Origin
Fulton, MO
Afternoon in Fulton on Thursday
Local time
1:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fulton, MO
Yaroslav Shuraev
Lee's Summit, MO
Wikimedia Commons
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto MO J
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 291 toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Fulton, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
Start on Court Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Continue on MO F
Continue on MO J
Turn right onto MO J
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70
Take the exit
Merge onto I 470; MO 291
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 291
Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Street
Continue on Southwest 3rd Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
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
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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 checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.7 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$23.08 one way
$46.15 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Fulton on Thursday
Local time
1:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Lee's Summit on Thursday
Local time
1:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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