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Trip from Licking, MO to Lee's Summit, MO

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 41m

Distance

221.1 mi

356 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 28m ★
6 AM
4h 42m
8 AM
5h 8m
10 AM
4h 51m
12 PM
4h 48m
3 PM
4h 52m
5 PM
5h 7m
8 PM
4h 34m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Licking, MO, MO

Licking, MO

Agung Pratama

city in Jackson and Cass counties in Missouri, United States

Lee's Summit, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 221.1-mile journey from Licking, MO, to Lee's Summit, MO, is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 41 minutes. Primarily utilizing US 63 and US 50, with a brief stretch on MO E, this route is heavily focused on highway travel. With 93% of the drive on highways, you'll experience a consistent pace for most of the trip. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest drive is around $35. Given its manageable length, this route is ideal for a one-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.

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

110.6 miles from Licking, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 63 104.4 mi 2h 11m
US 50 100.1 mi 2h 6m
MO E 7.5 mi 10m
MO A 7.5 mi 10m
Southwest Jefferson Street 0.5 mi <1m
Tim Bradley Way 0.4 mi <1m
MO 32 0.3 mi <1m
MO 291 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 63 — 104.4 mi, about 2h 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Licking, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.

1

Start on North Main Street

69 ft · 5 sec · North Main Street
2

Turn right onto MO 32; MO 137

0.3 mi · 39 sec · MO 32; MO 137
3

Turn right onto US 63

34 mi · 42 min · US 63
Use the left / straight lanes.
4

Continue on I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63

287 ft · 4 sec · North Bishop Avenue
5

Keep slight left at fork onto I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63

183 ft · 3 sec · North Bishop Avenue
6

Keep slight right at fork onto MO E

0.4 mi · 48 sec · Tim Bradley Way
7

Enter roundabout onto MO E

181 ft · 3 sec · MO E
8

Continue on MO E

7.5 mi · 10 min · MO E
9

Turn right onto MO A

7.5 mi · 10 min · MO A
10

Turn left onto US 63; MO 28

71 mi · 1 hr 28 min · US 63; MO 28
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Continue on US 50

100 mi · 2 hr 6 min · US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Take the exit onto MO 291

0.1 mi · 18 sec · MO 291
Toward MO 291 South: Jefferson Street, Harrisonville
13

Keep slight right at fork

472 ft · 12 sec
14

Enter roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street

102 ft · 2 sec · Southwest Jefferson Street
15

Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Southwest Jefferson Street
16

Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street

0.1 mi · 12 sec · Southwest 3rd Street
Use the left lane.
17

Arrive at destination

Southwest 3rd Street

Trip Plan

With a total duration of under five hours, this drive from Licking to Lee's Summit offers flexibility for your departure time. Aiming to leave in the morning will allow you to arrive with ample daylight. You'll encounter one major uninterrupted stretch of 104.4 miles on US 63, so plan your single recommended stop accordingly, perhaps midway through that segment for fuel or a break. The $35 fuel cost is a good estimate to budget for. Given the highway-centric nature, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge before entering longer stretches of US 63 is a practical tip to avoid unexpected detours.

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 110.6 miles from Licking, MO, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.4 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 49 miles or 1h 4m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 110.6 miles or 2h 21m 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 50m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lee's Summit, MO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Licking, 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 Licking, MO

This is one driving day of about 221.1 miles and 4h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Licking, 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 63 for about 104.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

capital city of Missouri, United States and county seat of Cole County

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Jefferson City, MO

111 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

Owensville, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Jefferson City, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 110.6 miles from Licking, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 63 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 104.4 miles.

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 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 220.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 63

Turn right onto US 63

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
5
34.2 mi into trip | ~43m in | I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63 / North Bishop Avenue

Keep slight left at fork onto I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63 / North Bishop Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
49.7 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in | US 63; MO 28

Turn left onto US 63; MO 28

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
220.3 mi into trip | ~4h 39m in | MO 291

Take the exit onto MO 291 toward MO 291 South: Jefferson Street, Harrisonville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward MO 291 South: Jefferson Street, Harrison...
6
220.6 mi into trip | ~4h 40m in | Southwest Jefferson Street

Enter roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.57 one way

$69.13 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 77 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $37.95 $75.91
premium $4.89 $42.55 $85.10
diesel $5.61 $48.82 $97.63

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 77.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 66.3 0 $23.22 $10.61
Efficient EV 55.3 0 $19.35 $8.84
EV Truck/SUV 88.4 1 $30.95 $14.15

Gas CO2

77 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 15, 2026

Origin

Licking, MO

Night in Licking on Saturday

Local time

11:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lee's Summit, MO

Night in Lee's Summit on Saturday

Local time

11:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°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

20 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 41m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this route, with 93% of your travel on main roads like US 63 and US 50. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 104.4 miles on US 63, offering a substantial period of consistent driving. While predominantly highway, the inclusion of MO E suggests a slight shift in scenery or road type towards the end. This profile indicates a generally efficient and direct journey, minimizing complex turns or slower local roads for most of the 4-hour-plus trip.

93% 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: 104.4 mi on US 63.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 63 and US 50. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 63.

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 221.1 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 0.3 miles (US 63): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.2 miles (I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63 / North Bishop Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 49.7 miles (US 63; MO 28): Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 41m. Total distance: 221.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 104.4 miles on US 63. 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 Lee's Summit, 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 0.3 miles (US 63): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.2 miles (I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63 / North Bishop Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 49.7 miles (US 63; MO 28): Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Lee's Summit, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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