How far is Sullivan, MO from Independence, MO?

The driving distance from Sullivan, MO to Independence, MO is about 228.9 miles (368.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 185.9 miles (299.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 52m 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
228.93 mi
03h 56m
Flight
185.93 mi
299.22 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sullivan.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
185.93 mi
Kilometers
299.22 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
228.93 mi
Kilometers
368.43 km
Drive Time
03h 56m

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 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Independence
Mon, May 4, 11:24 PM CDT
Return by in Sullivan
Tue, May 5, 3:20 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sullivan
2026-05-04T19:27
Arrive Independence
Mon, May 4, 11:24 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:56 AM to 11:56 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
9:08 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sullivan
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
Columbia
MO

The most populous city in the state of Missouri.

From Sullivan
117.1 mi
01h 58m
To Independence
111.8 mi
01h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph SW
Destination
82°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    17 m · 8 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Washington Street

    103 m · 10 sec · West Washington Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Hughes Ford Road

    36 m · 8 sec · Hughes Ford Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    115 m · 13 sec · West Main Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Elmont Road

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Elmont Road

  6. 6

    Turn right

    15.6 mi · 23 min

  7. 7

    Turn left

    44.7 mi · 51 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    1817 ft · 38 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto County Route 605

    1.5 mi · 6 min · County Route 605

  10. 10

    Turn right onto County Route 604

    1 km · 2 min · County Route 604

  11. 11

    Continue on Loose Creek Highway

    1 mi · 3 min · Loose Creek Highway

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Wolf Ridge Trail

    1908 ft · 1 min · Wolf Ridge Trail

  13. 13

    Turn right

    17.7 mi · 22 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia

    1591 ft · 41 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    1.4 mi · 2 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward US 63 North: Columbia

    27.8 mi · 31 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70, US 40, MO PP: Kansas City, Saint Louis

    2021 ft · 43 sec

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    1089 ft · 31 sec

  19. 19

    Take the exit left toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City

    2220 ft · 54 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

  22. 22

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

    54.4 mi · 58 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    52.5 mi · 57 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  25. 25

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  26. 26

    Continue on Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward Noland Road

    1110 ft · 24 sec

  28. 28

    Turn right onto South Noland Road

    3 mi · 5 min · South Noland Road

  29. 29

    Turn left onto East Walnut Street

    142 m · 23 sec · East Walnut Street

  30. 30

    Turn right onto South Lynn Street

    120 m · 23 sec · South Lynn Street

  31. 31

    Turn left onto East Kansas Avenue

    44 m · 6 sec · East Kansas Avenue

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Kansas Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Sullivan 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
32 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi · 24%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi · 24%
US 63 North
27.8 mi · 12%
Elmont Road
3.04 mi · 1%
South Noland Road
3.04 mi · 1%
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.65 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

54.4 mi · 00h 58m

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 56m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43 mi
185.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Columbia
01h 58m from Sullivan
Leave By
9:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Sullivan and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Independence.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 228.9 miles (368.4 km) and usually takes 03h 56m 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?

Columbia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 117.1 miles from Sullivan and 111.8 miles from Independence.

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

The direct path is about 185.9 miles (299.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 43 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 9:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.47 one way or $60.94 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 71.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Sullivan and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Independence.

Stop Ideas Near Columbia

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

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

RAIL

Jefferson City

44 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Sedalia

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

Hermann

83 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sullivan and Independence. Straight-line distance: 185.93 mi (299.22 km).

Sullivan

#1 Sullivan

City in Missouri

Population7,117
Coordinates38.2081000, -91.1604200
Altitude299
CountryUnited States
Independence

#2 Independence

A city in Jackson County, Missouri.

Population116,774
Coordinates39.0911200, -94.4155100
Altitude315
CountryUnited States
Start: (-91.160313, 38.208093)
End: East Kansas Avenue (-94.415514, 39.091027)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 368 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 51m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.08 gal
30.58 L · about $30.47
Round trip
$60.94
16.16 gal · 61.16 L
Estimated CO2
71.8 kg one way
Round trip: 143.6 kg / 317 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $30.47 $60.94
Mid-grade $4.25 $34.36 $68.73
Premium $4.65 $37.60 $75.21
Diesel $5.30 $42.86 $85.71

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 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Sullivan and Independence. The current time is 19:27:56.

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.