Lee's Summit to Saint Joseph is 77.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes via I 435 and I 29, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, entirely within Missouri, making it a straightforward trip. You'll be on the highway for most of the journey, which means you can cover the distance quickly. With a total travel time under two hours, this route is ideal for a day trip or a quick relocation.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.7 miles from Lee's Summit, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 435
32.3 mi
35m
I 29
26 mi
27m
Blue Parkway
7.7 mi
11m
I 229
5.7 mi
6m
US 50
1.7 mi
1m
I435 N
1.3 mi
1m
Southwest 3rd Street
0.6 mi
1m
Edmond Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 435
— 32.3 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lee's Summit, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on Southwest 3rd Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Southwest 3rd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 50 West: Raytown
3
Merge onto US 50
1.7 mi·1 min·US 50
4
Continue on MO 350
7.7 mi·11 min·Blue Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·39 sec
Toward I 435 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 435
11 mi·13 min·I 435
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi·1 min·I435 N
8
Continue on I 435
21 mi·22 min·I 435
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71
26 mi·27 min·I 29; US 71
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·54 sec
Exit 43Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
11
Continue on I 229
5.7 mi·6 min·I 229
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 6AToward Central Business District
13
Continue on Edmond Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·Edmond Street
14
Turn left onto I 29 Business
0.2 mi·20 sec·South 10th Street
15
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft·6 sec·Frederick Avenue
16
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft·2 sec·Walter Welsh Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour 30 minute duration, you have a lot of flexibility with departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive in Saint Joseph with plenty of daylight. Since this is a short drive with 0 recommended stops, you can easily push through to your destination without needing to plan for longer breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $12 estimated fuel cost suggests a single fill-up might be needed depending on your vehicle's MPG, especially before heading out on the 32.3 mile stretch of I 435.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.7 miles from Lee's Summit, MO, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.3 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.7 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Joseph, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lee's Summit, MO
This is one driving day of about 77.4 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Lee's Summit, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 435 for about 32.3 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.2 and 76.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
10.2 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward I 435 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 435 North
5
10.6 mi into trip|~16m in|I 435
Merge onto I 435
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
44.2 mi into trip|~53m in|I 29; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71 toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
5
70.2 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 43
Toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph
5
76.4 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward Central Business District
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6A
Toward Central Business District
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.10 one way
$24.20 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.29
$26.57
premium
$4.89
$14.89
$29.79
diesel
$5.61
$17.09
$34.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.2
0
$8.13
$3.72
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.77
$3.10
EV Truck/SUV
31
0
$10.84
$4.95
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 18, 2026
Origin
Lee's Summit, MO
Late night
in Lee's Summit on Tuesday
Local time
5:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:43AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:07AM CDT until April 19 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Late night
in Saint Joseph on Tuesday
Local time
5:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Mostly Clear
NNW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:43AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:07AM CDT until April 19 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Springfield 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
3 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
1h 30m 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the route on major roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 435, experiencing a longest stretch of 32.3 miles on this interstate. The transition to I 29 continues the fast-paced, efficient travel. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal deviations from the interstate, allowing for steady progress towards your destination.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.3 mi on I 435.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 435 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.2 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (I 435): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.2 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 77.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m 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 32.3 miles on I 435. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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 Saint Joseph, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (I 435): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.2 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Joseph, MO before heading back.
