How far is Smithville, MO from Independence, MO?

The driving distance from Smithville, MO to Independence, MO is about 31 miles (49.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 22.3 miles (35.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 15m 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
30.98 mi
00h 37m
Flight
22.28 mi
35.85 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Smithville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
22.28 mi
Kilometers
35.85 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
30.98 mi
Kilometers
49.86 km
Drive Time
00h 37m

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 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Independence
Thu, Apr 23, 8:08 AM CDT
Return by in Smithville
Thu, Apr 23, 8:46 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Smithville
2026-04-23T07:30
Arrive Independence
Thu, Apr 23, 8:08 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:38 AM to 7:38 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:14 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Smithville
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
Pleasant Valley
MO

City in Clay County, Missouri, United States

From Smithville
14.7 mi
00h 18m
To Independence
16.2 mi
00h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 to 21 mph S
Destination
77°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 to 21 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    21 m · 11 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1042 ft · 41 sec · West Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn left

    5.4 mi · 8 min

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward I 435 East: Saint Louis

    1534 ft · 53 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    18.9 mi · 21 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 12 East: 12th Street, Truman Road

    2227 ft · 50 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto East Truman Road

    4 mi · 9 min · East Truman Road

  8. 8

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    1003 ft · 49 sec · North Main Street

  9. 9

    Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue

    19 m · 3 sec · East Kansas Avenue

  10. 10

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Kansas Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Smithville and 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
10 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
32.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 435 East
19.2 mi · 62%
East Truman Road
4.01 mi · 13%
MO 12 East
0.42 mi · 1%
West Main Street
0.2 mi · 1%
North Main Street
0.19 mi · 1%
East Kansas Avenue
0.01 mi
Longest Stretch

I 435 East

Merge slight left

18.9 mi · 00h 21m

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 37m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.7 mi
22.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pleasant Valley
00h 18m from Smithville
Leave By
7:14 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Smithville 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 Smithville to Independence?

The road trip is about 31 miles (49.9 km) and usually takes 00h 37m 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?

Pleasant Valley is a useful midpoint, sitting about 14.7 miles from Smithville and 16.2 miles from Independence.

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

The direct path is about 22.3 miles (35.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.7 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 7:14 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.11 one way or $8.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Smithville and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Independence.

Stop Ideas Near Pleasant Valley

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 Pleasant Valley and the surrounding midpoint area.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Scenic stop 10.6 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 9.7 mi away

Parkville City Hall

Parkville , MO
8880 Clark Ave, Parkville, MO 64152
Rating 5.0/5 4 reviews City Hall,City government office
Country Club Plaza
Nearby stop 14.4 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
Overlook at Quality Hill
Scenic stop 10.5 mi away

Overlook at Quality Hill

Kansas City , MO
1031 Summit St, Kansas City, MO 64105
Rating 4.7/5 19 reviews Park

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Pleasant Valley.

RAIL

Independence

15 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.
RAIL

Union Station

17 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.
RAIL

Lee's Summit

35 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 Smithville and Independence. Straight-line distance: 22.28 mi (35.85 km).

Smithville

#1 Smithville

City in Tennessee

Population11,011
Coordinates39.3869400, -94.5810700
Altitude248
CountryUnited States
Independence

#2 Independence

A city in Jackson County, Missouri.

Population116,774
Coordinates39.0911200, -94.4155100
Altitude315
CountryUnited States
Start: (-94.581241, 39.386946)
End: East Kansas Avenue (-94.415514, 39.091027)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 50 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 37m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.09 gal
4.14 L · about $4.11
Round trip
$8.22
2.18 gal · 8.28 L
Estimated CO2
9.7 kg one way
Round trip: 19.4 kg / 43 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.11 $8.22
Mid-grade $4.25 $4.64 $9.27
Premium $4.65 $5.07 $10.15
Diesel $5.30 $5.78 $11.56

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Smithville and Independence. The current time is 07:30:35.

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.