Drive Time
3h 59m
Distance
222 mi
357 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
Photo: Jeevan Mahat
The drive from Houston, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 222 miles and takes about 3h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Grand Avenue, South Sam Houston Boulevard, South Elm Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.72 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
111 miles from Houston, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 59m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 59m drive with frequent turns across 222 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 59m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Houston, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Grand Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Sam Houston Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Elm Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Peabody Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 60 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 65 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Schoolcraft Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 44 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
Start on the route
Turn left onto South Grand Avenue
Turn slight right onto South Sam Houston Boulevard
Turn right
Turn left onto South Elm Street
Continue on Peabody Avenue
Take the ramp right toward US 60 West: Mountain Grove
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 65 North: Sedalia
Merge slight left onto Schoolcraft Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 44 West: Joplin
Merge slight left onto Payne Stewart Highway
Take the exit slight right toward MO 13: Bolivar
Keep slight left to continue on MO 13: Bolivar
Keep slight right to continue on MO 13 North: Bolivar
Merge slight left onto North Kansas Expressway
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
Take the exit slight right toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Keep slight right to continue on MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Merge slight left
Turn slight left
Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Southwest Jefferson Street
Exit the roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111 miles or 1h 59m 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 16m
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 Houston, 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 Houston, MO
This is one driving day of about 222 miles and 3h 59m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 111 mi from Houston, MO · 1h 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
111 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 111 miles from Houston, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$33.72 one way
$67.44 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $37.17 | $74.34 |
| premium | $4.80 | $41.91 | $83.82 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $49.32 | $98.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.6 | 0 | $23.31 | $10.66 |
| Efficient EV | 55.5 | 0 | $19.42 | $8.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 88.8 | 1 | $31.08 | $14.21 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Houston on Saturday
Local time
4:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Lee's Summit on Saturday
Local time
4:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
74°F
Bella Vista, AR
111 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.
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