Origin
Sullivan, MO
Late night in Sullivan on Friday
Local time
1:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sullivan, MO to Lee's Summit, MO
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
4h 32m
Distance
211.7 mi
341 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 19m
★
6 AM
4h 32m
8 AM
4h 59m
10 AM
4h 42m
12 PM
4h 39m
3 PM
4h 43m
5 PM
4h 58m
8 PM
4h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sullivan, MO
Chris Duan
Lee's Summit, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 206.9-mile journey from Sullivan, MO, to Lee's Summit, MO, is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take around 3 hours and 44 minutes. You'll be navigating primarily local roads, with a 0% highway share, making it a more intimate drive through the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $31, this route is quite budget-friendly. The drive is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a route that winds through towns and countryside rather than a direct, high-speed path. It's a straightforward drive for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing to break it up.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
105.8 miles from Sullivan, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 211.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, as indicated by its 0% highway share. You won't find long stretches of uninterrupted highway; instead, be prepared for a more engaged driving experience with frequent directional changes. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests a constant need for attention to navigation. This drive will feel like you're weaving through communities and rural landscapes, offering a more grounded perspective of the Midwest as you travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 50 is the longest continuous segment at about 188.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and MO 185. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Hughes Ford Road.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 32m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Hughes Ford Road): Navigation decision point; at 67.1 miles (US 50): Lane positioning matters here; at 210.8 miles (MO 291): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Hughes Ford Road
At end of road, turn right onto Hughes Ford Road
Navigation decision point
5
67.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
US 50
Turn right onto US 50
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
210.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 30m in
|
MO 291
Take the exit onto MO 291 toward MO 291 South: Jefferson Street, Harrisonville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 291 South: Jefferson Street, Harrison...
5
211 mi into trip
|
~4h 30m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
211.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 31m in
|
Southwest Jefferson Street
Enter roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 50 | 188.5 mi | 3h 49m |
| MO 185 | 15.6 mi | 23m |
| Elmont Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| County Route 605 | 1.5 mi | 5m |
| Loose Creek Highway | 1 mi | 2m |
| County Route 604 | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| Southwest Jefferson Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Wolf Ridge Trail | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 188.5 mi, about 3h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sullivan, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on this road
55 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto West Washington Street
337 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Washington Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto Hughes Ford Road
117 ft
·
8 sec
·
Hughes Ford Road
4
Turn left onto West Main Street
376 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Main Street
5
Turn right onto Elmont Road
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Elmont Road
6
Turn right onto MO 185
16 mi
·
23 min
·
MO 185
7
Turn left onto US 50
45 mi
·
50 min
·
US 50
8
Continue on MO U
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
MO U
9
Turn right onto County Route 605
1.5 mi
·
5 min
·
County Route 605
10
Turn right onto County Route 604
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
County Route 604
11
Continue on Loose Creek Highway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Loose Creek Highway
12
Turn left onto Wolf Ridge Trail
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Wolf Ridge Trail
13
Turn right onto US 50
44 mi
·
52 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 50
100 mi
·
2 hr 6 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
MO 291
Toward MO 291 South: Jefferson Street, Harrisonville
16
Keep slight right at fork
472 ft
·
12 sec
17
Enter roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street
102 ft
·
2 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 3-hour, 44-minute duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single day of travel. Start your journey in Sullivan, MO, and plan for approximately one stop to break up the drive if needed. With a fuel cost of around $31, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially since the route has a turn-heavy profile and no significant highway stretches where gas stations are consistently available. The main roads you'll be using include West Washington Street, Hughes Ford Road, and West Main Street, so familiarize yourself with these before you depart to ensure a smoother navigation experience.
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 105.8 miles from Sullivan, MO, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.5 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 47 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.8 miles or 2h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 43m
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 Sullivan, 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 Sullivan, MO
This is one driving day of about 211.7 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Sullivan, 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 US 50 for about 188.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 105.8 mi from Sullivan, MO · 2h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
106 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 105.8 miles from Sullivan, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 50 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 188.5 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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.10 one way
$66.19 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $36.34 | $72.68 |
| premium | $4.89 | $40.74 | $81.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.74 | $93.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.5 | 0 | $22.23 | $10.16 |
| Efficient EV | 52.9 | 0 | $18.52 | $8.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.7 | 1 | $29.64 | $13.55 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Late night in Lee's Summit on Friday
Local time
1:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Liberty, MO
106 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
18 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
4h 32m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Sullivan, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 211.7 miles and takes about 4h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 50, MO 185, Elmont Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 105.8 miles from Sullivan, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.10 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 32m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Hughes Ford Road): Navigation decision point; at 67.1 miles (US 50): Lane positioning matters here; at 210.8 miles (MO 291): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Sullivan, MO to Lee's Summit, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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