Lee's Summit to Mountain Grove is 215.2 miles and takes about 4h 19m via MO 13, MO 7, and US 60, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically traveling across Missouri. Expect a straightforward drive that's largely on main roads, making it a good option for a single-day excursion. It’s a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive planning.
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
107.6 miles from Lee's Summit, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MO 13
68 mi
1h 19m
MO 7
55.6 mi
1h 4m
US 60
55 mi
1h 4m
MO 291
16.9 mi
24m
Schoolcraft Freeway
8.3 mi
10m
Payne Stewart Highway
4.3 mi
5m
I 49
2.8 mi
3m
US 60 Business
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
MO 13
— 68 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lee's Summit, MO and Mountain Grove, 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
55 mi·1 hr 4 min·US 60
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 60 Business: Mountain Grove
19
Turn right onto US 60 Business
2.1 mi·3 min·US 60 Business
20
Turn right onto MO 95
102 ft·2 sec·North Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
MO 95
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, leaving in the morning is your best bet to have ample daylight for arrival and any immediate needs. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short drive, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as stretches between services can sometimes be longer on these highways. Since the longest stretch is on MO 13, consider refueling before you begin that segment if you're running low.
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 107.6 miles from Lee's Summit, MO, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68 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 47 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.6 miles or 2h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mountain Grove, 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 215.2 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 13 for about 68 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Home stretch
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
$20 to $30
Mountain Grove, Missouri
Hours: 4–9 pm
+14179269954
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.7 and 148.9 — 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
5
148.9 mi into trip|~2h 59m in
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Branson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 82A
Toward US 65 South: Branson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.90 one way
$71.80 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$39.02
$78.03
premium
$5.26
$44.56
$89.11
diesel
$6.18
$52.35
$104.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.6
0
$22.60
$10.33
Efficient EV
53.8
0
$18.83
$8.61
EV Truck/SUV
86.1
1
$30.13
$13.77
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Lee's Summit, MO
Morning
in Lee's Summit on Sunday
Local time
8:20 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
Destination
Mountain Grove, MO
Morning
in Mountain Grove on Sunday
Local time
8:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Sunny
NE 5 to 8 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
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
4h 19m 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.
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 155.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway, with 97% of the drive on major roads. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of 68 miles on MO 13. Expect mostly rural cruising with a consistent flow of traffic, typical for a trip dominated by state and US highways. The transition to surface roads will be minimal as you near your destination.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68 mi on MO 13.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 13 and MO 7. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17.7 miles in.
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 215.2 miles you will encounter 15 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 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
Mostly flat terrain
1,641 ft749 ft
Total Climb
955 ft
Total Descent
512 ft
Highest Point
1,641 ft
~184.4 mi in
Elevation Range
892 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 Mountain Grove, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Louis along the way.
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 4h 19m. Total distance: 215.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68 miles on MO 13. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Mountain Grove, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Mountain Grove, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
