Spanning 236.2 miles across the heart of Missouri, this trip from Des Peres to Lee's Summit is a straightforward journey through the Midwest. You should plan for a total drive time of approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. Budgeting about $36 for fuel will cover your transit across the state. Because the route is relatively quick, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you have additional business or leisure plans at your destination. It is a practical, efficient way to connect these two Missouri hubs without the need for complex logistics.
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
117.2 miles from Des Peres, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m 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
25.4 mi
30m
I 470
6.4 mi
7m
MO 291
2.5 mi
4m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
I 270
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Peres, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on MO 100
0.9 mi·1 min·Manchester Road
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 270 North
3
Merge onto I 270
1.9 mi·2 min·I 270
4
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 12Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint LouisUse the slight right lane.
5
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.
6
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·9 sec·this road
Exit 12Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
7
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
25 mi·30 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 manageable drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. With only one recommended stop planned, you can easily pace yourself to reach Lee's Summit without fatigue. Keep your $36 fuel budget in mind as you prep your vehicle for the 3 hour and 40 minute journey. To make the most of your time, try to avoid peak local traffic hours, as the turn-heavy nature of this route can be more taxing during busy periods. Having your navigation ready for the specific local turns will ensure you stay on track throughout the trip.
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 117.2 miles from Des Peres, MO, or about 2h 20m 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 52 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.2 miles or 2h 20m 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 41m
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 Des Peres, 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 Des Peres, MO
This is one driving day of about 234.5 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Des Peres, 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 230.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.1 mi into trip|~4m 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
3.2 mi into trip|~4m 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
29.1 mi into trip|~36m 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
224.1 mi into trip|~4h 16m 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
230.8 mi into trip|~4h 24m 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
$34.81 one way
$69.63 round trip
$3.77/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.25
$39.26
$78.53
premium
$4.65
$42.97
$85.93
diesel
$5.30
$48.97
$97.94
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: 82 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.4
0
$24.62
$11.26
Efficient EV
58.6
0
$20.52
$9.38
EV Truck/SUV
93.8
1
$32.83
$15.01
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Des Peres, MO
Night
in Des Peres on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Night
in Lee's Summit on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
6 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 31m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than lulled by a monotonous interstate grind. While you will utilize I-270 North, I-64, and I-64 West, this route features a unique profile that prioritizes local navigation over long, high-speed highway stretches. You will find that the road demands your attention as you transition through various segments of the state. Because the highway share is 0 percent, you should prepare for a driving experience that favors surface streets and local connectors. This setup ensures you stay active behind the wheel throughout the entire 236.2-mile trek.
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?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 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 12 significant decision points across 234.5 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 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.1 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 31m. Total distance: 234.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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.
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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.1 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Lee's Summit, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
