Lee's Summit, MO to Roubidoux, MO is 208.4 miles and takes about 4h 47m via MO 7 and MO 17, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, beginning and ending in Missouri. With a high percentage of highway driving, you'll cover a good amount of ground efficiently. Plan for a straightforward drive that's well-suited for a single-day excursion.
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
104.2 miles from Lee's Summit, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MO 7
77 mi
1h 39m
MO 17
29.5 mi
42m
East Division Road
27.6 mi
37m
MO 5
24.9 mi
29m
MO 291
16.9 mi
24m
I 44
9.9 mi
10m
US Historic 66
6.3 mi
8m
MO F
4.7 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
MO 7
— 77 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lee's Summit, MO and Roubidoux, 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
39 mi·44 min·MO 7
Exit 157Toward MO 7 South: ClintonUse the left lane.
11
Turn left onto MO 7
0.6 mi·1 min·East Ohio Street
12
Continue on MO 7
28 mi·37 min·East Division Road
13
Take the ramp onto MO 7
6.5 mi·8 min·MO 7
Toward MO 7 South, MO 65 South: Springfield
14
Turn left onto MO 7
31 mi·46 min·MO 7
15
At end of road, turn right onto MO 5; MO 7
25 mi·29 min·MO 5; MO 7
16
Turn left onto MO BB
2.4 mi·4 min·MO BB
17
Continue on MO F
4.7 mi·8 min·MO F
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 44 East: Rolla
19
Merge onto I 44
9.9 mi·10 min·I 44
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 145Toward MO 133, MO AB: Richland
21
Turn right onto MO AB
226 ft·8 sec·MO AB
22
Continue on US Historic 66; MO AB
6.3 mi·8 min·US Historic 66; MO AB
23
Turn right
176 ft·11 sec
24
Turn right onto MO 17
29 mi·42 min·MO 17
25
Turn right onto MO M
0.8 mi·1 min·MO M
26
Turn left onto Gladden Road
1.3 mi·4 min·Gladden Road
27
Continue on Gladden Road
1.7 mi·6 min·Gladden Road
28
Turn straight onto Roubidoux Road
310 ft·14 sec·Roubidoux Road
29
Turn right onto Flat Rock Road
0.1 mi·24 sec·Flat Rock Road
30
Arrive at destination
Flat Rock Road
Trip Plan
For this 4 hour and 47 minute drive, consider leaving Lee's Summit in the morning to allow ample time for the trip and any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop, you can be strategic about when and where you'll take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before the 77-mile stretch on MO 7, as services might be more spread out. The relatively short duration means you have flexibility if you decide to depart later in the day.
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 104.2 miles from Lee's Summit, MO, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77 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 46 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.2 miles or 2h 15m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Roubidoux, 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 208.4 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 77 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.7 and 168.2 — 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
88.4 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|MO 7
Take the ramp onto MO 7 toward MO 7 South, MO 65 South: Springfield
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 7 South, MO 65 South: Springfield
6
168.2 mi into trip|~3h 41m in
Take the exit toward MO 133, MO AB: Richland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 145
Toward MO 133, MO AB: Richland
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.55 one way
$65.10 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.33
$35.51
$71.02
premium
$4.69
$38.50
$76.99
diesel
$6.00
$49.19
$98.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.5
0
$21.88
$10.00
Efficient EV
52.1
0
$18.24
$8.34
EV Truck/SUV
83.4
1
$29.18
$13.34
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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
8:37 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
Roubidoux, MO
Morning
in Roubidoux on Sunday
Local time
8:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Sunny
NE 6 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 47m 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?
This route is primarily highway, with 77% of the drive on higher-speed roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 77 miles on MO 7, offering consistent cruising. The remaining portion will transition to surface roads like MO 17 and East Division Road, indicating a shift to more local traffic and potentially more frequent intersections as you approach your destination.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77 mi on MO 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 7 and MO 17. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 17.7 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 47m drive. You will face about 20 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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
Mostly flat terrain
1,325 ft678 ft
Total Climb
828 ft
Total Descent
737 ft
Highest Point
1,325 ft
~193.5 mi in
Elevation Range
647 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 Roubidoux, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Mo Ab: Richland 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.
The longest stretch is about 77 miles on MO 7. 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.
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 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Roubidoux, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
