Lee's Summit, MO to Kennett, MO is 386.9 miles and takes about 7h 57m via US 60 and MO 13, with a fuel budget near $68 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, moving from the Kansas City metro area southward through Missouri. Expect a route that is predominantly highway driving, making for a straightforward transit. It's a solid choice for a single-day drive if you're looking to cover ground efficiently without excessive complexity.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
193.4 miles from Lee's Summit, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 60
177.3 mi
3h 28m
MO 13
68 mi
1h 19m
MO 7
55.6 mi
1h 4m
MO 53
34.6 mi
51m
MO 291
16.9 mi
24m
MO 25
11.6 mi
17m
Schoolcraft Freeway
8.3 mi
10m
Payne Stewart Highway
4.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 177.3 mi, about 3h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lee's Summit, MO and Kennett, 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
68 mi·1 hr 19 min·MO 13
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 44 East: Rolla, Saint Louis
13
Merge onto I 44
4.3 mi·5 min·Payne Stewart Highway
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 82AToward US 65 South: Branson
15
Merge onto US 65
8.3 mi·10 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·52 sec
Toward US 60 East: Cabool
17
Merge onto US 60
82 mi·1 hr 35 min·US 60
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60
90 mi·1 hr 46 min·US 60
Toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
4.8 mi·6 min·US 60
20
Turn straight onto US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·North Westwood Boulevard
21
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·State Street
22
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
2.3 mi·3 min·North Westwood Boulevard
23
Turn slight left
133 ft·7 sec
24
Turn slight left onto MO 53
35 mi·51 min·MO 53
25
At end of road, turn right onto MO 25
12 mi·17 min·MO 25
26
Turn right onto US 412; MO 84
1.3 mi·2 min·1st Street
27
Turn left onto Kennett Street
134 ft·3 sec·Kennett Street
28
Arrive at destination
Kennett Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7h 57m drive, aim to depart from Lee's Summit early, around 7:00 AM, to give yourself ample daylight. With two planned stops, you can break up the 386.9 miles into manageable segments. The longest stretch is 177.3 miles on US 60, so plan your fuel and rest accordingly before hitting that portion. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can become more spread out on rural highway stretches. The $68 fuel estimate should cover your needs for this trip.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 193.4 miles from Lee's Summit, MO, or about 3h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 177.3 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 85 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 193.4 miles or 3h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kennett, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lee's Summit, MO
This is one driving day of about 386.9 miles and 7h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Lee's Summit, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 60 for about 177.3 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.7 and 240 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
144.4 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Take the exit toward I 44 East: Rolla, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 44 East: Rolla, Saint Louis
6
240 mi into trip|~4h 46m in|US 60
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60 toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.14 one way
$114.27 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg135 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$63.08
$126.15
premium
$4.72
$71.84
$143.67
diesel
$4.80
$73.05
$146.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 135.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
116.1
1
$40.62
$18.57
Efficient EV
96.7
1
$33.85
$15.48
EV Truck/SUV
154.8
1
$54.17
$24.76
Gas CO2
135 kg
EV CO2
45 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Lee's Summit, MO
Afternoon
in Lee's Summit on Saturday
Local time
12:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
S 6 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Kennett, MO
Afternoon
in Kennett on Saturday
Local time
12:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 0 to 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
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
1 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
7h 57m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 160.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with 97% of the 386.9 miles on high-speed roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 177.3 miles on US 60, which means extended periods of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will be minimal, likely occurring only in the immediate vicinity of your start and end points, with most of the route offering uninterrupted travel. Expect frequent, though often short, interchanges as you navigate through Missouri.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 177.3 mi on US 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and MO 13. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.7 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 386.9 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 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; at 20.9 miles (MO 7): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,490 ft267 ft
Total Climb
742 ft
Total Descent
1,514 ft
Highest Point
1,490 ft
~193.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,223 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lee's Summit, MO and Kennett, MO, road signs point toward Saint Louis and Poplar Bluff.
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 7h 57m. Total distance: 386.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 177.3 miles on US 60. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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.
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 Kennett, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 20.9 miles (MO 7): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 15.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kennett, MO before the return drive.
