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Trip from Monroe City, MO to Lee's Summit, MO

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 15m

Distance

197.1 mi

317 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 3m ★
6 AM
3h 15m
8 AM
3h 39m
10 AM
3h 24m
12 PM
3h 21m
3 PM
3h 25m
5 PM
3h 38m
8 PM
3h 8m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Marion, Monroe, and Ralls counties, Missouri, United States

Monroe City, MO

Wikimedia Commons

city in Jackson and Cass counties in Missouri, United States

Lee's Summit, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Monroe City, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 197.1 miles and takes about 3h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Stoddard Street, Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, I 35 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.81 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

98.6 miles from Monroe City, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 197.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 15m drive with frequent turns across 197.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Stoddard Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Monroe City, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is easy. At 3h 15m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Monroe City, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Stoddard Street
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
I 35 South
I 435 South
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
MO 350 East
Blue Parkway
Southwest 3rd Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Stoddard Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Monroe City, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.

1

Start on North Main Street

0.3 mi · 27 sec · North Main Street
2

Turn left onto Stoddard Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · Stoddard Street
3

Turn left onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

136 mi · 2 hr 37 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
4

Turn left onto I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City

41 mi · 44 min · I 35 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City
5

Take the exit slight right toward I 435 South: Saint Louis

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 435 South: Saint Louis
6

Merge slight left

9.5 mi · 11 min
7

Keep slight left to continue on Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

3.5 mi · 4 min · Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
8

Take the exit slight left toward MO 350 East: 63rd Street, Raytown, Lee's Summit

0.2 mi · 22 sec · MO 350 East: 63rd Street, Raytown, Lee's Summit
9

Merge slight left onto Blue Parkway

8.2 mi · 12 min · Blue Parkway
10

Continue straight

1.4 mi · 1 min
11

Take the exit slight right toward Southwest 3rd Street

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Southwest 3rd Street
12

Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Southwest 3rd Street
13

Arrive at your destination

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 98.6 miles from Monroe City, MO, or about 1h 37m into the drive.

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 43 miles or 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 98.6 miles or 1h 37m 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 40m

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 Monroe City, 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 Monroe City, MO

This is one driving day of about 197.1 miles and 3h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Monroe City, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 98.6 mi from Monroe City, MO · 1h 37m into the drive

Downtown Chillicothe, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Chillicothe, MO

99 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

Marceline, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Chillicothe, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 98.6 miles from Monroe City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lee's Summit, MO

The final approach into Lee's Summit, 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 Lee's Summit, 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

$30.81 one way

$61.63 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 69 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $33.83 $67.67
premium $4.89 $37.93 $75.86
diesel $5.61 $43.52 $87.03

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 69 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 59.1 0 $20.70 $9.46
Efficient EV 49.3 0 $17.25 $7.88
EV Truck/SUV 78.8 0 $27.59 $12.61

Gas CO2

69 kg

EV CO2

23 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

Monroe City, MO

Late night in Monroe City on Friday

Local time

3:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lee's Summit, MO

Late night in Lee's Summit on Friday

Local time

3:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

72°F

Chillicothe, MO

99 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

3 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 15m 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 Monroe City, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 197.1 miles and takes about 3h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Stoddard Street, Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, I 35 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 98.6 miles from Monroe City, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.81 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 Monroe City, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is easy. At 3h 15m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Monroe City, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Monroe City, MO to Lee's Summit, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Lee's Summit, MO to Monroe City, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

201.7 mi 3h 55m

Explore more options from Monroe City, MO or browse trips ending in Lee's Summit, MO.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.