This 232.3-mile drive from Hazelwood, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes. With 97% of the route on highways, primarily I-70 and I-470, expect a consistent driving experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $36, making it an economical option for exploring within the Midwest. This route is ideal as a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.
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
116.2 miles from Hazelwood, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
215.4 mi
4h 4m
I 470
6.4 mi
7m
MO 291
2.5 mi
4m
Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
2.1 mi
2m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
1.6 mi
1m
Southeast 3rd Street
0.9 mi
2m
McDonnell Boulevard
0.6 mi
<1m
James S McDonnell Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 215.4 mi, about 4h 4m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,861 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~342 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 Hazelwood, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on Chapel Ridge Drive
0.2 mi·56 sec·Chapel Ridge Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto Fee Fee Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Fee Fee Road
3
Turn slight right
147 ft·5 sec
4
Turn right onto James S McDonnell Boulevard
0.3 mi·27 sec·James S McDonnell Boulevard
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on McDonnell Boulevard
0.6 mi·59 sec·McDonnell Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward I 270 West: Kansas CityUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 270
2.1 mi·2 min·Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 20AToward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
9
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·42 sec·this road
Exit 20A-BToward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas CityUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·41 sec
Exit 20BToward I 70 West: Kansas CityUse the slight right lane.
Exit 15AToward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's SummitUse the right lane.
14
Merge onto I 470; MO 291
6.4 mi·7 min·I 470; MO 291
15
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.
16
Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Street
0.9 mi·2 min·Southeast 3rd Street
17
Continue on Southwest 3rd Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
18
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 4-hour 30-minute duration, starting your drive in Hazelwood, MO, in the morning is recommended to maximize your day upon arrival in Lee's Summit, MO. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in planning your break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on I-70 is quite substantial. The total fuel cost is estimated at $36, so plan accordingly before you depart.
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 116.2 miles from Hazelwood, MO, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 215.4 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 51 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.2 miles or 2h 14m 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 39m
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 Hazelwood, 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 Hazelwood, MO
This is one driving day of about 232.3 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Hazelwood, 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 I 70 for about 215.4 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 0.2 and 228.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Fee Fee Road
At end of road, turn left onto Fee Fee Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
3.9 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 20A
Toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
8
4.6 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20B
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
8
222 mi into trip|~4h 15m 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
228.6 mi into trip|~4h 23m 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
$34.31 one way
$68.61 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$37.87
$75.74
premium
$4.72
$43.13
$86.26
diesel
$4.80
$43.86
$87.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.7
0
$24.39
$11.15
Efficient EV
58.1
0
$20.33
$9.29
EV Truck/SUV
92.9
1
$32.52
$14.87
Gas CO2
81 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Hazelwood, MO
Late night
in Hazelwood on Sunday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
W 10 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:57AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Late night
in Lee's Summit on Sunday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 9 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:57AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
91°F
Columbia, MO
116 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
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 30m 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 drive is almost entirely on major highways, with a 97% highway share. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I-70, which forms the longest uninterrupted stretch of the journey at 215.4 miles. This means you can expect a relatively fast and direct experience, with minimal distractions from local traffic or winding roads. The route is designed for efficiency, keeping you moving steadily toward Lee's Summit.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 215.4 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and I 470. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Fee Fee Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 232.3 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 0.2 miles (Fee Fee Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 30m. Total distance: 232.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 215.4 miles on I 70. 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 0.2 miles (Fee Fee Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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.
