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Trip from Lee's Summit, MO to Ash Grove, MO

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

3h 9m

Distance

140.6 mi

226 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 58m ★
6 AM
3h 10m
8 AM
3h 33m
10 AM
3h 18m
12 PM
3h 16m
3 PM
3h 19m
5 PM
3h 32m
8 PM
3h 3m

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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city in Jackson and Cass counties in Missouri, United States

Lee's Summit, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Ash Grove, MO, MO

Ash Grove, MO

life vibes

Trip Overview

The drive from Lee's Summit, MO to Ash Grove, MO covers 140.6 miles and takes about 3h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on MO 7, MO 13, MO 123 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.6 miles on MO 7. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.98 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

70.3 miles from Lee's Summit, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 9m. Total distance: 140.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 9m highway drive covering 140.6 miles, with most of the trip on MO 7 and MO 13. The longest continuous stretch is about 55.6 miles on MO 7.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MO 7 is the longest continuous segment at about 55.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 7 and MO 13. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 140.6 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: 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; at 20.8 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

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
20.8 mi into trip | ~29m in | MO 7

Take the exit onto MO 7 toward MO 7 South: Clinton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 157 Toward MO 7 South: Clinton
5
20.9 mi into trip | ~30m in | MO 7

Turn slight left onto MO 7 toward MO 7 South: Clinton

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Exit 157 Toward MO 7 South: Clinton
4
115.2 mi into trip | ~2h 25m in | MO 123

Turn right onto MO 123

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
MO 7 55.6 mi 1h 4m
MO 13 28.6 mi 32m
MO 123 26.9 mi 47m
MO 291 16.9 mi 24m
MO V 6.8 mi 12m
I 49 2.8 mi 3m
West Main Street 1.4 mi 2m
Southwest Jefferson Street 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: MO 7 — 55.6 mi, about 1h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lee's Summit, MO and Ash Grove, 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

2.8 mi · 3 min · I 49; US 71
9

Take the exit onto MO 7

0.2 mi · 19 sec · MO 7
Exit 157 Toward MO 7 South: Clinton
10

Turn slight left onto MO 7

55 mi · 1 hr 3 min · MO 7
Exit 157 Toward MO 7 South: Clinton Use the left lane.
11

Continue on MO 13

29 mi · 32 min · MO 13
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Turn right onto MO 123

9.8 mi · 17 min · MO 123
13

Turn slight left onto MO 123

0.4 mi · 43 sec · Front Street
14

Turn right onto MO 123

10 mi · 17 min · MO 123
15

Keep slight left at fork onto MO 123; MO 215

1.0 mi · 1 min · MO 123; MO 215
16

Keep slight right at fork onto MO 123; MO 215

6.1 mi · 10 min · MO 123; MO 215
17

Turn right onto MO V

1.4 mi · 2 min · West Main Street
18

Keep slight left at fork onto MO V

1.5 mi · 2 min · MO V
19

Keep slight right at fork onto MO V

5.3 mi · 9 min · MO V
20

Turn right onto West Main Street

100 ft · 4 sec · West Main Street
21

Arrive at destination

West Main 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 70.3 miles from Lee's Summit, MO, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.6 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 31 miles or 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 70.3 miles or 1h 27m 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 25m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ash Grove, MO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Lee's Summit, 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 Lee's Summit, MO

This is one driving day of about 140.6 miles and 3h 9m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Lee's Summit, 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 MO 7 for about 55.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 70.3 mi from Lee's Summit, MO · 1h 27m into the drive

Downtown Appleton City, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Appleton City, MO

70 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

Garden City, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Appleton City, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 70.3 miles from Lee's Summit, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Ash Grove, MO

The final approach into Ash Grove, 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 Ash Grove, MO.

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.

Tesla Destination Charger

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 130.5

Walnut Grove, Missouri

+14177882263

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

3.2 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 80.3

Osceola, Missouri

+18888074522

Visit website

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

National Battlefield

Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...

18 mi from route ~44 min detour Free near mile 140.6
Caution: BE AWARE OF HIGH-WATER DANGER
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.98 one way

$43.96 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 49 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $24.13 $48.27
premium $4.89 $27.06 $54.11
diesel $5.61 $31.04 $62.09

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 49.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

2 DC fast chargers · Coverage: fair

EV Connect Charging Station

Osceola, Missouri

EV Connect

1 DCFC

Tesla Destination Charger

Walnut Grove, Missouri

Tesla Destination

1 DCFC

EV Connect: 1 Tesla Destination: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42.2 0 $14.76 $6.75
Efficient EV 35.2 0 $12.30 $5.62
EV Truck/SUV 56.2 0 $19.68 $9.00

Gas CO2

49 kg

EV CO2

16 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 17, 2026

Origin

Lee's Summit, MO

Night in Lee's Summit on Thursday

Local time

11:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Partly Cloudy

S 8 to 14 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Destination

Ash Grove, MO

Night in Ash Grove on Thursday

Local time

11:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°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

11 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

3h 9m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Ash Grove, MO covers 140.6 miles and takes about 3h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MO 7, MO 13, MO 123. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.3 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 $21.98 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 140.6 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: 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; at 20.8 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Lee's Summit, MO to Ash Grove, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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