This 414.1-mile journey from Steele, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is estimated to take around 6 hours and 54 minutes of driving time, making it a feasible, albeit long, day trip within the Midwest. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with North Walnut Street and Rosa Parks Highway being key segments before merging onto I-55 North. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is $63. Given the turn-heavy nature of the profile, plan for a steady pace rather than high speeds. While it's a single-day option, consider an early start to comfortably complete the drive within daylight hours.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
217.2 miles from Steele, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
138.7 mi
2h 29m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi
1h 35m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
US 61
48.3 mi
52m
Avenue of the Saints
25.4 mi
30m
I 270
11.5 mi
14m
I 470
6.4 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 138.7 mi, about 2h 29m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 17 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,952 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,444
Quietest
1 AM
~261 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 Steele, MO and Lee's Summit, MO.
1
Start on this road
166 ft·14 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 61; MO 164
2.1 mi·3 min·North Walnut Street
3
Take the ramp onto US 61
48 mi·52 min·US 61
Toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Sikeston
4
Continue on I 55
37 mi·39 min·I 55
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
102 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 55
6
Continue on I 55
1.3 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 196Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, ChicagoUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
388 ft·8 sec
Toward I 270 West: Kansas CityUse the slight left lane.
9
Continue on this road
0.7 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 196Toward I 270 West
10
Merge onto I 270
11 mi·14 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 12Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint LouisUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: WentzvilleUse the slight left lane.
13
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·9 sec·this road
Exit 12Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
14
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
25 mi·30 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit onto US 40
0.6 mi·1 min·US 40
Exit 1AToward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
17
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
18
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
19
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
20
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Exit 15AToward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's SummitUse the right lane.
24
Merge onto I 470; MO 291
6.4 mi·7 min·I 470; MO 291
25
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 291
2.5 mi·4 min·MO 291
Exit 10BToward MO 291 South: HarrisonvilleUse the slight left / straight lanes.
26
Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Street
0.9 mi·2 min·Southeast 3rd Street
27
Continue on Southwest 3rd Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
28
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
With a driving duration of nearly 7 hours, an early morning departure from Steele, MO is highly recommended to reach Lee's Summit, MO before dark. While the drive is manageable in one day, you'll want to factor in at least one stop for fuel and a break, given the 414.1-mile distance. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition between local roads, and remember that local roads can sometimes have lower speed limits and more traffic signals. The $63 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always have a little extra buffer for unexpected detours or price variations.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 217.2 miles from Steele, MO, or about 4h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 96 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 217.2 miles or 4h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 217.2 miles or 4h
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h
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 Steele, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Steele, MO
Aim for roughly 217 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Lee's Summit, MO
Aim for roughly 217 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 96 miles from Steele, MO.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 138.7 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 190.5 and 229.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
190.5 mi into trip|~3h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 196
Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chi...
8
190.7 mi into trip|~3h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 West: Kansas City
8
203 mi into trip|~3h 42m in
Take the exit toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12
Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Lo...
8
203.2 mi into trip|~3h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Went...
8
229.1 mi into trip|~4h 14m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$72.22 one way
$144.45 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg152 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$78.67
$157.34
premium
$5.18
$88.64
$177.28
diesel
$5.35
$91.50
$183.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$72
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$202–$312
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 152 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
130.3
1
$45.61
$20.85
Efficient EV
108.6
1
$38.01
$17.38
EV Truck/SUV
173.8
2
$60.82
$27.80
Gas CO2
152 kg
EV CO2
51 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Steele, MO
Afternoon
in Steele on Wednesday
Local time
2:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 5 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 1 at 4:06AM CDT until June 1 at 4:45AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 1 at 4:04AM CDT until June 1 at 4:30AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Lee's Summit, MO
Afternoon
in Lee's Summit on Wednesday
Local time
2:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 3 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 1 at 4:06AM CDT until June 1 at 4:45AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 1 at 4:04AM CDT until June 1 at 4:30AM CDT by NWS St Louis 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
8h 9m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the B...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 149.8
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$19
near mile 194.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this route, indicated by a 0% highway share. This means you'll be spending most of your time on surface streets and less direct highways, requiring constant attention to navigation and speed. There isn't a 'longest stretch' specified, suggesting frequent changes in direction and road type. The drive will likely feel more like a series of connected local routes rather than a continuous highway cruise, so be prepared for a more engaged driving experience throughout the 6-hour-plus duration.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 138.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 190.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 434.4 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 190.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 190.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 203 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,039 ft259 ft
Total Climb
1,006 ft
Total Descent
226 ft
Highest Point
1,039 ft
~434.4 mi in
Elevation Range
779 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Steele, MO and Lee's Summit, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.
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.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 138.7 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 217 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 47 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 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 47 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 190.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 190.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 203 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park and Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lee's Summit, MO before the return drive.
