Independence: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Independence is a city of 117,255 people in United States (Missouri), 319 m (1,047 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Kansas City International Airport (MCI), 35 km (22 mi) from the centre. It has 1 railway station on record, including Independence.
Key facts
Open Independence in Google Maps
Daylight in Independence runs from about 9 h 28 min a day in late December to 14 h 58 min in late June (computed for 39.09° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Independence is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Kansas City International Airport (MCI), 35 km (22 mi) from the centre, whose 10,801-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
Flights to Independence: every airport, routes and times
By rail: stations on record include Independence. Trains to Independence
Buses to Independence · Driving and car hire
What people come for
| Sight | Visitors a year | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Continent Public Library | 3,632,170 | 2017 |
| Harry S. Truman National Historic Site | 27,670 | 2010 |
The busiest is Mid-Continent Public Library at 3,632,170 visitors in 2017. At that volume, anything with a gate is worth a timed ticket or an early start.
Tours, tickets and day trips from Independence
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Omaha, 273 km — trains · buses · car rental · tours
- Kansas City, 14 km
- Tulsa, 355 km — trains · buses · car rental
- Wichita, 298 km — trains · buses · car rental · tours
- Lincoln, 270 km — trains · buses · car rental · tours
- St. Louis, 369 km — trains · buses · car rental
- Des Moines, 287 km — trains · buses · car rental · tours
- Overland Park, 25 km — car rental · tours
- Springfield, 230 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Kansas City, 18 km — tours
Twin towns and sister cities: Higashimurayama.
Common questions
Which airport serves Independence?
Kansas City International Airport (MCI), 35 km (22 mi) from the centre.
How big is Independence?
About 117,255 people live in Independence, across 203 km² (GeoNames and Wikidata).
What time zone is Independence in?
America/Chicago, currently UTC-5.
What currency is used in Independence?
The Dollar (USD). Traffic drives on the right.
Which cities are near Independence?
Omaha (273 km), Kansas City (14 km), Tulsa (355 km), Wichita (298 km), Lincoln (270 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.