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

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 36m

Distance

237.8 mi

383 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 23m ★
6 AM
4h 36m
8 AM
5h 3m
10 AM
4h 45m
12 PM
4h 43m
3 PM
4h 47m
5 PM
5h 1m
8 PM
4h 28m

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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Downtown Dellwood, MO, MO

Dellwood, MO

Momo King

city in Jackson and Cass counties in Missouri, United States

Lee's Summit, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Dellwood, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 237.8 miles and takes about 4h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 70, I 470, MO 291 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 221.4 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.18 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

118.9 miles from Dellwood, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 36m. Total distance: 237.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 4h 36m highway drive covering 237.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and I 470. The longest continuous stretch is about 221.4 miles on I 70.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 221.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and I 470. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.

Driving Effort 5/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 237.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

4
3 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward I 170 South

Navigation decision point

Toward I 170 South
7
4.1 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the exit toward I 70 West: Kansas City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 7B Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
5
4.5 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 70

Merge onto I 70

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

Use the straight lane.
8
227.5 mi into trip | ~4h 20m in

Take the exit toward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's Summit

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

Use the right lane. Exit 15A Toward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's Summit
8
234.1 mi into trip | ~4h 28m 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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 70 221.4 mi 4h 12m
I 470 6.4 mi 7m
MO 291 2.5 mi 4m
Airport Road 1.8 mi 2m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway 1.6 mi 1m
Southeast 3rd Street 0.9 mi 2m
Inner Belt Expressway 0.8 mi <1m
Chambers Road 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 70 — 221.4 mi, about 4h 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Chambers Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Chambers Road
2

Continue on Hereford Avenue

0.4 mi · 39 sec · Hereford Avenue
3

Continue on Airport Road

1.8 mi · 2 min · Airport Road
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 19 sec
Toward I 170 South
5

Merge onto I 170

0.8 mi · 59 sec · Inner Belt Expressway
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Exit 7B Toward I 70 West: Kansas City Use the slight right lane.
7

Merge onto I 70

221 mi · 4 hr 12 min · I 70
Use the straight lane.
8

Continue on I 70

1.6 mi · 1 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 15A Toward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's Summit Use the right lane.
10

Merge onto I 470; MO 291

6.4 mi · 7 min · I 470; MO 291
11

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.
12

Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · Southeast 3rd Street
13

Continue on Southwest 3rd Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Southwest 3rd Street
14

Arrive at destination

Southwest 3rd Street

Trip Plan

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 118.9 miles from Dellwood, MO, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 221.4 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 52 miles or 1h in

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

Halfway reset

Around 118.9 miles or 2h 17m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 43m

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 Dellwood, 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 Dellwood, MO

This is one driving day of about 237.8 miles and 4h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Dellwood, 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 I 70 for about 221.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 118.9 mi from Dellwood, MO · 2h 17m into the drive

Downtown Fulton, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fulton, MO

119 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

Fulton, MO to Lee's Summit, MO

147.6 mi · 2h 50m

Pacing Suggestions

Wentzville, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fulton, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 118.9 miles from Dellwood, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 221.4 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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Gateway Arch National Park

Gateway Arch National Park

National Park

Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour $19
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.18 one way

$74.35 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 83 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $40.82 $81.64
premium $4.89 $45.76 $91.52
diesel $5.61 $52.50 $105.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$37

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 83.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 71.3 0 $24.97 $11.41
Efficient EV 59.5 0 $20.81 $9.51
EV Truck/SUV 95.1 1 $33.29 $15.22

Gas CO2

83 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Dellwood, MO

Morning in Dellwood on Saturday

Local time

9:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lee's Summit, MO

Morning in Lee's Summit on Saturday

Local time

9:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°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

15 degrees warmer at arrival

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

Road read

4h 36m on the road

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Dellwood, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 237.8 miles and takes about 4h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 70, I 470, MO 291. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 118.9 miles from Dellwood, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.18 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 237.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 70): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Dellwood, MO to Lee's Summit, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Gateway Arch National Park.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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