Kahoka, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is 238.1 miles and takes about 5h 18m via US 136 and I 35, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region on a route that's mostly highway. You'll find it's a straightforward drive with a solid chunk of highway time, making it a practical choice for a single-day trip. Plan for a relatively quick transit between these two points, focusing on efficient travel.
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
119.1 miles from Kahoka, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 136
104.5 mi
2h 35m
I 35
78.8 mi
1h 24m
Grant Street
27.2 mi
40m
I 435
9.5 mi
11m
Blue Parkway
8.2 mi
12m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
3.5 mi
4m
US 63
2.1 mi
2m
US 50
1.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 136
— 104.5 mi, about 2h 35m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,628 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,030
Quietest
1 AM
~143 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 104 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 Kahoka, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on MO 81
0.3 mi·33 sec·North Johnson Street
2
Turn right onto US 136
47 mi·1 hr 10 min·US 136
3
Turn left onto US 63; US 136
2.1 mi·2 min·US 63; US 136
4
Turn right onto US 136
57 mi·1 hr 25 min·US 136
5
Continue on US 65; US 136
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 65; US 136
6
Turn slight left onto US 136
27 mi·40 min·Grant Street
7
Continue on US 136
0.3 mi·33 sec·Miller Street
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
9
Merge onto I 35
79 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 35
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 12Toward I 435 South: Saint Louis
11
Merge onto I 435
9.5 mi·11 min·I 435
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 435
3.5 mi·4 min·Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
Toward I 435 South: Wichita
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 66Toward MO 350 East: 63rd Street, Raytown, Lee's SummitUse the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto MO 350
8.2 mi·12 min·Blue Parkway
15
Continue on US 50
1.4 mi·1 min·US 50
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward Southwest 3rd Street
17
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Southwest 3rd Street
18
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 18m estimated duration, departing in the morning will allow you to complete this trip within daylight hours. With only one recommended stop, consider making it around the halfway point for a break. The fuel cost is estimated at $37, so ensure you have adequate funds or a payment method ready. Since this is a one-day drive, you have flexibility in your departure time, but leaving earlier helps avoid potential evening traffic near Lee's Summit. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 104.5-mile stretch on US 136.
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 119.1 miles from Kahoka, MO, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.5 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 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.1 miles or 2h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 25m
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 Kahoka, 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 Kahoka, MO
This is one driving day of about 238.1 miles and 5h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Kahoka, 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 US 136 for about 104.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 227.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|US 136
Turn right onto US 136
Navigation decision point
4
134.8 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
213.8 mi into trip|~4h 45m in
Take the exit toward I 435 South: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 12
Toward I 435 South: Saint Louis
5
224 mi into trip|~4h 57m in|I 435 / Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 435 / Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway toward I 435 South: Wichita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 435 South: Wichita
8
227.5 mi into trip|~5h 1m in
Take the exit toward MO 350 East: 63rd Street, Raytown, Lee's Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 66
Toward MO 350 East: 63rd Street, Raytown, Lee's...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.72 one way
$79.44 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$43.17
$86.33
premium
$5.26
$49.30
$98.60
diesel
$6.18
$57.92
$115.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.4
0
$25.00
$11.43
Efficient EV
59.5
0
$20.83
$9.52
EV Truck/SUV
95.2
1
$33.33
$15.24
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Kahoka, MO
Morning
in Kahoka on Sunday
Local time
7:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
NW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:40AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Morning
in Lee's Summit on Sunday
Local time
7:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
SSW 0 to 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:40AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
58°F
Corydon, IA
119 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 18m 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?
This drive is 86% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on interstates and major highways. The longest stretch without a significant break is 104.5 miles on US 136. You'll transition from US 136 to I 35, experiencing typical interstate merging and higher speeds for the majority of your travel. Expect a consistent cruising experience until you reach the vicinity of Lee's Summit, where urban merging will become more prevalent.
86% 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: 104.5 mi on US 136.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 136 and I 35. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 136.
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 238.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.3 miles (US 136): Navigation decision point; at 134.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 213.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 5h 18m. Total distance: 238.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 104.5 miles on US 136. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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.
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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 136): Navigation decision point; at 134.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 213.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 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.
