
CountryUnited States
Independence

#2 Independence

A city in Jackson County, Missouri.

Population116,774
Coordinates39.0911200, -94.4155100
Altitude315
CountryUnited States
Start: North Main Street (-91.734652, 39.653649)
End: East Kansas Avenue (-94.415514, 39.091027)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 299 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.56 gal
24.84 L · about $24.74
Round trip
$49.48
13.12 gal · 49.68 L
Estimated CO2
58.3 kg one way
Round trip: 116.6 kg / 257 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $24.74 $49.48
Mid-grade $4.25 $27.90 $55.80
Premium $4.65 $30.53 $61.06
Diesel $5.30 $34.79 $69.59

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Monroe City and Independence. The current time is 23:29:54.

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.