Origin
Lee's Summit, MO
Late night in Lee's Summit on Sunday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lee's Summit, MO to Taos, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
64.3 mi
103 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lee's Summit, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Taos, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Trip Overview
Lee's Summit, MO to Taos, MO is 64.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 21 minutes via I 435 and I 29, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Missouri, taking you from the Midwest region toward your destination in the same state. It's a straightforward, primarily highway journey, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a quick trip. With only 1 recommended day, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 435 | 32.3 mi | 35m |
| I 29 | 13 mi | 13m |
| Blue Parkway | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| 371 Highway | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| US 50 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Southeast 116 Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| MO CC | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| I435 N | 1.3 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 Taos, 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 North
Use 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
13 mi
·
13 min
·
I 29; US 71
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 30
Toward MO H, MO Z: New Market, Dearborn
11
Turn left
92 ft
·
6 sec
Exit 30
Toward MO H, MO Z: New Market, Dearborn
12
Turn left onto MO H; MO Z
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
MO H; MO Z
13
At end of road, turn right onto MO 371
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
371 Highway
14
Turn left onto MO 116
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast 116 Highway
15
Turn right onto MO CC
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
MO CC
16
Turn right onto Southeast Taos Road
18 ft
·
0 sec
·
Southeast Taos Road
17
Arrive at destination
Southeast Taos Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.2 miles from Lee's Summit, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 10.2 and 57.4 — 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
6
57.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward MO H, MO Z: New Market, Dearborn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 30
Toward MO H, MO Z: New Market, Dearborn
7
57.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Turn left toward MO H, MO Z: New Market, Dearborn
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 30
Toward MO H, MO Z: New Market, Dearborn
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.05 one way
$20.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.04 | $22.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.37 | $24.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.20 | $28.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.75 | $3.09 |
| Efficient EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.63 | $2.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.7 | 0 | $9.00 | $4.12 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Taos, MO
Late night in Taos on Sunday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
25 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 21m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the mileage on major roads like I 435 and I 29. You'll experience a significant stretch of uninterrupted driving, with the longest segment covering 32.3 miles on I 435. The profile suggests a consistent pace for most of the journey, allowing you to cover ground efficiently. While primarily highway, there are brief transitions onto Blue Parkway, offering a slight change in scenery before returning to faster routes.
87% 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?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 435 and I 29. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 64.3 miles you will encounter 13 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Taos, MO, road signs point toward Mo H, Mo Z: New Market and Dearborn.
Mo H
57.2 mi in
|
~1h 7m
Mo Z: New Market
57.2 mi in
|
~1h 7m
Dearborn
57.2 mi in
|
~1h 7m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 64.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). 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.
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 Taos, 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 Taos, MO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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