Origin
Mountain Grove, MO
Night in Mountain Grove on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mountain Grove, 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 18m
Distance
214.7 mi
346 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 5m
★
6 AM
4h 19m
8 AM
4h 45m
10 AM
4h 28m
12 PM
4h 25m
3 PM
4h 29m
5 PM
4h 44m
8 PM
4h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mountain Grove, MO
Magda Ehlers
Lee's Summit, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 214.7-mile drive from Mountain Grove, MO, to Lee's Summit, MO, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can comfortably be completed in about 4 hours and 18 minutes. With 96% of the route on highways, it's an efficient way to travel between these two Midwest locations. The estimated fuel cost is around $34, making it an economical option for a day trip. You'll primarily be on North Kansas Expressway and US 60, with a portion on MO 7. Given its manageable length and duration, this route is ideally suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times without the need for 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
107.4 miles from Mountain Grove, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Kansas Expressway | 87.2 mi | 1h 42m |
| US 60 | 54.7 mi | 1h 4m |
| MO 7 | 39.2 mi | 43m |
| MO 58 | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| MO 291 | 8.3 mi | 12m |
| Schoolcraft Freeway | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| Payne Stewart Highway | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| West 3rd Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
North Kansas Expressway
— 87.2 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mountain Grove, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on MO 95
102 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 60 Business
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
West 3rd Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward US 60 West: Springfield
4
Merge onto US 60
55 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
US 60
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward US 65 North: Sedalia
6
Merge onto US 65
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Schoolcraft Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
8
Merge onto I 44
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Payne Stewart Highway
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
10
Keep slight left at fork
150 ft
·
3 sec
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
11
Keep slight right at fork
209 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 77
Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
12
Merge onto MO 13
87 mi
·
1 hr 42 min
·
North Kansas Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Continue on MO 7
36 mi
·
39 min
·
MO 7
14
Take the exit onto MO 7
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
MO 7
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 160
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
16
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft
·
6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
17
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi
·
12 min
·
MO 291
18
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi
·
11 min
·
MO 58; MO 291
19
Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Southwest Jefferson Street
20
Enter roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street
189 ft
·
3 sec
·
Southwest Jefferson Street
21
Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Southwest Jefferson Street
22
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Southwest 3rd Street
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 18-minute drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Lee's Summit. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your break strategically, perhaps about halfway through your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 87.2-mile stretch on North Kansas Expressway, to ensure you don't need to deviate from your planned route. The $34 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the advantage of flexibility – adjust your departure time as needed based on your schedule and local traffic conditions.
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 107.4 miles from Mountain Grove, MO, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.2 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 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.4 miles or 2h 9m 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 29m
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 Mountain Grove, 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 Mountain Grove, MO
This is one driving day of about 214.7 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Mountain Grove, 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 North Kansas Expressway for about 87.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
107 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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 107.4 miles from Mountain Grove, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Kansas Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.2 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 70.3 and 197.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
70.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward MO 13: Bolivar
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
7
70.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 13: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13: Bolivar
7
70.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 77
Toward MO 13 North: Bolivar
5
70.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
MO 13 / North Kansas Expressway
Merge onto MO 13 / North Kansas Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
197.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.57 one way
$67.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
75 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $36.85 | $73.71 |
| premium | $4.89 | $41.32 | $82.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.40 | $94.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.4 | 0 | $22.54 | $10.31 |
| Efficient EV | 53.7 | 0 | $18.79 | $8.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 85.9 | 1 | $30.06 | $13.74 |
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Night in Lee's Summit on Saturday
Local time
11:36 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
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 18m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 96% of your travel occurring on well-maintained roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 87.2 miles along North Kansas Expressway, offering a solid period of consistent driving. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of US 60 and MO 7 might introduce slightly varied road conditions compared to a pure interstate. This drive is characterized by its efficiency, allowing you to cover significant ground quickly as you make your way from the Ozarks region towards the Kansas City metropolitan area.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.2 mi on North Kansas Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Kansas Expressway and US 60. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 70.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 214.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 70.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 70.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 70.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 18m. Total distance: 214.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.2 miles on North Kansas Expressway. 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 70.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 70.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 70.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 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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