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

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 50m

Distance

147.6 mi

238 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 39m ★
6 AM
2h 50m
8 AM
3h 12m
10 AM
2h 58m
12 PM
2h 56m
3 PM
2h 59m
5 PM
3h 11m
8 PM
2h 44m

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

Downtown Fulton, MO, MO

Fulton, MO

Yaroslav Shuraev

city in Jackson and Cass counties in Missouri, United States

Lee's Summit, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 147.6-mile journey from Fulton, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, with a portion on Martin Luther King Junior Drive. With a fuel cost estimated at $23, this Midwest to Midwest drive offers a straightforward passage. The route is designed for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time and pacing.

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

73.8 miles from Fulton, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 50m. Total distance: 147.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (6%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 147.6-mile route, with about 6% of your travel on high-speed highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 62.7 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. While it's not a constant interstate grind, the frequent turns and transitions between road types mean you'll be actively engaged behind the wheel. This drive offers a mix of efficient highway travel and more intricate local road navigation.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 62.7 miles.

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 early in the drive near West 4th Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 50m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.4 miles (MO J): Navigation decision point; at 14.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West 4th Street

Turn right onto West 4th Street

Navigation decision point

3
11.4 mi into trip | ~16m in | MO J

Turn right onto MO J

Navigation decision point

6
14.9 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the ramp toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
8
137.3 mi into trip | ~2h 34m 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
143.9 mi into trip | ~2h 43m 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
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 62.7 mi 1h 8m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway 54.4 mi 58m
Martin Luther King Junior Drive 10.2 mi 14m
I 470 6.4 mi 7m
MO J 4.3 mi 6m
MO 291 2.5 mi 4m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway 2 mi 2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway 1.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 62.7 mi, about 1h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Court Street

24 ft · 3 sec · Court Street
2

Turn right onto West 4th Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · West 4th Street
3

Continue on MO F

10 mi · 14 min · Martin Luther King Junior Drive
4

Continue on MO J

0.8 mi · 1 min · MO J
5

Turn right onto MO J

3.5 mi · 4 min · MO J
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 12 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
7

Merge onto I 70; US 40

8.4 mi · 9 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8

Continue on I 70; US 40

2.0 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
9

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.6 mi · 1 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
10

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
11

Continue on I 70; US 40

54 mi · 58 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
12

Continue on I 70; US 40

52 mi · 56 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13

Continue on I 70

1.6 mi · 1 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
14

Take the exit

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

Merge onto I 470; MO 291

6.4 mi · 7 min · I 470; MO 291
16

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.
17

Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · Southeast 3rd Street
18

Continue on Southwest 3rd Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Southwest 3rd Street
19

Arrive at destination

Southwest 3rd Street

Trip Plan

Given the 2-hour and 50-minute duration, this trip is ideal for a single day. You'll want to factor in one planned stop, perhaps midway, to break up the 62.7-mile longest stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $23, and it's always wise to top off before heading out. A good time to depart would be mid-morning to avoid early rush hour and have ample daylight for the drive.

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.8 miles from Fulton, MO, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.7 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 32 miles or 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 73.8 miles or 1h 26m 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 17m

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 Fulton, 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 Fulton, MO

This is one driving day of about 147.6 miles and 2h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Fulton, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 62.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 73.8 mi from Fulton, MO · 1h 26m into the drive

city in and county seat of Saline County, Missouri, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marshall, MO

74 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

Marshall, MO to Lee's Summit, MO

82.9 mi · 1h 39m

Pacing Suggestions

Columbia, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Marshall, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.8 miles from Fulton, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.7 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

$23.08 one way

$46.15 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $25.34 $50.67
premium $4.89 $28.40 $56.81
diesel $5.61 $32.59 $65.18

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44.3 0 $15.50 $7.08
Efficient EV 36.9 0 $12.92 $5.90
EV Truck/SUV 59 0 $20.66 $9.45

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Fulton, MO

Afternoon in Fulton on Thursday

Local time

1:15 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lee's Summit, MO

Afternoon in Lee's Summit on Thursday

Local time

1:15 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

71°F

Marshall, MO

74 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

18 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

2h 50m 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 Fulton, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 147.6 miles and takes about 2h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Martin Luther King Junior Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.8 miles from Fulton, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.08 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.
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 2h 50m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.4 miles (MO J): Navigation decision point; at 14.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Fulton, MO to Lee's Summit, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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