Purdy, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is 168.1 miles and takes about 3h 25m via Purple Heart Trail, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically within Missouri, making it a straightforward drive between two familiar regions. Expect a route that involves a good amount of local road driving, so plan for more frequent turns and varying speed limits. Given its manageable length and one recommended stop, this journey is best suited for a single day of travel, allowing for a relaxed pace.
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
84.1 miles from Purdy, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 25m. Total distance: 168.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 18% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate primarily via the Purple Heart Trail, West Commercial Street, and Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 92.9 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, offering a more continuous segment before you need to make turns. Be prepared for a driving experience that requires your attention to navigation due to the numerous local roads and turns involved.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 92.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 28.5 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 168.1 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 28.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 36.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
28.5 mi into trip|~47m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West: Joplin
Navigation decision point
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
6
36.2 mi into trip|~56m 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
150.3 mi into trip|~2h 58m 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
150.5 mi into trip|~2h 59m 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
167.5 mi into trip|~3h 23m in|Southwest Jefferson Street
Enter roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street
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.
On the drive from Purdy, MO to Lee's Summit, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Kansas City along the way.
Step-by-step road directions between Purdy, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on Washington Avenue
0.1 mi·32 sec·Washington Avenue
2
Turn right onto North City Highway 37
0.5 mi·1 min·North City Highway 37
3
Keep slight right at fork onto North City Highway 37
0.5 mi·1 min·North City Highway 37
4
At end of road, turn right onto MO 37
5.8 mi·8 min·MO 37
5
Turn left onto US 60
4.4 mi·5 min·US 60
6
Turn right onto MO 97
1.7 mi·2 min·MO 97
7
Turn straight onto MO 97
0.5 mi·53 sec·Ford Street
8
Turn left onto MO 37
12 mi·21 min·West Commercial Street
9
Turn left onto I 44 Business; MO 37
0.3 mi·26 sec·High Street
10
Continue on I 44 Business; MO 37
2.0 mi·3 min·Blackberry Road
11
Turn right onto I 44 Business; MO 37
0.5 mi·1 min·I 44 Business; MO 37
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
13
Merge onto I 44
7.5 mi·8 min·Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 18BToward I 49 North, US 71 North: Carthage, Kansas City
15
Merge onto I 49; US 71
10 mi·11 min·George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
16
Continue on I 49; US 71
10 mi·11 min·Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
17
Continue on I 49; US 71
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·Purple Heart Trail
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 160Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
19
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft·6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
20
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi·12 min·MO 291
21
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi·11 min·MO 58; MO 291
22
Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·Southwest Jefferson Street
23
Enter roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street
189 ft·3 sec·Southwest Jefferson Street
24
Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·Southwest Jefferson Street
25
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
Use the left lane.
26
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
As a single-day drive of just over 3.5 hours, this route offers flexibility; you can depart anytime that suits your schedule. With only one recommended stop, you have ample opportunity to break up the drive as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before heading onto the Purple Heart Trail for its 92.9-mile stretch, as it's the longest continuous part of your trip. The $26 fuel cost is an estimate, so checking local prices before you leave Purdy, MO, is a smart move.
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 84.1 miles from Purdy, MO, or about 1h 47m 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 37 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.1 miles or 1h 47m 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 45m
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 Purdy, 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 Purdy, MO
This is one driving day of about 168.1 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Purdy, 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.1 mi from Purdy, MO
· 1h 47m into the drive
The midpoint is around 84.1 miles from Purdy, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 92.9 miles.
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.
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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 34.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.28 one way
$52.56 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.85
$57.71
premium
$4.89
$32.35
$64.70
diesel
$5.61
$37.11
$74.23
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: 58.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
5 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Casey's General Store #3328 - Tesla Supercharger
Nevada, MO
Tesla
8 DCFC
Bettels Farms
Nevada, MO
FCN
4 DCFC
Price Chopper - Harrisonville
Harrisonville, MO
FCN
4 DCFC
Flying J 672
Peculiar, MO
eVgo Network
4 DCFC
Bob Sight Ford
Lee's Summit, MO
FORD_CHARGE
2 DCFC
FCN: 2
Tesla: 1
eVgo Network: 1
FORD_CHARGE: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.4
0
$17.65
$8.07
Efficient EV
42
0
$14.71
$6.72
EV Truck/SUV
67.2
0
$23.53
$10.76
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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 15, 2026
Origin
Purdy, MO
Late night
in Purdy on Friday
Local time
3:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Late night
in Lee's Summit on Friday
Local time
3:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Nevada, MO
84 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
2 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 25m 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 Purdy, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 168.1 miles and takes about 3h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, West Commercial Street, Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.1 miles from Purdy, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.28 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 168.1 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 28.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 36.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Purdy, MO to Lee's Summit, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Kansas City along the way.
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.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
