Connecting Lamar to Blue Springs, this 113.5-mile journey is a straightforward trek across the Missouri Midwest. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 16 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $17, the route is both efficient and budget-friendly. Because the drive is relatively short and direct, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay unless you have additional engagements in the area. Navigating primarily via I-49, MO-291, and MO-58, you will find the transition between these two Missouri locations predictable and hassle-free. It is a practical choice if you are looking to cover the distance quickly without unnecessary detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.8 miles from Lamar, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 49
83.2 mi
1h 29m
MO 291
14.5 mi
21m
MO 58
8.5 mi
11m
Southwest Woods Chapel Road
2.2 mi
3m
Corporal M.E. Webster Memorial Parkway
1.5 mi
2m
Northeast Woods Chapel Road
1.3 mi
2m
12th Street West
1.2 mi
1m
Southwest 15th Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 83.2 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lamar, MO and Blue Springs, MO.
1
Start on this road
134 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto 11th Street West
252 ft·6 sec·11th Street West
3
Turn left onto Gulf Street
474 ft·29 sec·Gulf Street
4
Turn right onto US 160
1.2 mi·1 min·12th Street West
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·9 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
6
Merge onto I 49; US 71
83 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 49; US 71
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 160Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
8
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft·6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
9
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi·12 min·MO 291
10
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi·11 min·MO 58; MO 291
11
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.6 mi·52 sec·MO 291
Toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
12
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.2 mi·37 sec·MO 291
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen RoadUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn left
300 ft·7 sec
14
Continue on MO 291
5.4 mi·8 min·MO 291
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Exit 12Toward Woods Chapel RoadUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto Northeast Woods Chapel Road
1.3 mi·2 min·Northeast Woods Chapel Road
17
Continue on Southwest Woods Chapel Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Southwest Woods Chapel Road
18
Turn right onto US 40
1.5 mi·2 min·Corporal M.E. Webster Memorial Parkway
19
Turn left onto Southwest 15th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Southwest 15th Street
20
Arrive at destination
Southwest 15th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 2-hour and 16-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to ensure the smoothest transition when exiting I-49 and moving onto the local state highways. Given that the entire trip requires only about $17 in fuel, you might consider filling up in Lamar before you depart to avoid searching for stations during the longer interstate stretches. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled for this 113.5-mile route, you are free to pull over whenever you feel the need to stretch your legs. Keep a close eye on your GPS as you move between the major highways to ensure you don't miss the turn-offs connecting I-49 to your final approach in Blue Springs.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 56.8 miles from Lamar, MO, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.2 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 25 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.8 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blue Springs, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lamar, 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 Lamar, MO
This is one driving day of about 113.5 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Lamar, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 49 for about 83.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 107.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|11th Street West
Turn right onto 11th Street West
Navigation decision point
5
84.6 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 160
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
6
84.8 mi into trip|~1h 32m 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
7
102.2 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|MO 291
Take the exit onto MO 291 toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
7
107.8 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Take the exit toward Woods Chapel Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12
Toward Woods Chapel Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.74 one way
$35.49 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.48
$38.97
premium
$4.89
$21.84
$43.68
diesel
$5.61
$25.06
$50.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.1
0
$11.92
$5.45
Efficient EV
28.4
0
$9.93
$4.54
EV Truck/SUV
45.4
0
$15.89
$7.26
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Lamar, MO
Late night
in Lamar on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blue Springs, MO
Late night
in Blue Springs on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Adrian, MO
57 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
17 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
2h 16m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 95% of this trip takes place on high-speed roads. The vast majority of your time will be spent on I-49, which features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 83.2 miles. This creates a steady, rhythmic pace that allows you to cover most of the distance with minimal stop-and-go traffic. As you transition from the interstate onto MO-291 and MO-58, the character of the road shifts slightly, requiring more attention as you navigate toward your destination. Overall, the drive feels like a consistent interstate grind designed for efficiency rather than winding, technical maneuvers.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.2 mi on I 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and MO 291. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 11th Street West.
Driving Effort6/10
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 113.5 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (11th Street West): Navigation decision point; at 84.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 84.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 16m. Total distance: 113.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.2 miles on I 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Blue Springs, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (11th Street West): Navigation decision point; at 84.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 84.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Blue Springs, MO before heading back.
