Memphis, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is 212.9 miles and takes about 4h 40m via US 136 and I 35, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Missouri. The route is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward and efficient option for a single-day trip. Given the relatively short duration, you'll likely find it easy to complete without needing an overnight stay. Consider this a practical choice for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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
106.4 miles from Memphis, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 136
79.2 mi
1h 57m
I 35
78.8 mi
1h 24m
Grant Street
27.2 mi
40m
I 435
9.5 mi
11m
Blue Parkway
8.2 mi
12m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
3.5 mi
4m
US 63
2.1 mi
2m
US 50
1.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 136
— 79.2 mi, about 1h 57m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,631 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,996
Quietest
2 AM
~144 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Memphis, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on US 136 Business
270 ft·10 sec·West Monroe Street
2
Turn left onto US 136 Business; MO 15
0.4 mi·33 sec·South Clay Street
3
Turn slight right onto US 136; MO 15
22 mi·32 min·US 136; MO 15
4
Turn left onto US 63; US 136
2.1 mi·2 min·US 63; US 136
5
Turn right onto US 136
57 mi·1 hr 25 min·US 136
6
Continue on US 65; US 136
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 65; US 136
7
Turn slight left onto US 136
27 mi·40 min·Grant Street
8
Continue on US 136
0.3 mi·33 sec·Miller Street
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
10
Merge onto I 35
79 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 35
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 12Toward I 435 South: Saint Louis
12
Merge onto I 435
9.5 mi·11 min·I 435
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 435
3.5 mi·4 min·Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
Toward I 435 South: Wichita
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 66Toward MO 350 East: 63rd Street, Raytown, Lee's SummitUse the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto MO 350
8.2 mi·12 min·Blue Parkway
16
Continue on US 50
1.4 mi·1 min·US 50
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward Southwest 3rd Street
18
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Southwest 3rd Street
19
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
For this 4h 40m drive, leaving Memphis, MO in the morning is your best bet for maximizing daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $38, you can easily make this a single-day trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 79.2 miles on US 136, as services might be more spread out. Since this is a relatively short drive, you have flexibility with your departure time and can adjust your pace as needed, but aiming for an earlier start will give you more time upon arrival in Lee's Summit.
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 106.4 miles from Memphis, MO, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.2 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 47 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.4 miles or 2h 37m 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 52m
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 Memphis, 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 Memphis, MO
This is one driving day of about 212.9 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Memphis, 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 136 for about 79.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 109.6 and 212.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
109.6 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
188.6 mi into trip|~4h 7m in
Take the exit toward I 435 South: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 12
Toward I 435 South: Saint Louis
5
198.8 mi into trip|~4h 20m in|I 435 / Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 435 / Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway toward I 435 South: Wichita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 435 South: Wichita
8
202.3 mi into trip|~4h 24m in
Take the exit toward MO 350 East: 63rd Street, Raytown, Lee's Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 66
Toward MO 350 East: 63rd Street, Raytown, Lee's...
4
212.1 mi into trip|~4h 39m in
Take the exit toward Southwest 3rd Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Southwest 3rd Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.44 one way
$62.88 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$34.71
$69.42
premium
$4.72
$39.53
$79.06
diesel
$4.80
$40.20
$80.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.9
0
$22.35
$10.22
Efficient EV
53.2
0
$18.63
$8.52
EV Truck/SUV
85.2
1
$29.81
$13.63
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Memphis, MO
Late night
in Memphis on Sunday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
N 0 to 5 mph43% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:26PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Late night
in Lee's Summit on Sunday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 6 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:26PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
89°F
Princeton, MO
106 mi in
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
21 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 40m 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?
You'll spend about 84% of this 212.9-mile trip on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 79.2 miles on US 136. After that, expect to transition from highway cruising to surface streets as you approach your destination. The profile is mostly highway, so prepare for consistent speeds for the majority of the drive, with a shift to more varied traffic and speeds closer to Lee's Summit.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.2 mi on US 136.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 136 and I 35. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 109.6 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 212.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 109.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 188.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 198.8 miles (I 435 / Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Memphis is the second largest city in the state of Tennessee, after Nashville. The state rests in the southeastern portion of the United States. Memphis, with a population of more than 651,000 (2019), is also the county seat for Shelby County. The city's claims to fame include Graceland, the mansion Elvis Presley lived in during his later years. Perhaps more importantly, Memphis is considered by many to be the home of blues music.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 40m. Total distance: 212.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.2 miles on US 136. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 109.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 188.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 198.8 miles (I 435 / Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
