The drive from High Ridge, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 243.5 miles and takes about 4h 48m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 80.7 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.07 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
121.8 miles from High Ridge, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 48m. Total distance: 243.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 48m drive with frequent turns across 243.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 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 80.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near High Ridge Boulevard.
Driving Effort6/10
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 243.5 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (High Ridge Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (MO PP): Navigation decision point; at 38.2 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|High Ridge Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto High Ridge Boulevard
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|MO PP
Turn left onto MO PP
Navigation decision point
8
38.2 mi into trip|~53m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
8
233.2 mi into trip|~4h 33m 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
239.9 mi into trip|~4h 41m 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
80.7 mi
1h 35m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
Avenue of the Saints
22.1 mi
26m
MO 141
8.8 mi
13m
I 470
6.4 mi
7m
MO 30
3.8 mi
4m
MO 291
2.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between High Ridge, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on this road
119 ft·10 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto High Ridge Boulevard
0.2 mi·45 sec·High Ridge Boulevard
3
Turn left onto MO PP
0.2 mi·22 sec·MO PP
4
Turn left onto MO 30
3.8 mi·4 min·MO 30
5
Take the exit
485 ft·12 sec
Toward New Sugar Creek Road
6
Turn slight left onto New Sugar Creek Road
1.1 mi·1 min·New Sugar Creek Road
7
Continue on Hawkins Road
1.6 mi·3 min·Hawkins Road
8
Turn left onto MO 141
8.8 mi·13 min·MO 141
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
133 ft·7 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
10
Turn left
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
11
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
22 mi·26 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit onto US 40
0.6 mi·1 min·US 40
Exit 1AToward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
15
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
16
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
17
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
The midpoint is around 121.8 miles from High Ridge, 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 80.7 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.07 one way
$76.14 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$41.80
$83.60
premium
$4.89
$46.86
$93.72
diesel
$5.61
$53.76
$107.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
28 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Supercharger
Lake St Louis, Missouri
Tesla
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
O'Fallon, Missouri
Blink
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Columbia, Missouri
Blink
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Kingdom City, Missouri
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Columbia, Missouri
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Rivian Adventure Network
Columbia, Missouri
Rivian
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Columbia, Missouri
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Columbia, Missouri
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 8
Blink: 5
Tesla: 4
Other: 4
Tesla Destination: 3
EV Connect: 2
Rivian: 1
EVgo: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.1
0
$25.57
$11.69
Efficient EV
60.9
0
$21.31
$9.74
EV Truck/SUV
97.4
1
$34.09
$15.58
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% 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 18, 2026
Origin
High Ridge, MO
Late night
in High Ridge on Saturday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Late night
in Lee's Summit on Saturday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:43AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:07AM CDT until April 19 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
74°F
Washington, MO
122 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
16 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
4h 48m 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 High Ridge, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 243.5 miles and takes about 4h 48m 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, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 121.8 miles from High Ridge, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.07 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 243.5 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (High Ridge Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (MO PP): Navigation decision point; at 38.2 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from High Ridge, MO to Lee's Summit, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
