Trip from Blue Springs, MO to Lee's Summit, MO

Drive Time

20m

Distance

11.6 mi

19 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 19m ★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 24m
8 PM
0h 19m ★

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Blue Springs, MO, MO

Blue Springs, MO

卓浩 虞

Downtown Lee's Summit, MO, MO

Lee's Summit, MO

Jeevan Mahat

Trip Overview

Traveling between Blue Springs and Lee's Summit is a quick 11.6-mile commute that typically takes about 20 minutes. Since this route stays within the Midwest, you will find the journey straightforward and easy to manage in a single day. Budgeting around $2 for fuel makes this an incredibly affordable trip for any local traveler. You will navigate a mix of roads, including MO 291, Southwest Woods Chapel Road, and I-470, ensuring a varied experience behind the wheel. Because the duration is so short, there is no need to plan for overnight stays or extensive logistical preparation. It serves as a practical, efficient connection between these two Missouri cities, perfect for a brief excursion.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

5.8 miles from Blue Springs, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip offers a mixed driving profile, transitioning between local roads and interstate speeds. Approximately 52% of your drive will be spent on highways, providing a balance of steady cruising and slower, localized navigation. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 2.5 miles while traveling on MO 291, which breaks up the more technical segments. As you move from the initial surface streets onto I-470, the character of the drive shifts from suburban flow to a more structured highway pace. Expect a functional drive that requires your full attention as you transition between these different road types throughout the 20-minute span.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MO 291 is the longest continuous segment at about 2.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 5 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near Southwest Woods Chapel Road.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 11.6 miles you will encounter 5 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (Southwest Woods Chapel Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles (I 470; MO 291): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
2 mi into trip | ~3m in | Southwest Woods Chapel Road

Turn left onto Southwest Woods Chapel Road

Navigation decision point

7
5.7 mi into trip | ~10m in

Turn left toward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's Summit, Harrisonville

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's Summit,...
5
5.9 mi into trip | ~11m in | I 470; MO 291

Merge onto I 470; MO 291

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
8
7.9 mi into trip | ~13m in | MO 291

Keep slight left at fork onto MO 291 toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 10B Toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville
3
10.4 mi into trip | ~17m in | Southeast 3rd Street

Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Street

Navigation decision point

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Blue Springs, MO to Lee's Summit, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Harrisonville along the way.

Harrisonville

5.7 mi in | ~10m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
MO 291 2.5 mi 4m
Southwest Woods Chapel Road 2.3 mi 4m
I 470 2 mi 2m
Corporal M.E. Webster Memorial Parkway 1.5 mi 2m
Northeast Woods Chapel Road 1.3 mi 2m
Southeast 3rd Street 0.9 mi 2m
Southwest 15th Street 0.5 mi 1m
Southwest 3rd Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: MO 291 — 2.5 mi, about 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Blue Springs, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.

1

Start on Southwest 15th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Southwest 15th Street
2

Turn slight right

190 ft · 7 sec
3

Turn slight right onto US 40

1.5 mi · 2 min · Corporal M.E. Webster Memorial Parkway
4

Turn left onto Southwest Woods Chapel Road

2.3 mi · 4 min · Southwest Woods Chapel Road
5

Continue on Northeast Woods Chapel Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · Northeast Woods Chapel Road
6

Continue on Woods Chapel Road

415 ft · 14 sec · Woods Chapel Road
7

Turn left

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's Summit, Harrisonville
8

Merge onto I 470; MO 291

2.0 mi · 2 min · I 470; MO 291
Use the none lane.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto MO 291

2.5 mi · 4 min · MO 291
Exit 10B Toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10

Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · Southeast 3rd Street
11

Continue on Southwest 3rd Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Southwest 3rd Street
Use the none lane.
12

Arrive at destination

Southwest 3rd Street

Trip Plan

Given the short 11.6-mile distance, you have maximum flexibility when planning your departure time. Since there are zero required stops on this direct route, you can easily complete the trip in one go without needing to build in rest breaks. Keep in mind that your fuel budget is quite low at $2, making this an economical choice for a spontaneous drive. If you want to avoid heavy traffic, try to time your departure outside of typical peak commuting hours to ensure you maintain that 20-minute travel time. Pay close attention to the signage when transitioning from Southwest Woods Chapel Road to the interstate to ensure you stay on the most efficient path.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 5.8 miles from Blue Springs, MO, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 2.5 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 11.6 miles or 20m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 5.8 miles or 10m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lee's Summit, MO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Blue Springs, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Blue Springs, MO

This is one driving day of about 11.6 miles and 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Blue Springs, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on MO 291 for about 2.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 5.8 mi from Blue Springs, MO · 10m into the drive

Downtown Kansas City, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kansas City, MO

6 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Kansas City, MO to Lee's Summit, MO

19.6 mi · 29m

Pacing Suggestions

Kansas City, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kansas City, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 5.8 miles from Blue Springs, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lee's Summit, MO

The final approach into Lee's Summit, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Lee's Summit, MO.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.76 one way

$3.52 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $1.94 $3.88
premium $4.80 $2.19 $4.38
diesel $5.64 $2.58 $5.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 4.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.5 0 $1.22 $0.56
Efficient EV 2.9 0 $1.02 $0.46
EV Truck/SUV 4.6 0 $1.62 $0.74

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Blue Springs, MO

Afternoon in Blue Springs on Sunday

Local time

4:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lee's Summit, MO

Afternoon in Lee's Summit on Sunday

Local time

4:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

1 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

20m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Blue Springs, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 11.6 miles and takes about 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MO 291, Southwest Woods Chapel Road, I 470. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.8 miles from Blue Springs, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.76 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 11.6 miles you will encounter 5 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (Southwest Woods Chapel Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles (I 470; MO 291): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Blue Springs, MO to Lee's Summit, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Harrisonville along the way.

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