Trip from Cassville, MO to Lee's Summit, MO

Drive Time

3h 41m

Distance

179.3 mi

289 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

3h 29m ★

6 AM

3h 42m

8 AM

4h 7m

10 AM

3h 50m

12 PM

3h 48m

3 PM

3h 52m

5 PM

4h 6m

8 PM

3h 34m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Lee's Summit, MO

Jeevan Mahat

Trip Overview

Traveling from Cassville to Lee's Summit spans 179.3 miles, a journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 41 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $27 for fuel, making this an affordable transit across the Midwest. The route relies on a mix of local roads and highways, including MO 37 and the Purple Heart Trail. Whether you are heading north for business or a visit, this drive offers a straightforward connection between these two Missouri locations.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

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

Midpoint

89.6 miles from Cassville, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience that keeps you engaged throughout the 179.3-mile trip. With only 23% of the journey spent on highways, you will spend most of your time navigating local stretches rather than cruising on an interstate. Your longest uninterrupted segment is 92.9 miles along the Purple Heart Trail, which serves as the primary backbone of the route. As you transition between West Commercial Street, MO 37, and the trail, the road's personality shifts from technical local maneuvering to more consistent highway travel. Prepare for a varied pace that requires your full attention behind the wheel.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 92.9 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,406 ft 758 ft

Total Climb

436 ft

Total Descent

706 ft

Highest Point

1,406 ft

~12.8 mi in

Elevation Range

648 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 39.6 miles in.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 41m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 39.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 47.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 161.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

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

39.6 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in

Take the ramp toward I 44 West: Joplin

Navigation decision point

Toward I 44 West: Joplin

47.4 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in

Take the exit toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansas City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 18B Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansa...

161.5 mi into trip | ~3h 15m in

Take the exit toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 160 Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit

161.6 mi into trip | ~3h 15m in

Keep slight right at fork toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit

178.7 mi into trip | ~3h 40m in | Southwest Jefferson Street

Enter roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Cassville, MO to Lee's Summit, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Kansas City along the way.

Kansas City

47.4 mi in | ~1h 12m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	92.9 mi	1h 39m
MO 37	14.6 mi	21m
West Commercial Street	12.1 mi	21m
Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway	10.5 mi	11m
George Washington Carver Memorial Highway	10.3 mi	11m
MO 58	8.5 mi	11m
MO 291	8.3 mi	12m
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway	7.5 mi	8m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 92.9 mi, about 1h 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on this road

95 ft · 7 sec · this road

Turn right

55 ft · 6 sec

Turn right onto MO 76; MO 86; MO 112; MO 37 Business

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street

Turn straight onto MO 37 Business

2.8 mi · 4 min · State Highway 37 Business

At end of road, turn right onto MO 37

15 mi · 21 min · MO 37

Turn left onto US 60

4.4 mi · 5 min · US 60

Turn right onto MO 97

1.7 mi · 2 min · MO 97

Turn straight onto MO 97

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Ford Street

Turn left onto MO 37

12 mi · 21 min · West Commercial Street

Turn left onto I 44 Business; MO 37

0.3 mi · 26 sec · High Street

Continue on I 44 Business; MO 37

2.0 mi · 3 min · Blackberry Road

Turn right onto I 44 Business; MO 37

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 44 Business; MO 37

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Toward I 44 West: Joplin

Merge onto I 44

7.5 mi · 8 min · Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 44 sec

Exit 18B Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansas City

Merge onto I 49; US 71

10 mi · 11 min · George Washington Carver Memorial Highway

Continue on I 49; US 71

10 mi · 11 min · Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway

Continue on I 49; US 71

93 mi · 1 hr 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 17 sec

Exit 160 Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit

Keep slight right at fork

243 ft · 6 sec

Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit

Merge onto MO 291

8.3 mi · 12 min · MO 291

Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291

8.5 mi · 11 min · MO 58; MO 291

Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Southwest Jefferson Street

Enter roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street

189 ft · 3 sec · Southwest Jefferson Street

Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Southwest Jefferson Street

Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street

0.1 mi · 12 sec · Southwest 3rd Street

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

Southwest 3rd Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. You will only need to account for one planned stop to manage the 3 hour and 41 minute duration comfortably. Given the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, keep a close eye on your navigation to avoid missing transitions between MO 37 and the Purple Heart Trail. Prioritize fueling up before you hit the longer 92.9-mile stretch to ensure you maintain your $27 budget without unnecessary detours. Taking advantage of that single planned stop will help you stay refreshed for the final approach into Lee's Summit.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 89.6 miles from Cassville, MO, or about 1h 58m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.9 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 80 miles or 1h 48m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 89.6 miles or 1h 58m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 59m

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 Cassville, 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 Cassville, MO

This is one driving day of about 179.3 miles and 3h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cassville, MO.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 92.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 89.6 mi from Cassville, MO · 1h 58m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Nevada, MO

90 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Bella Vista, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Nevada, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 89.6 miles from Cassville, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 92.9 miles.

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

$27.23 one way

$54.47 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 63 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$30.02	$60.04
premium	$4.80	$33.85	$67.70
diesel	$5.64	$39.83	$79.67

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	53.8	$18.83	$8.61
Efficient EV	44.8	$15.69	$7.17
EV Truck/SUV	71.7	$25.10	$11.48

Gas CO2

63 kg

EV CO2

21 kg (67% 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

Cassville, MO

Afternoon in Cassville on Sunday

Local time

4:00 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lee's Summit, MO

Afternoon in Lee's Summit on Sunday

Local time

4:00 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

54°F

Nevada, MO

90 mi in

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

9 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

3h 41m 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 Cassville, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 179.3 miles and takes about 3h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, MO 37, West Commercial Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 89.6 miles from Cassville, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.23 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 3h 41m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

On the drive from Cassville, MO to Lee's Summit, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Kansas City along the way.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Lee's Summit, MO to Cassville, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

179.7 mi 3h 42m

Continue From Lee's Summit, MO

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