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Trip from Union, 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 19m

Distance

219.3 mi

353 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 6m ★
6 AM
4h 20m
8 AM
4h 46m
10 AM
4h 29m
12 PM
4h 26m
3 PM
4h 30m
5 PM
4h 45m
8 PM
4h 12m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Franklin County, Missouri, United States

Union, MO

Wikimedia Commons

city in Jackson and Cass counties in Missouri, United States

Lee's Summit, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 219.3-mile drive from Union, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 19 minutes. The route is heavily highway-focused, with 98% of it on major interstates like I-70 and I-470, making for a straightforward journey through the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $34, it's an economical option for a quick getaway or a move. This drive is well-suited for a single day, minimizing the need for overnight stops and allowing for flexibility in your schedule. You'll spend the majority of your time on I-70, which forms the backbone of this journey across Missouri.

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

109.7 miles from Union, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 70 176.4 mi 3h 14m
MO 47 29.9 mi 45m
I 470 6.4 mi 7m
MO 291 2.5 mi 4m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway 1.6 mi 1m
Southeast 3rd Street 0.9 mi 2m
North Church Street 0.7 mi 1m
Southwest 3rd Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 70 — 176.4 mi, about 3h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

62 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto East Park Avenue

0.2 mi · 30 sec · East Park Avenue
3

Turn left onto North Church Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Church Street
4

Turn right onto MO A

206 ft · 11 sec · East Independence Drive
5

Turn left onto MO 47

30 mi · 45 min · MO 47
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 12 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesburg
7

Merge onto I 70; US 40

176 mi · 3 hr 14 min · I 70; US 40
8

Continue on I 70

1.6 mi · 1 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 15A Toward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's Summit Use the right lane.
10

Merge onto I 470; MO 291

6.4 mi · 7 min · I 470; MO 291
11

Keep slight left at fork onto MO 291

2.5 mi · 4 min · MO 291
Exit 10B Toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12

Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · Southeast 3rd Street
13

Continue on Southwest 3rd Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Southwest 3rd Street
14

Arrive at destination

Southwest 3rd Street

Trip Plan

For this 4-hour and 19-minute drive, you can comfortably complete it in a single day. Consider departing Union, MO in the morning to take advantage of daylight hours and avoid potential rush hour traffic as you approach Lee's Summit. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $34, this trip is efficient. The longest stretch of driving is on I-70, so plan for a break before or around the halfway point of that segment to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 176.4-mile stretch on I-70, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination or a convenient refueling point.

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 109.7 miles from Union, MO, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.4 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 48 miles or 1h 6m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 109.7 miles or 2h 14m 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 32m

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 Union, 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 Union, MO

This is one driving day of about 219.3 miles and 4h 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Union, 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 I 70 for about 176.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Fulton, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fulton, MO

110 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.

Popular next leg

Fulton, MO to Lee's Summit, MO

147.6 mi · 2h 50m

Pacing Suggestions

Wright City, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Columbia, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 109.7 miles from Union, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 176.4 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Thailand Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Blue Springs, Missouri

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 203.7

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+18162293292

Visit website

Thailand Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 203.7

Blue Springs, Missouri

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+18162293292

Visit website

Cafe Poland by Iwona

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 94

Columbia, Missouri

Hours: 5–8 pm

+17024270048

Visit website

Cafe Berlin

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 94

Columbia, Missouri

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

+15734410400

Visit website

Cajun Crab House Seafood Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour $20 to $30 mile 94

Columbia, Missouri

Hours: 3–8 pm

+15732346277

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 94

Columbia, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Ionna Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 31.3

Warrenton, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18334662474

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 94

Columbia, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 94

Columbia, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 31.3

Warrenton, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 78.3

Kingdom City, Missouri

+15733106020

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 78.3

Kingdom City, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

2.1 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 94

Columbia, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 215.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Park Avenue

Turn right onto East Park Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in | MO 47

Turn left onto MO 47

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
30.9 mi into trip | ~48m in

Take the ramp toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesburg

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia, Jonesbu...
8
209 mi into trip | ~4h 4m in

Take the exit toward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's Summit

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

Use the right lane. Exit 15A Toward I 470 South, MO 291 South: Lee's Summit
8
215.7 mi into trip | ~4h 12m in | MO 291

Keep slight left at fork onto MO 291 toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 10B Toward MO 291 South: Harrisonville

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.29 one way

$68.57 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 77 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $37.64 $75.29
premium $4.89 $42.20 $84.40
diesel $5.61 $48.42 $96.84

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: 76.7 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 65.8 0 $23.03 $10.53
Efficient EV 54.8 0 $19.19 $8.77
EV Truck/SUV 87.7 1 $30.70 $14.04

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

Union, MO

Late night in Union on Sunday

Local time

2:33 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lee's Summit, MO

Late night in Lee's Summit on Sunday

Local time

2:33 AM

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

4 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

4h 19m 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 98% of the drive utilizing major interstates. The bulk of your travel will be on I-70, including a significant uninterrupted stretch of 176.4 miles. While the majority of the journey is on high-speed roads like I-70 and I-470, there's a brief portion on MO 47, offering a slight variation before rejoining the interstate system. This means you'll largely be in a consistent driving environment, characterized by efficient travel across the state.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 176.4 mi on I 70.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and MO 47. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Park Avenue.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 219.3 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: near the start (East Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.9 miles: 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.

On the drive from Union, MO to Lee's Summit, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Jonesburg along the way.

Jonesburg

30.9 mi in | ~48m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 219.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 176.4 miles on I 70. 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.

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: near the start (East Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 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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