How far is Branson, MO from Lee's Summit, MO?

The driving distance from Branson, MO to Lee's Summit, MO is about 192 miles (309 km), with a travel time of about 03h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 169 miles (272 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 11m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
192.02 mi
03h 05m
Flight
169.04 mi
272.05 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Branson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
169.04 mi
Kilometers
272.05 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
192.02 mi
Kilometers
309.02 km
Drive Time
03h 05m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lee's Summit
Fri, Apr 24, 12:58 AM CDT
Return by in Branson
Fri, Apr 24, 4:03 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Branson
2026-04-23T21:52
Arrive Lee's Summit
Fri, Apr 24, 12:58 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:06 AM to 11:06 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:48 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Branson
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Collins
MO

Human settlement in St.

From Branson
95.9 mi
01h 32m
To Lee's Summit
96.1 mi
01h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S
Destination
77°F
Thursday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 to 23 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Branson and Lee's Summit.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Branson and Lee's Summit.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    19 m · 10 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Business 65

    52 m · 6 sec · South Business 65

  3. 3

    Continue on Veterans Boulevard

    1889 ft · 46 sec · Veterans Boulevard

  4. 4

    Continue on Veterans Boulevard

    46 m · 4 sec · Veterans Boulevard

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Branson Landing Boulevard

    88 m · 8 sec · Branson Landing Boulevard

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto Branson Landing Boulevard

    2409 ft · 58 sec · Branson Landing Boulevard

  7. 7

    Take the ramp straight toward US 65 North: Springfield

    1192 ft · 29 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto American Legion Memorial Highway

    7.7 mi · 9 min · American Legion Memorial Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on US Highway 65

    12 mi · 14 min · US Highway 65

  10. 10

    Continue on American Legion Memorial Highway

    10.9 mi · 13 min · American Legion Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Schoolcraft Freeway

    10.7 mi · 13 min · Schoolcraft Freeway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 44 West: Joplin

    1.3 km · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Payne Stewart Highway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · Payne Stewart Highway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 13: Bolivar

    596 ft · 15 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on MO 13: Bolivar

    46 m · 4 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on MO 13 North: Bolivar

    64 m · 7 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto North Kansas Expressway

    87.2 mi · 1 hr 43 min · North Kansas Expressway

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    35.9 mi · 39 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City

    3.3 mi · 4 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit

    817 ft · 17 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on MO 291 North: Lee's Summit

    74 m · 6 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left

    8.3 mi · 12 min

  23. 23

    Turn slight left

    8.5 mi · 12 min

  24. 24

    Continue on Southwest Jefferson Street

    1036 ft · 28 sec · Southwest Jefferson Street

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Southwest Jefferson Street

    58 m · 4 sec · Southwest Jefferson Street

  26. 26

    Exit the roundabout onto Southwest Jefferson Street

    2497 ft · 53 sec · Southwest Jefferson Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street

    529 ft · 13 sec · Southwest 3rd Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Southwest 3rd Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Branson and Lee's Summit.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
28 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
4 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Kansas Expressway
123 mi · 64%
American Legion Memorial Highway
18.6 mi · 10%
US Highway 65
12 mi · 6%
Schoolcraft Freeway
10.7 mi · 6%
MO 291 North
8.53 mi · 4%
Payne Stewart Highway
4.1 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

North Kansas Expressway

Merge slight left onto North Kansas Expressway

87.2 mi · 01h 43m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 05m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23 mi
169 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Collins
01h 32m from Branson
Leave By
10:48 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Branson and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lee's Summit.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Branson to Lee's Summit?

The road trip is about 192 miles (309 km) and usually takes 03h 05m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Collins is a useful midpoint, sitting about 95.9 miles from Branson and 96.1 miles from Lee's Summit.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 169 miles (272 km), while the road route adds roughly 23 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:48 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.57 one way or $51.13 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 60.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Branson and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lee's Summit.

Stop Ideas Near Collins

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Collins, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Collins.

RAIL

Warrensburg

98 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Sedalia

98 mi away
100 block of Main Street, through parking lot

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Branson and Lee's Summit. Straight-line distance: 169.04 mi (272.05 km).

Branson

#1 Branson

Town in Taney County, Missouri, USA

Population11,687
Coordinates36.6436700, -93.2185100
Altitude237
CountryUnited States
Lee's Summit

#2 Lee's Summit

The most populous city in Jackson County, Missouri.

Population101,467
Coordinates38.9108400, -94.3821700
Altitude316
CountryUnited States
Start: (-93.218509, 36.643699)
End: Southwest 3rd Street (-94.382168, 38.910873)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 309 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.78 gal
25.65 L · about $25.57
Round trip
$51.13
13.56 gal · 51.3 L
Estimated CO2
60.3 kg one way
Round trip: 120.5 kg / 266 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $25.57 $51.13
Mid-grade $4.25 $28.84 $57.67
Premium $4.65 $31.55 $63.11
Diesel $5.30 $35.96 $71.92

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Missouri · Apr 24, 2026

There is no time difference between Branson and Lee's Summit. The current time is 21:52:27.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.