Connecting Clayton to Lee's Summit requires a 239-mile journey across the Missouri landscape. Expect to spend approximately 4 hours and 38 minutes behind the wheel, making this a very manageable trip for a single day. You will primarily navigate via the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. With an estimated fuel cost of $36, this route is budget-friendly for those looking to traverse the state. Because the trip fits easily into one day, you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations unless you prefer a more leisurely pace. Both the origin and destination are located within the Midwest, offering a consistent regional feel throughout your travel.
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
119.5 miles from Clayton, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
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
27.8 mi
33m
I 470
6.4 mi
7m
Daniel Boone Expressway
3.4 mi
4m
MO 291
2.5 mi
4m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 21 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,549 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,000
Quietest
1 AM
~241 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clayton, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on Hillvale Drive
178 ft·7 sec·Hillvale Drive
2
Turn left onto Wydown Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·Wydown Boulevard
3
At end of road, turn left onto South Hanley Road
0.9 mi·1 min·South Hanley Road
4
Turn right onto North Service Road
0.6 mi·1 min·North Service Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·26 sec·this road
Toward I 64 West, US 40 WestUse the left / straight lanes.
6
Merge onto I 64; US 40
3.4 mi·4 min·Daniel Boone Expressway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on I 64; US 40; US 61
28 mi·33 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
8
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.
9
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
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.
17
Merge onto I 470; MO 291
6.4 mi·7 min·I 470; MO 291
18
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.
19
Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Street
0.9 mi·2 min·Southeast 3rd Street
20
Continue on Southwest 3rd Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
21
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 4-hour and 38-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Planning for at least one dedicated stop will help you break up the 239-mile trek and keep your energy levels consistent. Keep your $36 fuel budget in mind, but consider fueling up before leaving Clayton to ensure you have a full tank for the local-heavy portions of the trip. Because the route relies heavily on local roads rather than major highways, check your navigation frequently to stay on track during turns. Taking advantage of the single-day nature of this trip allows you to reach Lee's Summit without the pressure of an overnight itinerary.
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 119.5 miles from Clayton, MO, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.7 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 53 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.5 miles or 2h 25m 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 47m
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 Clayton, 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 Clayton, MO
This is one driving day of about 239 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Clayton, 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 Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 80.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 235.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|South Hanley Road
At end of road, turn left onto South Hanley Road
Navigation decision point
5
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in|I 64; US 40 / Daniel Boone Expressway
Merge onto I 64; US 40 / Daniel Boone Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
33.6 mi into trip|~43m 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
8
228.6 mi into trip|~4h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 15A
Toward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's Summit
8
235.3 mi into trip|~4h 31m in|MO 291
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 291 toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 10B
Toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.29 one way
$70.59 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$38.96
$77.93
premium
$4.72
$44.37
$88.75
diesel
$4.80
$45.13
$90.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.7
0
$25.10
$11.47
Efficient EV
59.8
0
$20.91
$9.56
EV Truck/SUV
95.6
1
$33.46
$15.30
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Clayton, MO
Late night
in Clayton on Sunday
Local time
5:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny
W 6 to 10 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Late night
in Lee's Summit on Sunday
Local time
5:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 9 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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
2 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
4h 38m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined as a turn-heavy local drive, requiring you to stay alert as you transition between sections. While your route covers 239 miles, only 5% of the journey is spent on the highway, meaning you will encounter more local road segments than high-speed interstate cruising. You will experience your longest uninterrupted stretch of 80.7 miles while driving on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Be prepared for a shift in driving style as you move away from the major highways and into the more technical local portions of the route. The personality of this drive is practical and functional, prioritizing local navigation over monotonous long-distance highway stretches.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.7 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near South Hanley Road.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 239 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.6 miles (South Hanley Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 64; US 40 / Daniel Boone Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.6 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Lee's Summit is a city in Missouri. It is the hometown of famous outlaw Cole Younger of the James-Younger Gang, and of Grammy Award-winning musician Pat Metheny.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 38m. Total distance: 239 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.7 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (South Hanley Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 64; US 40 / Daniel Boone Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.6 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Lee's Summit, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
