If you are planning a trip from Lee's Summit to Saint James, expect a straightforward 190-mile journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 2 minutes. This route is entirely highway-focused, utilizing US 50, US 63, and MO 68 to cross the Missouri Midwest. Given the manageable duration, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Budgeting roughly $29 for fuel will cover your transit costs comfortably. Whether you are heading out for a quick getaway or a necessary commute, this drive offers a reliable path across the state.
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
95 miles from Lee's Summit, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 50
131.6 mi
2h 43m
US 63
38.2 mi
49m
MO 68
12.9 mi
19m
MO 291
6.6 mi
8m
Southwest Jefferson Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Southwest 3rd Street
0.1 mi
<1m
East Washington Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
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 Saint James, 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
13 mi·19 min·MO 68
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto East Washington Street
28 ft·1 sec·East Washington Street
10
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
Since the trip is a modest 4-hour endeavor, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Planning for at least one stop is recommended to break up the long 131.6-mile stretch on US 50 and keep your focus sharp. With a fuel budget of $29, filling your tank before you leave Lee's Summit is a smart move to avoid mid-trip pricing variations. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between the three main highways to ensure you don't miss your turns. This direct approach allows you to arrive in Saint James feeling refreshed and ready for your next activity.
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 95 miles from Lee's Summit, MO, or about 1h 58m 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 42 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95 miles or 1h 58m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint James, 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 190 miles and 4h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 190 — 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.
4
190 mi into trip|~4h 2m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.70 one way
$59.41 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.61
$65.23
premium
$4.89
$36.56
$73.13
diesel
$5.61
$41.95
$83.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57
0
$19.95
$9.12
Efficient EV
47.5
0
$16.63
$7.60
EV Truck/SUV
76
0
$26.60
$12.16
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 13, 2026
Origin
Lee's Summit, MO
Night
in Lee's Summit on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSW 12 to 16 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:46PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:46PM CDT until April 20 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Saint James, MO
Night
in Saint James on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live 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
9 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
4h 2m 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?
Expect a consistent highway experience throughout this trip, as the route is 100% highway-based. You will spend the bulk of your time on US 50, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 131.6 miles. Because the road is designed for efficiency, you can anticipate a steady pace rather than technical, winding local roads. The transition between US 50, US 63, and MO 68 keeps the drive moving forward without major navigational hurdles. It is an ideal route if you prefer a predictable, focused drive that prioritizes reaching your destination promptly.
100% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 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 4h 2m drive. You will face about 6 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,143 ft697 ft
Total Climb
691 ft
Total Descent
639 ft
Highest Point
1,143 ft
~176.4 mi in
Elevation Range
446 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 2m. Total distance: 190 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.
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.
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 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Saint James, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
