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

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 5m

Distance

48.6 mi

78 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 0m ★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m

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

city in and county seat of Ray County, Missouri, United States

Richmond, MO

Wikimedia Commons

city in Jackson and Cass counties in Missouri, United States

Lee's Summit, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Richmond, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 48.6 miles and takes about 1h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Camden Street, MO 10 West, MO 291 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.60 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 48.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 5m drive with frequent turns across 48.6 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.
South Camden 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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Richmond, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is easy. At 1h 5m 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 Richmond, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Camden Street
MO 10 West
MO 291 South
Southeast 3rd Street
Southwest 3rd Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: South Camden Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West Main Street

0.1 mi · 27 sec · West Main Street
2

Turn left onto South Camden Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Camden Street
3

At the end of the road, turn right onto South Camden Street

0.4 mi · 54 sec · South Camden Street
4

Take the ramp right toward MO 10 West: Excelsior Springs

0.2 mi · 34 sec · MO 10 West: Excelsior Springs
5

Merge slight left

1.5 mi · 1 min
6

Keep slight left

259 ft · 4 sec
7

Continue straight

24 mi · 29 min
8

Turn left onto MO 291 South: Independence

0.2 mi · 25 sec · MO 291 South: Independence
9

Merge slight left

16 mi · 22 min
10

Keep slight left to continue on MO 291 South: Harrisonville

2.5 mi · 4 min · MO 291 South: Harrisonville
11

Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · Southeast 3rd Street
12

Continue on Southwest 3rd Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Southwest 3rd Street
13

Arrive at your destination

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 24.3 mi from Richmond, MO · 32m into the drive

Downtown East Independence, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

East Independence, MO

24 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

Excelsior Springs, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

East Independence, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.3 miles from Richmond, 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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.60 one way

$15.20 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $8.34 $16.68
premium $4.89 $9.35 $18.71
diesel $5.61 $10.73 $21.46

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.6 0 $5.10 $2.33
Efficient EV 12.2 0 $4.25 $1.94
EV Truck/SUV 19.4 0 $6.80 $3.11

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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

Richmond, MO

Morning in Richmond on Thursday

Local time

8:49 AM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lee's Summit, MO

Morning in Lee's Summit on Thursday

Local time

8:49 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

20 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

1h 5m 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 Richmond, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 48.6 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Camden Street, MO 10 West, MO 291 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.3 miles from Richmond, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.60 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.
The drive from Richmond, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is easy. At 1h 5m 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 Richmond, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Richmond, MO to Lee's Summit, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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