Missouri to Kansas

Distance from Independence to Topeka

Straight-line distance

72.2mi

Independence, MO and Topeka, KS are 72.2 miles (116.2 km) apart in a straight line. From Independence, the shortest path starts out heading W (268°).

kilometers
116.2
nautical miles
62.7
heading from Independence
268° W
heading from Topeka
87° E
IndependenceTopeka

Orange line: great-circle path · ring: midpoint · thin lines: county borders

How far Independence is from Topeka

The great-circle distance between the Census internal points of Independence and Topeka is 72.2 miles, 116.2 km or 62.7 nautical miles. That is the shortest path over the Earth's surface, computed with the haversine formula on a sphere with the mean Earth radius, 6,371.0 km. A course held on one compass bearing (a rhumb line) would be 72.2 miles, practically the same at this range.

Measurements

Miles
72.2
Kilometers
116.2
Nautical miles
62.7
Bearing from Independence
267.6° W
Bearing arriving at Topeka
266.8°
Bearing from Topeka
86.8° E

Halfway between Independence and Topeka

The great-circle midpoint is at 39.062029, -95.024392 (39°03'43.30"N 95°01'27.81"W). The nearest incorporated place of 1,000 or more people is Tonganoxie, KS, with 6,195 residents, 4.3 miles from the midpoint. To find towns near the midpoint of any two places, use the halfway tool.

Time zones and daylight

Both use America/Chicago, so there is no time difference. On June 21, Independence gets 14 h 55 min of daylight and Topeka 14 h 55 min; on December 21, 9 h 25 min and 9 h 26 min. The two sit at nearly the same latitude, so their day lengths match closely all year.

Population compared

Topeka has 1.0 times the population of Independence. From July 2020 to July 2024, Independence changed by -1.0% and Topeka by -0.8%. The trip crosses from Missouri into Kansas.

  1. 01Independence, MO121,629 (-1.0%)
  2. 02Topeka, KS125,467 (-0.8%)
July 1, 2024 population and change since July 2020, Census Vintage 2024.

Questions people ask

How far is Independence from Topeka?

72.2 miles, 116.2 km or 62.7 nautical miles along the great circle between the two Census internal points. Road distance is longer.

Which direction is Topeka from Independence?

W. The great-circle path leaves Independence on a bearing of 267.6° and arrives at Topeka on 266.8°. The return trip starts on 86.8°.

What is halfway between Independence and Topeka?

The midpoint is at 39.062029, -95.024392. The nearest incorporated place of 1,000+ is Tonganoxie, KS, 4.3 miles from it.

Is there a time difference between Independence and Topeka?

Both use America/Chicago, so there is no time difference.

Which is bigger, Independence or Topeka?

Topeka, with 125,467 residents in July 2024 against 121,629 for Independence, 1.0 times as many.

Sources and data as of

Data as of: Census 2024 Gazetteer internal points and Vintage 2024 estimates; time zones from Open-Meteo.

  1. 01Census 2024 Gazetteer, places
  2. 02Census Vintage 2024 subcounty population estimates
  3. 03SunCalc library (Vladimir Agafonkin), algorithms after Jean Meeus
  4. 04IANA time zone database (clock times and daylight saving rules)

How every number is computed: methodology. Spotted a wrong figure? Report an error.