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

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

5h 40m

Distance

258.5 mi

416 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$40

one way

EV Charging

Good

6 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 27m ★
6 AM
5h 40m
8 AM
6h 7m
10 AM
5h 49m
12 PM
5h 47m
3 PM
5h 51m
5 PM
6h 5m
8 PM
5h 32m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Leadwood, MO, MO

Leadwood, MO

Kelly

city in Jackson and Cass counties in Missouri, United States

Lee's Summit, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Leadwood, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 258.5 miles and takes about 5h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 50, US 63, MO 8 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 100.1 miles on US 50. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.41 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

129.2 miles from Leadwood, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 57m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 40m. Total distance: 258.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 5h 40m highway drive covering 258.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 50 and US 63. The longest continuous stretch is about 100.1 miles on US 50.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 50 is the longest continuous segment at about 100.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and US 63. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 56.5 miles in.

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 5h 40m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 56.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 69 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 81.4 miles (US 63): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
56.5 mi into trip | ~1h 25m in

Take the ramp toward I 44 West: Rolla

Navigation decision point

Toward I 44 West: Rolla
6
69 mi into trip | ~1h 38m in

Take the exit toward MO 8, MO 68: Saint James

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 195 Toward MO 8, MO 68: Saint James
6
81.4 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in | US 63

At end of road, turn right onto US 63

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
257.6 mi into trip | ~5h 38m in | MO 291

Take the exit onto MO 291 toward MO 291 South: Jefferson Street, Harrisonville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward MO 291 South: Jefferson Street, Harrison...
6
257.9 mi into trip | ~5h 39m in | Southwest Jefferson Street

Enter roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 50 100.1 mi 2h 6m
US 63 76.1 mi 1h 35m
MO 8 49.2 mi 1h 13m
I 44 12.3 mi 13m
North Jefferson Street 12.2 mi 18m
MO 19 6.5 mi 9m
West North Street 0.5 mi 1m
Southwest Jefferson Street 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 50 — 100.1 mi, about 2h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West Warner Drive

0.2 mi · 27 sec · West Warner Drive
2

Continue on West North Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · West North Street
3

Turn right onto MO M

245 ft · 13 sec · MO M
4

Turn left onto MO 8

49 mi · 1 hr 13 min · MO 8
5

Continue on MO 19

6.5 mi · 9 min · MO 19
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward I 44 West: Rolla
7

Merge onto I 44

12 mi · 13 min · I 44
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 195 Toward MO 8, MO 68: Saint James
9

Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 68

12 mi · 18 min · North Jefferson Street
10

At end of road, turn right onto US 63

76 mi · 1 hr 35 min · US 63
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Continue on US 50

100 mi · 2 hr 6 min · US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Take the exit onto MO 291

0.1 mi · 18 sec · MO 291
Toward MO 291 South: Jefferson Street, Harrisonville
13

Keep slight right at fork

472 ft · 12 sec
14

Enter roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street

102 ft · 2 sec · Southwest Jefferson Street
15

Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Southwest Jefferson Street
16

Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street

0.1 mi · 12 sec · Southwest 3rd Street
Use the left lane.
17

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 129.2 miles from Leadwood, MO, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.1 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 57 miles or 1h 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 129.2 miles or 2h 57m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 40m

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 Leadwood, 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 Leadwood, MO

This is one driving day of about 258.5 miles and 5h 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Leadwood, 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 US 50 for about 100.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 129.2 mi from Leadwood, MO · 2h 57m into the drive

capital city of Missouri, United States and county seat of Cole County

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Jefferson City, MO

129 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Washington, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Jefferson City, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 129.2 miles from Leadwood, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 50 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100.1 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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 129.2

Jefferson City, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 129.2

Jefferson City, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 129.2

Jefferson City, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Charge Pro Charging Station

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 129.2

Jefferson City, Missouri

+18888074522

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 129.2

Jefferson City, Missouri

+18889982546

Noodoe Charging Station

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 129.2

Jefferson City, Missouri

+19094681118

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$40.41 one way

$80.83 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 90 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $44.37 $88.74
premium $4.89 $49.75 $99.49
diesel $5.61 $57.07 $114.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$40

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$65–$90

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 90.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 77.6 0 $27.14 $12.41
Efficient EV 64.6 0 $22.62 $10.34
EV Truck/SUV 103.4 1 $36.19 $16.54

Gas CO2

90 kg

EV CO2

30 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 15, 2026

Origin

Leadwood, MO

Late night in Leadwood on Friday

Local time

12:26 AM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lee's Summit, MO

Late night in Lee's Summit on Friday

Local time

12:26 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

17 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

5h 40m 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 Leadwood, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 258.5 miles and takes about 5h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 50, US 63, MO 8. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 129.2 miles from Leadwood, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.41 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 is a straightforward 5h 40m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 56.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 69 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 81.4 miles (US 63): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Leadwood, MO to Lee's Summit, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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