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

Drive Time

1h 21m

Distance

64.3 mi

103 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 15m ★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Lee's Summit, MO, MO

Lee's Summit, MO

Jeevan Mahat

Trip Overview

The drive from Taos, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 64.3 miles and takes about 1h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 435, I 29, Blue Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28 miles on I 435. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.77 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

32.1 miles from Taos, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 40m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 1h 21m highway drive covering 64.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 435 and I 29. The longest continuous stretch is about 28 miles on I 435.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 435 is the longest continuous segment at about 28 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 435 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near MO 116 / Southeast 116 Highway.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 64.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (MO 116 / Southeast 116 Highway): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles (I 29; I 435; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles (I 435): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

4
1.5 mi into trip | ~3m in | MO 116 / Southeast 116 Highway

Turn left onto MO 116 / Southeast 116 Highway

Navigation decision point

5
19.9 mi into trip | ~27m in | I 29; I 435; US 71

Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
22.2 mi into trip | ~29m in | I 435

Keep slight right at fork onto I 435 toward I 435 East: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 14 Toward I 435 East: Saint Louis
5
50.1 mi into trip | ~1h in | I 435 / Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 435 / Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway toward I 435 South: Wichita

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 435 South: Wichita
8
53.7 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in

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

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

Use the slight left lane. Exit 66 Toward MO 350 East: 63rd Street, Raytown, Lee's...

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Taos, MO to Lee's Summit, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Raytown along the way.

Raytown

53.7 mi in | ~1h 4m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 435 28 mi 30m
I 29 15.2 mi 16m
Blue Parkway 8.2 mi 12m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway 3.5 mi 4m
MO 371 3.1 mi 5m
Southeast 116 Highway 1.5 mi 2m
MO CC 1.5 mi 3m
US 50 1.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 435 — 28 mi, about 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Southeast Taos Road

18 ft · 5 sec · Southeast Taos Road
2

Turn left onto MO CC

1.5 mi · 3 min · MO CC
3

Turn left onto MO 116

1.5 mi · 2 min · Southeast 116 Highway
4

Turn right onto MO 371

3.1 mi · 5 min · MO 371
5

Turn left onto MO H

0.7 mi · 1 min · MO H
6

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
7

Merge onto I 29; US 71

13 mi · 13 min · I 29; US 71
8

Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71

2.2 mi · 2 min · I 29; I 435; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 435

28 mi · 30 min · I 435
Exit 14 Toward I 435 East: Saint Louis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 435

3.5 mi · 4 min · Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
Toward I 435 South: Wichita
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Exit 66 Toward MO 350 East: 63rd Street, Raytown, Lee's Summit Use the slight left lane.
12

Merge onto MO 350

8.2 mi · 12 min · Blue Parkway
13

Continue on US 50

1.4 mi · 1 min · US 50
14

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Toward Southwest 3rd Street
15

Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Southwest 3rd Street
16

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 32.1 miles from Taos, MO, or about 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28 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 64.3 miles or 1h 21m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 32.1 miles or 40m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 6m

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 Taos, 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 Taos, MO

This is one driving day of about 64.3 miles and 1h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Taos, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 435 for about 28 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 32.1 mi from Taos, MO · 40m into the drive

Downtown Kansas City, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kansas City, MO

32 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

Kansas City, MO to Lee's Summit, MO

19.6 mi · 29m

Pacing Suggestions

Kansas City, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 64.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kansas City, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 32.1 miles from Taos, 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.

Discover Along the Route

Interesting stops within a short detour of your drive.

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 64.3

Lee's Summit, MO

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 64.3

Lee's Summit, MO

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 64.3

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Chipotle

Fast_food

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 64.3

Lees Summit, MO

Cuisine: mexican

Visit website

Custards Last Stand

Restaurant

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 64.3

Cuisine: american

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill

Restaurant

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 64.3

Cuisine: hawaiian

IHOP

Restaurant

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 64.3

Cuisine: breakfast;pancake

Visit website

Subway

Fast_food

Later in the drive, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 50

Kansas City, MO

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: 08:00-21:00

Visit website

Panera Bread

Fast_food

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 64.3

Lee's Summit, MO

Cuisine: sandwich;bakery

Hours: Mo-Sa 06:00-21:00; Su 07:00-20:00

Visit website

Lakewood Park

Park

Later in the drive, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 42.8

Chouteau Park

Park

Later in the drive, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 42.8

Riverfront Park

Park

Later in the drive, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 42.8

Roper Baseball Stadium

Park

Later in the drive, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 50

Black-footed Cats

Attraction

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 57.1

Fennec Fox

Attraction

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 57.1

Indian Mound

Archaeological_site

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 50

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.77 one way

$19.53 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $10.77 $21.53
premium $4.80 $12.14 $24.28
diesel $5.64 $14.29 $28.57

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.3 0 $6.75 $3.09
Efficient EV 16.1 0 $5.63 $2.57
EV Truck/SUV 25.7 0 $9.00 $4.12

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (64% 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 4 hours ago

Origin

Taos, MO

Afternoon in Taos on Monday

Local time

2:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Partly Sunny

SSW 22 mph 8% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:46PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:46PM CDT until April 20 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Destination

Lee's Summit, MO

Afternoon in Lee's Summit on Monday

Local time

2:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

32 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

1h 21m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Taos, MO to Lee's Summit, MO covers 64.3 miles and takes about 1h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 435, I 29, Blue Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.1 miles from Taos, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.77 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 64.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (MO 116 / Southeast 116 Highway): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles (I 29; I 435; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles (I 435): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Taos, MO to Lee's Summit, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Raytown along the way.

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