Origin
Lee's Summit, MO
Late night in Lee's Summit on Friday
Local time
1:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lee's Summit, MO to Appleton City, MO
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
67.5 mi
109 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lee's Summit, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Appleton City, MO
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Lee's Summit, MO to Appleton City, MO covers 67.5 miles and takes about 1h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 49, MO 52, MO 291 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.8 miles on I 49. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.55 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 67.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 24m highway drive covering 67.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 49 and MO 52. The longest continuous stretch is about 30.8 miles on I 49.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 49 is the longest continuous segment at about 30.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and MO 52. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Southwest Jefferson Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lee's Summit, MO to Appleton City, MO is easy. At 1h 24m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Southwest Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Southwest Jefferson Street
Turn right onto Southwest Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
17.7 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
5
48.7 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
MO 52
Take the exit onto MO 52 toward MO 52 East: Appleton City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 129
Toward MO 52 East: Appleton City
4
48.9 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
MO 52
Turn left onto MO 52
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 49 | 30.8 mi | 32m |
| MO 52 | 18.8 mi | 24m |
| MO 291 | 16.9 mi | 24m |
| Southwest Jefferson Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Cantrell Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Southwest 3rd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Walnut Street | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 30.8 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lee's Summit, MO and Appleton City, MO.
1
Start on Southwest 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto Southwest Jefferson Street
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Southwest Jefferson Street
3
Enter roundabout
251 ft
·
5 sec
4
Continue
367 ft
·
9 sec
5
Continue on MO 291
17 mi
·
24 min
·
MO 291
6
Continue on Cantrell Road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Cantrell Road
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
8
Merge onto I 49; US 71
31 mi
·
32 min
·
I 49; US 71
9
Take the exit onto MO 52
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
MO 52
Exit 129
Toward MO 52 East: Appleton City
10
Turn left onto MO 52
19 mi
·
24 min
·
MO 52
11
Turn left onto North Walnut Street
13 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Walnut Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Walnut Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.7 mi from Lee's Summit, MO · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.7 miles from Lee's Summit, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Appleton City, MO
The final approach into Appleton City, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.55 one way
$21.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.59 | $23.17 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.99 | $25.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.90 | $29.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.09 | $3.24 |
| Efficient EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27 | 0 | $9.45 | $4.32 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Appleton City, MO
Late night in Appleton City on Friday
Local time
1:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Adrian, MO
34 mi in
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
1 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
1h 24m 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 Lee's Summit, MO to Appleton City, MO covers 67.5 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 49, MO 52, MO 291. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.7 miles from Lee's Summit, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.55 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Lee's Summit, MO to Appleton City, MO is easy. At 1h 24m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Southwest Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Lee's Summit, MO to Appleton City, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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