Origin
Lee's Summit, MO
Afternoon in Lee's Summit on Friday
Local time
3:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lee's Summit, MO to Buckner, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
38m
Distance
25.6 mi
41 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
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
Buckner, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Trip Overview
This 25.6-mile drive from Lee's Summit, MO, to Buckner, MO, is a quick 38-minute trip, making it a perfect candidate for a single day's excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, it's an economical option for exploring the Midwest. The route is primarily highway-focused, utilizing major arteries like I 470 and US 24. Given its short distance and straightforward nature, no overnight stays are necessary. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, offering a smooth and efficient journey between these two Missouri towns.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 25.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-centric experience for 82% of this route. The drive begins with a significant stretch on I 470, offering a taste of interstate travel. You'll encounter a continuous 7-mile segment on I 470, providing a good opportunity to maintain a steady pace. As you transition to US 24 and South Little Blue Parkway, the feel remains largely highway-oriented, with efficient travel being the focus. This route is designed for direct travel rather than leisurely cruising, with clear signage and generally good road conditions guiding you efficiently.
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.
I 470 is the longest continuous segment at about 7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 470 and US 24. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 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 25.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 2.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.8 miles (I 470): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 470 North: Independence, Saint Louis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 470 North: Independence, Saint Louis
4
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 470
Merge onto I 470 toward I 470 North: Saint Louis
Merge point - match speed before joining
Toward I 470 North: Saint Louis
7
9.8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 16B
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
8
10.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall E...
4
11 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
South Little Blue Parkway
Turn left onto South Little Blue Parkway
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lee's Summit, MO and Buckner, MO, road signs point toward Saint Louis and Mall Entrance.
Saint Louis
2.6 mi in
|
~5m
Mall Entrance
10.7 mi in
|
~15m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 470 | 7 mi | 8m |
| US 24 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| South Little Blue Parkway | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| MO 7 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Southeast Douglas Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| MO 78 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Sibley Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 470
— 7 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lee's Summit, MO and Buckner, MO.
1
Start on Southwest 3rd Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
2
Continue on Southeast 3rd Street
358 ft
·
16 sec
·
Southeast 3rd Street
3
Turn left onto Southeast Douglas Street
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Southeast Douglas Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 470 North: Independence, Saint Louis
5
Merge onto I 470
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
I 470
Toward I 470 North: Saint Louis
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 16B
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 70
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 17
Toward Little Blue Parkway, 39th Street, Mall Entrance
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto South Little Blue Parkway
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Little Blue Parkway
10
Turn right onto MO 78
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
MO 78
11
Enter roundabout onto MO 7
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
MO 7
12
Continue on MO 7
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
MO 7
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward US 24 East: Buckner
14
Merge onto US 24
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US 24
15
Turn right onto MO BB
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sibley Street
16
Turn right onto Washington Street
346 ft
·
15 sec
·
Washington Street
17
Arrive at destination
Washington Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.00 one way
$8.00 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.39 | $8.79 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.93 | $9.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.65 | $11.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.69 | $1.23 |
| Efficient EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.24 | $1.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.58 | $1.64 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Buckner, MO
Afternoon in Buckner on Friday
Local time
3:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
18 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
38m 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 Buckner, MO covers 25.6 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 470, US 24, South Little Blue Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.8 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 $4.00 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 25.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 2.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.8 miles (I 470): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Lee's Summit, MO and Buckner, MO, road signs point toward Saint Louis and Mall Entrance.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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