Monett to Lee's Summit is 159.8 miles and takes about 3h 13m via Purple Heart Trail, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, taking you from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a route with many turns, characteristic of local drives rather than a high-speed interstate journey. With a recommended one-day duration, this drive is manageable for most schedules, offering a straightforward trip between these two Missouri towns.
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
79.9 miles from Monett, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Monett, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on West Cleveland Avenue
93 ft·9 sec·West Cleveland Avenue
2
Turn left onto MO 37
17 mi·30 min·North Central Avenue
3
Turn left onto I 44 Business; MO 37
0.3 mi·26 sec·High Street
4
Continue on I 44 Business; MO 37
2.0 mi·3 min·Blackberry Road
5
Turn right onto I 44 Business; MO 37
0.5 mi·1 min·I 44 Business; MO 37
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
7
Merge onto I 44
7.5 mi·8 min·Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 18BToward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansas City
9
Merge onto I 49; US 71
10 mi·11 min·George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 49; US 71
10 mi·11 min·Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 49; US 71
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·Purple Heart Trail
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 160Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
13
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft·6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
14
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi·12 min·MO 291
15
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi·11 min·MO 58; MO 291
16
Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·Southwest Jefferson Street
17
Enter roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street
189 ft·3 sec·Southwest Jefferson Street
18
Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·Southwest Jefferson Street
19
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 13m duration and turn-heavy profile, it's best to start your drive in Monett earlier in the day to avoid late-day navigation challenges. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $25, you have considerable flexibility. Plan for your single stop to be a good place to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest 92.9-mile stretch on Purple Heart Trail, as services might be less frequent than on major interstates.
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 79.9 miles from Monett, MO, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.9 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 35 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.9 miles or 1h 40m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lee's Summit, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Monett, 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 Monett, MO
This is one driving day of about 159.8 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Monett, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 92.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 20.2 and 159.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
20.2 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West: Joplin
Navigation decision point
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
6
28 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18B
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansa...
5
142 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Take the exit toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 160
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
6
142.2 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
5
159.2 mi into trip|~3h 12m in|Southwest Jefferson Street
Enter roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.98 one way
$49.97 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.43
$54.86
premium
$4.89
$30.75
$61.50
diesel
$5.61
$35.28
$70.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.9
0
$16.78
$7.67
Efficient EV
40
0
$13.98
$6.39
EV Truck/SUV
63.9
0
$22.37
$10.23
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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
Monett, MO
Afternoon
in Monett on Saturday
Local time
2:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Afternoon
in Lee's Summit on Saturday
Local time
2:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 14 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 2:14AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 1:42AM CDT until April 18 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
73°F
Nevada, MO
80 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
10 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
3h 13m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
George Washington Carver National Monument
National Monument
The young child known as the "Plant Doctor" tended his secret garden while observing the day-to-day operations of a 19th century farm. Nature and nurture ultimately influenced George on his quest for...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 27.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a turn-heavy local drive experience, with only 11% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate through a significant stretch of 92.9 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, which will likely offer a more varied and potentially slower pace than a pure interstate cruise. The profile suggests you'll be making frequent adjustments to your direction, so staying alert and following navigation closely will be key to a smooth drive. The transition from more open roads to potentially more developed local segments will define the driving feel.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92.9 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 20.2 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 13m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 20.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 28 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 142 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Monett, MO to Lee's Summit, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Kansas City along the way.
Kansas City
28 mi in|~44m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 13m. Total distance: 159.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 92.9 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 20.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 28 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 142 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — George Washington Carver National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Lee's Summit, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
