Driving from Houston to Lee's Summit covers 242.2 miles across the heart of Missouri. You can expect about 4 hours and 52 minutes of total travel time, making this a straightforward day trip that doesn't necessarily require an overnight stay. Your journey relies heavily on North Kansas Expressway, US 60, and MO 7, keeping you on well-traveled paths through the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $37, the trip is quite budget-friendly for a solo driver or a small group. Since the entire route stays within Missouri, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition from the southern portion of the state toward the Kansas City metropolitan area. It is a practical, efficient trek if you have a full day to dedicate to the road.
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
121.1 miles from Houston, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Kansas Expressway
87.2 mi
1h 42m
US 60
66.6 mi
1h 17m
MO 7
39.2 mi
43m
South Sam Houston Boulevard
16.4 mi
20m
MO 58
8.5 mi
11m
MO 291
8.3 mi
12m
Schoolcraft Freeway
8.1 mi
10m
Payne Stewart Highway
4.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
North Kansas Expressway
— 87.2 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on this road
100 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto South Grand Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·South Grand Avenue
3
Turn slight right onto US 63
16 mi·20 min·South Sam Houston Boulevard
4
Turn right onto US 60 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·US 60 Business
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto MO 181
0.2 mi·20 sec·South Elm Street
6
Continue on MO 181
0.3 mi·36 sec·Peabody Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward US 60 West: Mountain Grove
8
Merge onto US 60
67 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 60
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 65 North: Sedalia
10
Merge onto US 65
8.1 mi·10 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
12
Merge onto I 44
4.1 mi·5 min·Payne Stewart Highway
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
14
Keep slight left at fork
150 ft·3 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13: Bolivar
15
Keep slight right at fork
209 ft·7 sec
Exit 77Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
16
Merge onto MO 13
87 mi·1 hr 42 min·North Kansas Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on MO 7
36 mi·39 min·MO 7
18
Take the exit onto MO 7
3.3 mi·3 min·MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 160Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
20
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft·6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
21
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi·12 min·MO 291
22
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi·11 min·MO 58; MO 291
23
Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·Southwest Jefferson Street
24
Enter roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street
189 ft·3 sec·Southwest Jefferson Street
25
Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·Southwest Jefferson Street
26
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
Use the left lane.
27
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Planning for this 242.2-mile journey is simple, but keeping a few logistical details in mind will make the experience smoother. Since the drive takes just under five hours, leaving early in the morning allows you to arrive in Lee's Summit with plenty of daylight to spare. You only need to build in one main stop to stay refreshed, which helps break up the monotony of the highway stretches. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the longer segments, as the $37 estimate assumes consistent driving conditions. A great strategy for this route is to utilize your single stop right around the halfway mark to stretch your legs, ensuring you stay alert for the final push toward your destination.
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 121.1 miles from Houston, MO, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.2 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 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.1 miles or 2h 27m 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 57m
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 Houston, 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 Houston, MO
This is one driving day of about 242.2 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Houston, 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 North Kansas Expressway for about 87.2 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.7 and 224.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
16.7 mi into trip|~21m in|US 60 Business
Turn right onto US 60 Business
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
17.9 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the ramp toward US 60 West: Mountain Grove
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward US 60 West: Mountain Grove
7
98 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 13: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
7
98 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
6
224.6 mi into trip|~4h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.96 one way
$71.92 round trip
$3.77/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.25
$40.55
$81.11
premium
$4.65
$44.38
$88.76
diesel
$5.30
$50.58
$101.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.7
0
$25.43
$11.63
Efficient EV
60.6
0
$21.19
$9.69
EV Truck/SUV
96.9
1
$33.91
$15.50
Gas CO2
85 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 Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Houston, MO
Night
in Houston on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Partly Cloudy
S 7 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Night
in Lee's Summit on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 14 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:35AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
73°F
Billings, MO
121 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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 52m 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.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 83.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 90% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will settle into a steady rhythm, particularly during the longest stretch of 87.2 miles on the North Kansas Expressway. The experience is designed for efficiency rather than technical maneuvering, offering a consistent pace that helps you cover the distance quickly. As you navigate from US 60 to MO 7, the environment shifts gradually, but the focus remains on maintaining a steady speed. Expect a reliable, predictable commute that prioritizes getting you to Lee's Summit without unnecessary detours or complex road changes.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.2 mi on North Kansas Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Kansas Expressway and US 60. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.7 miles in near US 60 Business.
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 19 significant decision points across 242.2 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 16.7 miles (US 60 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.9 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 98 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Houston is a sprawling port city in Southeastern Texas. An oil boom and continuing international immigration has brought explosive growth to the city, and it is now the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States and the most diverse large city since 2021. While at first glance, the city appears to be a 9-5 central business district surrounded by a sea of suburbs and strip malls, there are many hidden gems to be discovered.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 52m. Total distance: 242.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.2 miles on North Kansas Expressway. 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 16.7 miles (US 60 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.9 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 98 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Lee's Summit, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
