East Prairie, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is 394.3 miles and takes about 7h 28m via I 55, with a fuel budget near $70 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way across the state. With a single day recommended, it's a manageable drive for most, especially if you're looking to get from point A to point B efficiently.
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
197.2 miles from East Prairie, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
128.6 mi
2h 18m
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 57
10 mi
10m
MO 105
9.5 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 128.6 mi, about 2h 18m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 17 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,952 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,444
Quietest
1 AM
~261 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.3×
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 East Prairie, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on East Main Street
86 ft·5 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn right onto MO 80
0.3 mi·34 sec·North Washington Street
3
Turn right onto MO 105
9.5 mi·12 min·MO 105
4
Take the ramp onto I 57 Business
0.2 mi·30 sec·I 57 Business
5
Merge onto I 57; US 60
10.0 mi·10 min·I 57; US 60
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 1BToward I 55 North: Saint Louis
7
Merge onto I 55
27 mi·29 min·I 55
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
102 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 55
9
Continue on I 55
1.3 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 196Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, ChicagoUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
388 ft·8 sec
Toward I 270 West: Kansas CityUse the slight left lane.
12
Continue on this road
0.7 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 196Toward I 270 West
13
Merge onto I 270
11 mi·14 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 12Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint LouisUse the slight right lane.
15
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.
16
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·9 sec·this road
Exit 12Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
17
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
25 mi·30 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
18
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.
19
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
20
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
21
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
22
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
23
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.
27
Merge onto I 470; MO 291
6.4 mi·7 min·I 470; MO 291
28
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.
29
Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Street
0.9 mi·2 min·Southeast 3rd Street
30
Continue on Southwest 3rd Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
31
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 7h 28m estimated drive time, departing in the morning will allow you to arrive before evening. You've planned for 2 stops, which is a good pace for a drive of this length, helping you stay alert. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $70, and plan your refueling stops accordingly. The longest stretch on I 55 is over 128 miles, so consider filling up before you begin that segment to ensure you have ample fuel for the highway portion.
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 197.2 miles from East Prairie, MO, or about 3h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.6 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 87 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 197.2 miles or 3h 43m 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 19m
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 East Prairie, 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 East Prairie, MO
This is one driving day of about 394.3 miles and 7h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from East Prairie, 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 I 55 for about 128.6 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 150.4 and 189 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
150.4 mi into trip|~2h 45m 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
150.6 mi into trip|~2h 45m 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
162.9 mi into trip|~3h 1m 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
163.1 mi into trip|~3h 1m 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
189 mi into trip|~3h 33m 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
$58.23 one way
$116.46 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg138 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$64.28
$128.57
premium
$4.72
$73.21
$146.42
diesel
$4.80
$74.45
$148.90
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: 138 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
118.3
1
$41.40
$18.93
Efficient EV
98.6
1
$34.50
$15.77
EV Truck/SUV
157.7
1
$55.20
$25.24
Gas CO2
138 kg
EV CO2
46 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
East Prairie, MO
Evening
in East Prairie on Saturday
Local time
8:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 2 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Evening
in Lee's Summit on Saturday
Local time
8:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
S 6 mph5% chanceLive forecast
68°F
Chesterfield, MO
197 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
1 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
7h 28m 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.
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 108.8
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$19
near mile 149.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 43% highway, meaning you'll experience roughly 169 miles of interstate driving. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 128.6 miles on I 55. After that, expect to transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. You'll notice the change from high-speed interstate travel to more varied surface road conditions with more frequent intersections.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 128.6 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 150.4 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 20 significant decision points across 394.3 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 150.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 162.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,039 ft307 ft
Total Climb
1,084 ft
Total Descent
353 ft
Highest Point
1,039 ft
~392.7 mi in
Elevation Range
731 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between East Prairie, MO and Lee's Summit, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.
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 7h 28m. Total distance: 394.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 28m 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 128.6 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 38 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 38 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 150.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 162.9 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 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 15.0 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.
