Caruthersville, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is 426.2 miles and takes about 8h 3m via I 55 and Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $67 and enough daylight to finish in a day if you start early. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Missouri, offering a familiar regional feel throughout. It's a solid choice if you're looking for a direct drive between these two points without venturing too far off the beaten path. Consider this route for its straightforward nature and manageable duration, making it a practical option for a single-day push or a relaxed two-day journey.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
213.1 miles from Caruthersville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
175.7 mi
3h 8m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi
1h 35m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
Avenue of the Saints
25.4 mi
30m
I 270
11.5 mi
14m
I 470
6.4 mi
7m
West 3rd Street
2.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 175.7 mi, about 3h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Caruthersville, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on this road
45 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
2.9 mi·5 min·West 3rd Street
3
Continue on MO 84
2.0 mi·3 min·MO 84
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Sikeston
5
Merge onto I 55; US 61
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 55; US 61
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
102 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 55
7
Continue on I 55
1.3 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 196Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, ChicagoUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
388 ft·8 sec
Toward I 270 West: Kansas CityUse the slight left lane.
10
Continue on this road
0.7 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 196Toward I 270 West
11
Merge onto I 270
11 mi·14 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 12Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint LouisUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: WentzvilleUse the slight left lane.
14
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·9 sec·this road
Exit 12Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
15
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
25 mi·30 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit onto US 40
0.6 mi·1 min·US 40
Exit 1AToward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
18
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
19
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
20
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
21
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Exit 15AToward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's SummitUse the right lane.
25
Merge onto I 470; MO 291
6.4 mi·7 min·I 470; MO 291
26
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 291
2.5 mi·4 min·MO 291
Exit 10BToward MO 291 South: HarrisonvilleUse the slight left / straight lanes.
27
Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Street
0.9 mi·2 min·Southeast 3rd Street
28
Continue on Southwest 3rd Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
29
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 8-hour drive time, starting your journey from Caruthersville early in the morning is highly recommended to maximize daylight. With only 2 planned stops, consider breaking up the 426.2 miles into two segments if you prefer a more relaxed pace, perhaps an overnight stay around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 175.7 miles on I 55, as services can sometimes be spread out. The $67 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to budget a little extra.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 213.1 miles from Caruthersville, MO, or about 3h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 175.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 94 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 213.1 miles or 3h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 213.1 miles or 3h 59m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 54m
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 Caruthersville, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Caruthersville, MO
Aim for roughly 213 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Lee's Summit, MO
Aim for roughly 213 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 miles from Caruthersville, MO.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 175.7 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 182.3 and 220.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
182.3 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Take the exit toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 196
Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chi...
8
182.5 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 West: Kansas City
8
194.8 mi into trip|~3h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12
Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Lo...
8
195 mi into trip|~3h 36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Went...
8
220.9 mi into trip|~4h 8m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$66.63 one way
$133.26 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg149 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$73.16
$146.32
premium
$4.89
$82.02
$164.04
diesel
$5.61
$94.10
$188.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$67
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$197–$307
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 149.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
127.9
1
$44.75
$20.46
Efficient EV
106.6
1
$37.29
$17.05
EV Truck/SUV
170.5
2
$59.67
$27.28
Gas CO2
149 kg
EV CO2
50 kg (66% 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
Caruthersville, MO
Evening
in Caruthersville 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
57°F
Chesterfield, MO
213 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
8h 3m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the B...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 132.3
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
$19
near mile 191.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 47% of it on the highway. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway and the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 175.7 miles on I 55, so be prepared for extended periods of steady driving. While much of the route is highway, expect some variation as you transition between major interstates and other roadways, providing a dynamic feel to your time behind the wheel.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 175.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 182.3 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 426.2 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 182.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 182.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 194.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Caruthersville, MO and Lee's Summit, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.
Chicago
182.3 mi in|~3h 20m
Saint Louis
194.8 mi in|~3h 36m
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
8h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 175.7 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 213 miles on day one.
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 182.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 182.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 194.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park and Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.1 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.
