Lee's Summit, MO to Bismarck, MO is 265.2 miles and takes about 5h 53m via US 50 and US 63, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. With 86% of the trip on highways, you'll experience a good amount of efficient cruising. It's a straightforward route that can easily be completed in a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick getaway or transit.
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
132.6 miles from Lee's Summit, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 50
131.6 mi
2h 43m
US 63
38.2 mi
49m
Main Street
37.3 mi
55m
MO 68
25.2 mi
37m
MO 21
12.2 mi
18m
MO 32
9 mi
13m
MO 291
6.6 mi
8m
MO 8
4.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 131.6 mi, about 2h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lee's Summit, MO and Bismarck, MO.
1
Start on Southwest 3rd Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto Southwest Jefferson Street
0.5 mi·50 sec·Southwest Jefferson Street
3
Enter roundabout
251 ft·5 sec
4
Continue
0.1 mi·15 sec
5
Take the exit onto MO 291
6.6 mi·8 min·MO 291
Toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
6
Continue on US 50
132 mi·2 hr 43 min·US 50
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 63
38 mi·49 min·US 63
Toward US 63 South: Rolla
8
Turn left onto MO 68
25 mi·37 min·MO 68
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on MO 8
4.5 mi·6 min·MO 8
10
At end of road, turn right onto MO 8; MO 19
37 mi·55 min·Main Street
11
Turn right onto MO 21
12 mi·18 min·MO 21
12
Turn left onto MO 32
9.0 mi·13 min·MO 32
13
Arrive at destination
MO 32
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 53m estimated drive time, leaving Lee's Summit in the morning will allow you to reach Bismarck with plenty of daylight to spare. The single suggested stop is a good opportunity to stretch your legs or grab a quick bite, but you'll find services readily available throughout the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 131.6 miles on US 50, and plan your refueling accordingly to stay within the estimated $41 budget. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
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 132.6 miles from Lee's Summit, MO, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131.6 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 58 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.6 miles or 2h 45m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bismarck, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lee's Summit, 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 Lee's Summit, MO
This is one driving day of about 265.2 miles and 5h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Lee's Summit, 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 50 for about 131.6 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 206.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|MO 291
Take the exit onto MO 291 toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
5
138.9 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|US 63
Keep slight right at fork onto US 63 toward US 63 South: Rolla
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 63 South: Rolla
5
177.1 mi into trip|~3h 42m in|MO 68
Turn left onto MO 68
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
206.7 mi into trip|~4h 26m in|MO 8; MO 19 / Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto MO 8; MO 19 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.46 one way
$82.92 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$45.52
$91.05
premium
$4.89
$51.04
$102.07
diesel
$5.61
$58.55
$117.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.6
0
$27.85
$12.73
Efficient EV
66.3
0
$23.21
$10.61
EV Truck/SUV
106.1
1
$37.13
$16.97
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 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 20, 2026
Origin
Lee's Summit, MO
Late night
in Lee's Summit on Tuesday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bismarck, MO
Late night
in Bismarck on Tuesday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
70°F
Waynesville, MO
133 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
5 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
5h 53m 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?
You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 86% of the 265.2 miles being on high-speed roads. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 131.6 miles on US 50. Expect to transition from highway driving to surface streets like Main Street as you approach your destination. The presence of many exits and the highway profile suggest a driving experience with frequent opportunities for services and varying speed limits as you move between segments.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 131.6 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and US 63. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 53m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.7 miles (MO 291): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 138.9 miles (US 63): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 53m. Total distance: 265.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 131.6 miles on US 50. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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 2 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.7 miles (MO 291): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 138.9 miles (US 63): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bismarck, MO before the return drive.
