Origin
Lee's Summit, MO
Afternoon in Lee's Summit on Thursday
Local time
4:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lee's Summit, MO to Vandalia, MO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 39m
Distance
187.9 mi
302 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 27m
★
6 AM
3h 39m
8 AM
4h 4m
10 AM
3h 48m
12 PM
3h 46m
3 PM
3h 49m
5 PM
4h 3m
8 PM
3h 32m
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
Trip Overview
The drive from Lee's Summit, MO to Vandalia, MO covers 187.9 miles and takes about 3h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, US 54 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 72.9 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.38 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
94 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 39m. Total distance: 187.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (22%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 39m drive with frequent turns across 187.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 72.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 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 3h 39m 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 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 11 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
6
142.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 41m in
Take the exit toward US 54: Auxvasse, Mexico, Fulton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 148
Toward US 54: Auxvasse, Mexico, Fulton
5
170.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 15m in
|
US 54; MO 19
Enter roundabout onto US 54; MO 19
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
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 Vandalia, MO, road signs point toward Mexico and Fulton.
Mexico
142.2 mi in
|
~2h 41m
Fulton
142.2 mi in
|
~2h 41m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 72.9 mi | 1h 22m |
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| US 54 | 35.2 mi | 44m |
| East Liberty Street | 10.3 mi | 13m |
| I 470 | 7 mi | 8m |
| Southeast Douglas Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway | 1.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 72.9 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lee's Summit, MO and Vandalia, 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
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
8
Continue on I 70
53 mi
·
56 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi
·
34 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi
·
24 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
19 mi
·
23 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 148
Toward US 54: Auxvasse, Mexico, Fulton
16
Turn left onto US 54
18 mi
·
20 min
·
US 54
17
At end of road, turn right onto US 54
10 mi
·
13 min
·
East Liberty Street
18
Enter roundabout onto US 54; MO 19
221 ft
·
2 sec
·
US 54; MO 19
19
Continue on US 54; MO 19
8.1 mi
·
11 min
·
US 54; MO 19
20
Enter roundabout onto US 54
48 ft
·
0 sec
·
US 54
21
Continue on US 54
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
US 54
22
Turn left onto MO F
48 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Main Street
23
Arrive at destination
MO F
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 94 miles from Lee's Summit, MO, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.9 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 41 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94 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 Vandalia, 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 187.9 miles and 3h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 72.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94 mi from Lee's Summit, MO · 1h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
94 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 94 miles from Lee's Summit, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.9 miles.
Arriving in Vandalia, MO
The final approach into Vandalia, 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 Vandalia, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.38 one way
$58.75 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
66 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.25 | $64.51 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.16 | $72.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.49 | $82.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.4 | 0 | $19.73 | $9.02 |
| Efficient EV | 47 | 0 | $16.44 | $7.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75.2 | 0 | $26.31 | $12.03 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Vandalia, MO
Afternoon in Vandalia on Thursday
Local time
4:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Marshall, MO
94 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 39m 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 Vandalia, MO covers 187.9 miles and takes about 3h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, US 54. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 94 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 $29.38 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 is a straightforward 3h 39m 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 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 Vandalia, MO, road signs point toward Mexico and Fulton.
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