Origin
Taos, MO
Late night in Taos on Saturday
Local time
1:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Taos, MO to Lee's Summit, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
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
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
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.
Taos, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Lee's Summit, MO
Wikimedia Commons
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 $10.05 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 64.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,070 ft
738 ft
Total Climb
392 ft
Total Descent
424 ft
Highest Point
1,070 ft
Elevation Range
332 ft
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.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 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 pointsThese 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 Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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
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
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.05 one way
$20.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.04 | $22.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.37 | $24.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.20 | $28.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
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.
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Late night in Lee's Summit on Saturday
Local time
1:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 16 to 21 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:50AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:39AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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 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 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 $10.05 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 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.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 738 ft to 1,070 ft elevation with about 392 ft of total climbing.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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