If you are planning a trip from Lee's Summit to Buffalo, Missouri, expect a straightforward journey covering 137.7 miles. You should budget approximately 2 hours and 53 minutes of drive time, making this a very manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. With a fuel cost estimate of $21, it is an economical route for a quick weekend getaway or a necessary transit through the Midwest. The path relies heavily on MO 7 and MO 13, keeping you on main thoroughfares for the duration. Since both cities are located within Missouri, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
68.8 miles from Lee's Summit, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MO 7
55.6 mi
1h 4m
MO 13
40.5 mi
46m
West Broadway Street
20.4 mi
31m
MO 291
16.9 mi
24m
I 49
2.8 mi
3m
Southwest Jefferson Street
0.5 mi
<1m
South Maple Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Cantrell Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
MO 7
— 55.6 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lee's Summit, MO and Buffalo, 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
367 ft·9 sec
5
Continue on MO 291
17 mi·24 min·MO 291
6
Continue on Cantrell Road
0.1 mi·19 sec·Cantrell Road
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
8
Merge onto I 49; US 71
2.8 mi·3 min·I 49; US 71
9
Take the exit onto MO 7
0.2 mi·19 sec·MO 7
Exit 157Toward MO 7 South: Clinton
10
Turn slight left onto MO 7
55 mi·1 hr 3 min·MO 7
Exit 157Toward MO 7 South: ClintonUse the left lane.
11
Continue on MO 13
40 mi·46 min·MO 13
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward MO 13 Business, MO 32: Bolivar, Fair Play
13
Turn left onto MO 32; MO 13 Business
20 mi·31 min·West Broadway Street
14
Turn left onto South Maple Street
0.3 mi·27 sec·South Maple Street
15
Arrive at destination
South Maple Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a sub-three-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than worrying about strict timing. You will only need to account for one planned stop to keep your drive comfortable and efficient. Since you are spending about $21 on fuel, check your tank before leaving Lee's Summit to avoid unnecessary stops in smaller towns along the way. Pay close attention to your transitions onto MO 13, as this will be a key part of your navigation. A great way to manage this 137.7-mile trek is to treat the longest stretch on MO 7 as your primary focus for steady highway cruising.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.8 miles from Lee's Summit, MO, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.6 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 30 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.8 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buffalo, 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 137.7 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 MO 7 for about 55.6 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 116.9 — 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
6
17.7 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
5
20.8 mi into trip|~29m in|MO 7
Take the exit onto MO 7 toward MO 7 South: Clinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 157
Toward MO 7 South: Clinton
5
20.9 mi into trip|~30m in|MO 7
Turn slight left onto MO 7 toward MO 7 South: Clinton
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 157
Toward MO 7 South: Clinton
5
116.9 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward MO 13 Business, MO 32: Bolivar, Fair Play
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 13 Business, MO 32: Bolivar, Fair Pla...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.53 one way
$43.06 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.64
$47.27
premium
$4.89
$26.50
$53.00
diesel
$5.61
$30.40
$60.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.3
0
$14.46
$6.61
Efficient EV
34.4
0
$12.05
$5.51
EV Truck/SUV
55.1
0
$19.28
$8.81
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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 11, 2026
Origin
Lee's Summit, MO
Night
in Lee's Summit on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 7 to 14 mph23% 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
Buffalo, MO
Night
in Buffalo on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph31% 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
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 53m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 drive, as roughly 84% of your time will be spent on major routes like MO 7 and MO 13. You will face a longest uninterrupted stretch of 55.6 miles on MO 7, which allows you to settle into a steady rhythm behind the wheel. The transition between these highways and local roads like West Broadway Street provides a functional mix of high-speed travel and necessary navigation. While the route is primarily focused on efficiency, the balance of highway segments ensures you keep moving toward your destination without frequent, frustrating detours.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.6 mi on MO 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 7 and MO 13. 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 2h 53m drive. You will face about 9 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 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.8 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,039 ft929 ft
Total Climb
34 ft
Total Descent
143 ft
Highest Point
1,039 ft
Elevation Range
110 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lee's Summit, MO to Buffalo, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Fair Play along the way.
Fair Play
116.9 mi in|~2h 20m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 137.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 55.6 miles on MO 7. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.8 miles (MO 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Buffalo, MO before heading back.
