Cities Near Independence
Cities near Independence, Missouri: 10 notable destinations within day-trip and weekend range, including Kansas City, Blue Springs, Lee's Summit. Compare distance, drive time and flight time, with day-trip and getaway ideas.
The closest notable city to Independence, Missouri is Kansas City, about 9 mi (14 km) away — roughly 30 min by road. Below, 10 nearby cities are ranked by distance, with real drive and flight estimates and whether each works best as a day trip or an overnight getaway.
| City | Distance | Drive | Flight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | 9 mi / 14 km | 30 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Blue Springs | 9 mi / 14 km | 30 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Lee's Summit | 13 mi / 20 km | 43 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Overland Park | 16 mi / 25 km | 30 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Olathe | 26 mi / 42 km | 50 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Lawrence | 45 mi / 72 km | 1 hr 20 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Saint Joseph | 52 mi / 84 km | 1 hr 34 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Topeka | 68 mi / 109 km | 2 hr 2 min | Drive/rail | Day trip / overnight |
| Columbia | 112 mi / 180 km | 2 hr 36 min | Drive/rail | Day trip / overnight |
| Manhattan | 116 mi / 186 km | 2 hr 41 min | Drive/rail | Day trip / overnight |
Day trips from Independence
Within about 100 miles and easy to visit in a day: Kansas City, Blue Springs, Lee's Summit, Overland Park, Olathe. These are close enough to go and return without an overnight stay.
Weekend getaways from Independence
Far enough for a change of scene but still an easy hop: Columbia, Manhattan. Worth an overnight or a full weekend.
Getting around
Nearby cities are usually quickest by car or train; for the longer hops a regional flight can save time. Tap any city above for its full distance, driving-time and flight-time breakdown, or plan a specific route with the tools below.
Frequently asked questions
Notable cities near Independence include Kansas City, Blue Springs, Lee's Summit, Overland Park, Olathe. The closest is Kansas City, about 9 miles (14 km) away. The table above lists each with its distance, drive time and best use.
More about Independence
Nearby city travel guides
- → Best time to visit Kansas City
- → Best time to visit Blue Springs
- → Best time to visit Lee's Summit
- → Best time to visit Overland Park
- → Best time to visit Olathe
- → Best time to visit Lawrence
- → Best time to visit Saint Joseph
- → Best time to visit Topeka
- → Best time to visit Columbia
- → Best time to visit Manhattan