The drive from La Plata, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 180.9 miles and takes about 3h 32m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, MO 110, US 63 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 95.6 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.28 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
90.4 miles from La Plata, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 180.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 32m highway drive covering 180.9 miles, with most of the trip on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and MO 110. The longest continuous stretch is about 95.6 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 95.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and MO 110. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Gex Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 180.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 (South Gex Street): Navigation decision point; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.5 miles (MO 110): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Gex Street
Turn left onto South Gex Street
Navigation decision point
6
19.8 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Saint Joseph
6
115.5 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|MO 110
Turn left onto MO 110 toward I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City
5
156.6 mi into trip|~2h 59m in
Take the exit toward I 435 South: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 12
Toward I 435 South: Saint Louis
8
170.3 mi into trip|~3h 15m in
Take the exit toward MO 350 East: 63rd Street, Raytown, Lee's Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 66
Toward MO 350 East: 63rd Street, Raytown, Lee's...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from La Plata, MO to Lee's Summit, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Raytown along the way.
Raytown
170.3 mi in|~3h 15m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
95.6 mi
1h 50m
MO 110
41 mi
44m
US 63
18.9 mi
21m
I 435
9.5 mi
11m
Blue Parkway
8.2 mi
12m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
3.5 mi
4m
US 50
1.4 mi
1m
Southwest 3rd Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 95.6 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Plata, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on East Moore Street
20 ft·6 sec·East Moore Street
2
Turn left onto South Gex Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·South Gex Street
3
Turn left onto MO 156
0.7 mi·1 min·East Clark Street
4
Turn right onto US 63
19 mi·21 min·US 63
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·11 sec
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Saint Joseph
6
Merge onto US 36; MO 110
96 mi·1 hr 50 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
7
Turn left onto MO 110
41 mi·44 min·MO 110
Toward I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 12Toward I 435 South: Saint Louis
9
Merge onto I 435
9.5 mi·11 min·I 435
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 435
3.5 mi·4 min·Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
Toward I 435 South: Wichita
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 66Toward MO 350 East: 63rd Street, Raytown, Lee's SummitUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto MO 350
8.2 mi·12 min·Blue Parkway
13
Continue on US 50
1.4 mi·1 min·US 50
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward Southwest 3rd Street
15
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Southwest 3rd Street
16
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 90.4 miles from La Plata, MO, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.6 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 40 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.4 miles or 1h 45m 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 50m
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 La Plata, 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 La Plata, MO
This is one driving day of about 180.9 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from La Plata, 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 Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for about 95.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 90.4 mi from La Plata, MO
· 1h 45m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.28 one way
$56.56 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.05
$62.10
premium
$4.89
$34.81
$69.63
diesel
$5.61
$39.94
$79.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.3
0
$18.99
$8.68
Efficient EV
45.2
0
$15.83
$7.24
EV Truck/SUV
72.4
0
$25.33
$11.58
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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
La Plata, MO
Afternoon
in La Plata on Friday
Local time
1:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Afternoon
in Lee's Summit on Friday
Local time
1:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
New York, MO
90 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
4 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
3h 32m 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 La Plata, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 180.9 miles and takes about 3h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, MO 110, US 63. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 90.4 miles from La Plata, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.28 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 180.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 (South Gex Street): Navigation decision point; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.5 miles (MO 110): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from La Plata, MO to Lee's Summit, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Raytown along the way.
