How far is Lee's Summit, MO from Charleston, MO?
The driving distance from Lee's Summit, MO to Charleston, MO is about 385.2 miles (619.9 km), with a travel time of about 07h 15m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 306.7 miles (493.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 07h 15m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Missouri USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Lee's Summit and Charleston.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lee's Summit and Charleston.
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1
Start on Southwest 3rd Street
1495 ft · 41 sec · Southwest 3rd Street
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2
Continue on Southeast 3rd Street
109 m · 16 sec · Southeast 3rd Street
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3
Turn left onto Southeast Douglas Street
2.2 mi · 4 min · Southeast Douglas Street
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4
Take the ramp right toward I 470 North: Independence, Saint Louis
1160 ft · 28 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto I 470 North: Saint Louis
7 mi · 8 min
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6
Take the exit slight right toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
2063 ft · 44 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
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8
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
52.5 mi · 57 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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9
Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
32 mi · 34 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
22.4 mi · 24 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
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11
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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12
Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi · 2 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
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13
Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
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14
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
81 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
1567 ft · 33 sec
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16
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
25.1 mi · 31 min · Avenue of the Saints
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17
Take the exit slight right toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
1829 ft · 39 sec
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18
Keep slight right to continue on I 270 South: Memphis
1691 ft · 31 sec
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19
Merge slight left
11.5 mi · 14 min
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20
Take the exit slight right toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road
1911 ft · 27 sec
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21
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Memphis
2031 ft · 44 sec
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22
Merge slight left onto Rosa Parks Highway
1.5 mi · 2 min · Rosa Parks Highway
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23
Continue on Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
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24
Continue on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
127.1 mi · 2 hr 16 min · Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
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25
Take the exit slight right toward I 57 North, US 60 East: Chicago
1264 ft · 31 sec
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26
Merge slight left
10.3 mi · 11 min
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27
Take the exit slight right toward I 57 Business North, MO 105: Charleston, East Prairie
1282 ft · 34 sec
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28
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
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29
Turn left onto West Marshall Street
51 m · 3 sec · West Marshall Street
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30
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West Marshall Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Lee's Summit and Charleston.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
Continue on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
127 mi · 02h 16m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lee's Summit and Sunny near Charleston.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Lee's Summit to Charleston?
The road trip is about 385.2 miles (619.9 km) and usually takes 07h 15m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Wright City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 192.4 miles from Lee's Summit and 192.7 miles from Charleston.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 306.7 miles (493.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 78.5 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $51.25 one way or $102.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 120.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lee's Summit and Sunny near Charleston.
Stop Ideas Near Wright City
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Warrenton City Animal Control
Moscow Mills City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Wright City.
Washington
Hermann
Kirkwood
Gateway Transportation Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Lee's Summit and Charleston. Straight-line distance: 306.73 mi (493.64 km).
#1 Lee's Summit
The most populous city in Jackson County, Missouri.
| Population | 101,467 |
| Coordinates | 38.9108400, -94.3821700 |
| Altitude | 316 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Charleston
City in Missouri
| Population | 5,015 |
| Coordinates | 36.9208900, -89.3506300 |
| Altitude | 98 |
| Country | United States |
End: Charleston (-89.35063, 36.92089)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 620 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 50m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 37m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 42m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 25m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 30m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 48m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $51.25 | $102.50 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $57.80 | $115.60 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $63.25 | $126.50 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $72.08 | $144.16 |
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 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.