Traveling from Eureka to Lee's Summit covers 236.1 miles across the Missouri Midwest, typically taking about 3 hours and 47 minutes of drive time. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, you should plan on dedicating a full day to complete the journey comfortably. Budgeting approximately $36 for fuel will get you from point A to point B, keeping your travel costs predictable. Since the entire trip stays within Missouri, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the transit. It is an ideal distance for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay.
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 Eureka, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m 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
13.6 mi
16m
MO 109
10.9 mi
18m
I 470
6.4 mi
7m
MO 291
2.5 mi
4m
South Eatherton Road
2.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eureka, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on South Central Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·South Central Avenue
2
Turn right onto East 5th Street
0.3 mi·31 sec·East 5th Street
3
Turn left onto MO 109
5.9 mi·10 min·MO 109
Use the left lane.
4
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
76 ft·1 sec·MO 109
5
Continue on MO 109
0.1 mi·13 sec·MO 109
6
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
90 ft·1 sec·MO 109
7
Continue on MO 109
515 ft·10 sec·MO 109
8
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
98 ft·1 sec·MO 109
9
Continue on MO 109
0.4 mi·45 sec·MO 109
10
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
94 ft·2 sec·MO 109
11
Continue on MO 109
4.3 mi·6 min·MO 109
12
Enter roundabout onto South Eatherton Road
94 ft·1 sec·South Eatherton Road
13
Continue on South Eatherton Road
2.4 mi·4 min·South Eatherton Road
14
Continue on Olive Street Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Olive Street Road
15
Take the ramp onto Chesterfield Airport Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Chesterfield Airport Road
16
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
14 mi·16 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
17
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.
18
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
19
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
20
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
21
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
22
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.
26
Merge onto I 470; MO 291
6.4 mi·7 min·I 470; MO 291
27
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.
28
Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Street
0.9 mi·2 min·Southeast 3rd Street
29
Continue on Southwest 3rd Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
30
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of these local roads, you should plan to depart early in the morning to ensure you have plenty of daylight for navigating the route. With only one recommended stop planned, you have the flexibility to pace your trip according to your personal comfort level. Keep a close eye on your navigation, as the reliance on smaller local roads means you will encounter frequent turns rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. Since you are budgeting roughly $36 for fuel, try to fill up before leaving Eureka to avoid searching for stations along the more rural segments of the path. Use the lack of highway travel to your advantage by taking your time through the local landscape.
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 Eureka, MO, or about 2h 28m 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 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.2 miles or 2h 28m 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 49m
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 Eureka, 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 Eureka, MO
This is one driving day of about 234.4 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Eureka, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.6 and 230.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.6 mi into trip|~12m in|MO 109
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
6.7 mi into trip|~12m in|MO 109
Enter roundabout onto MO 109
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
29 mi into trip|~44m 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 23m 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
230.7 mi into trip|~4h 32m 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
$34.80 one way
$69.60 round trip
$3.77/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.25
$39.25
$78.50
premium
$4.65
$42.95
$85.90
diesel
$5.30
$48.95
$97.89
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
70.3
0
$24.61
$11.25
Efficient EV
58.6
0
$20.51
$9.38
EV Truck/SUV
93.8
1
$32.82
$15.00
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
Eureka, MO
Night
in Eureka on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Night
in Lee's Summit on Saturday
Local time
11:14 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
5 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 39m 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?
Expect a departure from the typical interstate grind, as this route features zero highway miles and relies entirely on local roads. Your path will take you along East 5th Street and South Eatherton Road, creating a technical and engaging experience behind the wheel. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you will need to stay alert and navigate constant changes in direction rather than cruising on autopilot. The road's personality is defined by its winding nature, which keeps the journey active and far from monotonous. You should anticipate a steady, hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention throughout the 3-hour and 47-minute duration.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 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?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.6 miles in near MO 109.
Driving Effort5/10
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 234.4 miles you will encounter 15 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 6.6 miles (MO 109): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.7 miles (MO 109): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 29 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,039 ft576 ft
Total Climb
709 ft
Total Descent
246 ft
Highest Point
1,039 ft
~234.4 mi in
Elevation Range
463 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 234.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (9%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.6 miles (MO 109): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.7 miles (MO 109): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 29 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 4.7 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.
