Trip from Polk, MO to Lee's Summit, MO

Drive Time

2h 54m

Distance

127 mi

204 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 43m ★
6 AM
2h 55m
8 AM
3h 17m
10 AM
3h 2m
12 PM
3h 0m
3 PM
3h 4m
5 PM
3h 16m
8 PM
2h 48m

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

Downtown Polk, MO, MO

Polk, MO

Valeria Boltneva

Downtown Lee's Summit, MO, MO

Lee's Summit, MO

Jeevan Mahat

Trip Overview

The drive from Polk, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 127 miles and takes about 2h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on MO 7, MO 13, MO 64 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39.2 miles on MO 7. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.29 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

63.5 miles from Polk, MO

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

Drive Character

This is a 2h 54m highway drive covering 127 miles, with most of the trip on MO 7 and MO 13. The longest continuous stretch is about 39.2 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 39.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 7 and MO 13. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 11.6 miles in near MO 64.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 2h 54m 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 11.6 miles (MO 64): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 17.7 miles (US 54): Navigation decision point; at 106 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
11.6 mi into trip | ~21m in | MO 64

Turn sharp left onto MO 64

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
17.7 mi into trip | ~32m in | US 54

At end of road, turn left onto US 54

Navigation decision point

5
106 mi into trip | ~2h 24m in | MO 7

Take the exit onto MO 7 toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kan...
5
109.2 mi into trip | ~2h 28m 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
109.4 mi into trip | ~2h 28m 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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
MO 7 39.2 mi 43m
MO 13 30.8 mi 37m
MO 64 12.6 mi 22m
MO T 11.9 mi 21m
US 54 9 mi 12m
MO 58 8.5 mi 11m
MO 291 8.3 mi 12m
MO 254 3 mi 5m
Longest stretch: MO 7 — 39.2 mi, about 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on MO D

2.1 mi · 5 min · MO D
2

Continue on MO 64

9.5 mi · 16 min · MO 64
3

Turn sharp left onto MO 64

3.1 mi · 5 min · MO 64
4

Continue on MO 254

3.0 mi · 5 min · MO 254
5

At end of road, turn left onto US 54

9.0 mi · 12 min · US 54
6

Turn right onto MO 83

0.6 mi · 50 sec · MO 83
7

Turn left onto MO T

12 mi · 21 min · MO T
8

Turn right onto MO 13

31 mi · 37 min · MO 13
9

Continue on MO 7

36 mi · 39 min · MO 7
10

Take the exit onto MO 7

3.3 mi · 3 min · MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 17 sec
Exit 160 Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
12

Keep slight right at fork

243 ft · 6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
13

Merge onto MO 291

8.3 mi · 12 min · MO 291
14

Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291

8.5 mi · 11 min · MO 58; MO 291
15

Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Southwest Jefferson Street
16

Enter roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street

189 ft · 3 sec · Southwest Jefferson Street
17

Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Southwest Jefferson Street
18

Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street

0.1 mi · 12 sec · Southwest 3rd Street
Use the left lane.
19

Arrive at destination

Southwest 3rd Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.5 miles from Polk, MO, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.2 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 80 miles or 1h 56m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 63.5 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 22m

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 Polk, 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 Polk, MO

This is one driving day of about 127 miles and 2h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Polk, 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 39.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 63.5 mi from Polk, MO · 1h 37m into the drive

Downtown Billings, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Billings, MO

64 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.

Popular next leg

Billings, MO to Lee's Summit, MO

165.6 mi · 2h 43m

Pacing Suggestions

Warsaw, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Warsaw, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 63.5 miles from Polk, 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

$19.29 one way

$38.58 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 44 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $21.27 $42.53
premium $4.80 $23.98 $47.95
diesel $5.64 $28.22 $56.43

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 44.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38.1 0 $13.33 $6.10
Efficient EV 31.8 0 $11.11 $5.08
EV Truck/SUV 50.8 0 $17.78 $8.13

Gas CO2

44 kg

EV CO2

15 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Polk, MO

Morning in Polk on Monday

Local time

7:37 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lee's Summit, MO

Morning in Lee's Summit on Monday

Local time

7:37 AM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

56°F

Billings, MO

64 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

31 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

2h 54m 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 Polk, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 127 miles and takes about 2h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MO 7, MO 13, 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 63.5 miles from Polk, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.29 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.
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 2h 54m 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 11.6 miles (MO 64): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 17.7 miles (US 54): Navigation decision point; at 106 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Polk, MO to Lee's Summit, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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