The drive from Lee's Summit, MO to Oakland, MO covers 165.6 miles and takes about 3h 41m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MO 7, US 65, MO 64 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.7 miles on MO 7.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.89 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
82.8 miles from Lee's Summit, 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 41m. Total distance: 165.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 3h 41m highway drive covering 165.6 miles, with most of the trip on MO 7 and US 65. The longest continuous stretch is about 46.7 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 19 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 46.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 7 and US 65. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 17.7 miles in.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lee's Summit, MO to Oakland, MO is easy. At 3h 41m with 81% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 20.9 miles (MO 7): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
5
88.4 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|MO 7
Take the ramp onto MO 7 toward MO 7 South, MO 65 South: Springfield
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 7 South, MO 65 South: Springfield
5
127.3 mi into trip|~2h 43m in|MO 64
Turn left onto MO 64
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MO 7
46.7 mi
54m
US 65
31.5 mi
40m
MO 64
31.2 mi
43m
East Division Road
27.6 mi
37m
MO 291
16.9 mi
24m
MO 32
5.1 mi
8m
I 49
2.8 mi
3m
MO B
2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
MO 7
— 46.7 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lee's Summit, MO and Oakland, 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 157Toward MO 7 South: Clinton
10
Turn slight left onto MO 7
39 mi·44 min·MO 7
Exit 157Toward MO 7 South: ClintonUse the left lane.
11
Turn left onto MO 7
0.6 mi·1 min·East Ohio Street
12
Continue on MO 7
28 mi·37 min·East Division Road
13
Take the ramp onto MO 7
7.3 mi·9 min·MO 7
Toward MO 7 South, MO 65 South: Springfield
14
Continue on US 65
32 mi·40 min·US 65
15
Turn left onto MO 64
31 mi·43 min·MO 64
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Turn left onto MO 32
5.1 mi·8 min·MO 32
17
Turn right onto MO B
2.0 mi·4 min·MO B
18
Turn right onto Evanston Road
172 ft·7 sec·Evanston Road
19
Arrive at destination
Evanston Road
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 82.8 miles from Lee's Summit, MO, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.7 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 36 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.8 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakland, 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 165.6 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 46.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82.8 mi from Lee's Summit, MO
· 1h 45m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.89 one way
$51.78 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.43
$56.85
premium
$4.89
$31.87
$63.74
diesel
$5.61
$36.56
$73.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
1 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
Electrify America Charging Station
Lebanon, Missouri
Electrify America
1 DCFC
Electrify America: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.7
0
$17.39
$7.95
Efficient EV
41.4
0
$14.49
$6.62
EV Truck/SUV
66.2
0
$23.18
$10.60
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Lee's Summit, MO
Late night
in Lee's Summit on Saturday
Local time
3:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Oakland, MO
Late night
in Oakland on Saturday
Local time
3:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Warsaw, MO
83 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
16 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 41m 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 Oakland, MO covers 165.6 miles and takes about 3h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MO 7, US 65, MO 64. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 82.8 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 $25.89 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.
The drive from Lee's Summit, MO to Oakland, MO is easy. At 3h 41m with 81% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 20.9 miles (MO 7): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lee's Summit, MO to Oakland, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
