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

The driving distance from Lee's Summit, MO to Canton, MO is about 246.4 miles (396.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 174.3 miles (280.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 39m 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
246.36 mi
04h 49m
Flight
174.3 mi
280.51 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lee's Summit.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
174.3 mi
Kilometers
280.51 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
246.36 mi
Kilometers
396.48 km
Drive Time
04h 49m

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 04h 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Canton
Sat, May 2, 3:02 AM CDT
Return by in Lee's Summit
Sat, May 2, 7:51 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lee's Summit
2026-05-01T22:12
Arrive Canton
Sat, May 2, 3:02 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:50 AM to 12:50 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:20 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lee's Summit
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
Laclede
MO

City in Linn County, Missouri, United States

From Lee's Summit
123 mi
02h 24m
To Canton
123.3 mi
02h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph NNE
Destination
59°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Southwest 3rd Street

    3056 ft · 1 min · Southwest 3rd Street

  2. 2

    Take the ramp slight right toward US 50 West: Raytown

    1053 ft · 26 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left

    1.7 mi · 2 min

  4. 4

    Continue on Blue Parkway

    7.7 mi · 12 min · Blue Parkway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 435 North

    2282 ft · 39 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    11.4 mi · 13 min

  7. 7

    Continue on I435 N

    1.3 mi · 1 min · I435 N

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    724 ft · 10 sec

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35: Kansas City, Des Moines

    599 ft · 15 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 35 North, MO 110 East: Des Moines

    2281 ft · 56 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    6.3 mi · 7 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    34.5 mi · 37 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 36, MO 110 East, I 35 Business: Cameron, Hamilton

    1213 ft · 33 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    148.6 mi · 2 hr 52 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  15. 15

    Continue on V.F.W. Memorial Highway

    2621 ft · 35 sec · V.F.W. Memorial Highway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward US 24 East: Palmyra

    1813 ft · 50 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left

    16.8 mi · 20 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Avenue of the Saints

    13.4 mi · 16 min · Avenue of the Saints

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right

    1156 ft · 29 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Oak Street

    1807 ft · 36 sec · Oak Street

  21. 21

    Continue on South Monticello Road

    1851 ft · 37 sec · South Monticello Road

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Washington Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Washington Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Washington Street

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
3 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
189 mi · 77%
Avenue of the Saints
13.6 mi · 6%
I 435 North
11.9 mi · 5%
Blue Parkway
7.75 mi · 3%
US 50 West
1.89 mi · 1%
I435 N
1.4 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

Turn right onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

149 mi · 02h 52m

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
04h 49m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+72.1 mi
174.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Laclede
02h 24m from Lee's Summit
Leave By
7:20 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Lee's Summit and Mostly Sunny near Canton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 246.4 miles (396.5 km) and usually takes 04h 49m 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?

Laclede is a useful midpoint, sitting about 123 miles from Lee's Summit and 123.3 miles from Canton.

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

The direct path is about 174.3 miles (280.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 72.1 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 7:20 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.77 one way or $65.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 77.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Lee's Summit and Mostly Sunny near Canton.

Stop Ideas Near Laclede

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Laclede, 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 Laclede.

RAIL

La Plata

64 mi away
535 N. Owensby St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lee's Summit and Canton. Straight-line distance: 174.3 mi (280.51 km).

Lee's Summit

#1 Lee's Summit

The most populous city in Jackson County, Missouri.

Population101,467
Coordinates38.9108400, -94.3821700
Altitude316
CountryUnited States
Canton

#2 Canton

City in Lewis County, Missouri, United States

Population2,314
Coordinates40.1295000, -91.5185200
Altitude182
CountryUnited States
Start: Lee's Summit (-94.38217, 38.91084)
End: Canton (-91.51852, 40.1295)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 396 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.69 gal
32.91 L · about $32.77
Round trip
$65.54
17.38 gal · 65.82 L
Estimated CO2
77.2 kg one way
Round trip: 154.5 kg / 341 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $32.77 $65.54
Mid-grade $4.25 $36.96 $73.92
Premium $4.65 $40.44 $80.89
Diesel $5.30 $46.09 $92.18

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 · May 02, 2026

There is no time difference between Lee's Summit and Canton. The current time is 22:12:34.

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.