This 374.3-mile drive from Bethany, MO, to Lee's Summit, MO, is estimated to take 6 hours and 5 minutes, making it a feasible one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with a 0% highway share, suggesting a more turn-heavy experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is $57. Given the route's nature, planning for a single stop is recommended to break up the drive. Both your origin and destination are within the Midwest region, so you'll remain in familiar territory throughout this Midwestern excursion.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
183.9 miles from Bethany, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 60
176.6 mi
3h 28m
North Kansas Expressway
87.2 mi
1h 42m
MO 7
39.2 mi
43m
MO 53
19.5 mi
29m
MO H
8.8 mi
17m
MO 58
8.5 mi
11m
MO 291
8.3 mi
12m
Schoolcraft Freeway
8.1 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 176.6 mi, about 3h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethany, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on County Road 102
0.8 mi·3 min·County Road 102
2
Turn left onto MO H
3.5 mi·8 min·MO H
3
Continue on MO H; MO J
5.2 mi·9 min·MO H; MO J
4
Turn right onto MO 53
20 mi·29 min·MO 53
5
Turn right onto US 67 Business
2.4 mi·3 min·South Westwood Boulevard
6
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·State Street
7
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·North Westwood Boulevard
8
Continue on US 67; US 60 Business
0.4 mi·37 sec·US 67; US 60 Business
9
Continue on US 60; US 67
4.0 mi·4 min·US 60; US 67
10
Take the exit onto US 60
173 mi·3 hr 23 min·US 60
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 65 North: Sedalia
12
Merge onto US 65
8.1 mi·10 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
14
Merge onto I 44
4.1 mi·5 min·Payne Stewart Highway
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
16
Keep slight left at fork
150 ft·3 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
17
Keep slight right at fork
209 ft·7 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
18
Merge onto MO 13
87 mi·1 hr 42 min·North Kansas Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Continue on MO 7
36 mi·39 min·MO 7
20
Take the exit onto MO 7
3.3 mi·3 min·MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 160Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
22
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft·6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
23
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi·12 min·MO 291
24
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi·11 min·MO 58; MO 291
25
Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·Southwest Jefferson Street
26
Enter roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street
189 ft·3 sec·Southwest Jefferson Street
27
Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·Southwest Jefferson Street
28
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
Use the left lane.
29
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour, 374.3-mile trip, consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight and allow ample time for your single planned stop. Since this route is characterized by frequent turns and local roads, avoid rushing and pay close attention to road signs and your GPS. The $57 fuel estimate is manageable, but it's always wise to start with a full tank and be aware of your fuel gauge, especially on local roads where gas stations might be less frequent than on interstates. This drive is best managed in one day, so focus on enjoying the local scenery and the steady progress rather than trying to split it.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 183.9 miles from Bethany, MO, or about 3h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.6 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 81 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 183.9 miles or 3h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 22m
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 Bethany, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bethany, MO
This is one driving day of about 367.9 miles and 7h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Bethany, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 60 for about 176.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 223.5 and 350.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
223.5 mi into trip|~4h 42m in
Take the exit toward MO 13: Bolivar
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
7
223.6 mi into trip|~4h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 13: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
7
223.7 mi into trip|~4h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
5
223.7 mi into trip|~4h 42m in|MO 13 / North Kansas Expressway
Merge onto MO 13 / North Kansas Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
350.2 mi into trip|~7h 9m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.52 one way
$115.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg129 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$63.15
$126.30
premium
$4.89
$70.80
$141.60
diesel
$5.61
$81.23
$162.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
110.4
1
$38.63
$17.66
Efficient EV
92
1
$32.19
$14.72
EV Truck/SUV
147.2
1
$51.51
$23.55
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Bethany, MO
Evening
in Bethany on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Evening
in Lee's Summit on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Houston, MO
184 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
17 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
7h 35m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 215.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the entirety of this 374.3-mile journey. With no highway miles, your experience will be dominated by navigating through towns and local thoroughfares, utilizing roads like South Westwood Boulevard, State Street, and North Westwood Boulevard. The absence of long highway stretches means you’ll likely be encountering more frequent turns and varying speed limits. This type of driving demands consistent attention and awareness of your surroundings as you transition between different local road segments.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 176.6 mi on US 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and North Kansas Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 223.5 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 367.9 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 223.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 223.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 223.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 35m. Total distance: 367.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 35m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 176.6 miles on US 60. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lee's Summit, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 223.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 223.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 223.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.6 hours each way, a round trip means 15.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lee's Summit, MO before the return drive.
