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

The driving distance from Lee's Summit, MO to Columbia, MO is about 123.5 miles (198.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 110.1 miles (177.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
123.45 mi
01h 52m
Flight
110.11 mi
177.21 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lee's Summit.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
110.11 mi
Kilometers
177.21 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
123.45 mi
Kilometers
198.67 km
Drive Time
01h 52m

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 01h 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbia
Thu, Apr 23, 8:04 AM CDT
Return by in Lee's Summit
Thu, Apr 23, 9:56 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lee's Summit
2026-04-23T06:11
Arrive Columbia
Thu, Apr 23, 8:04 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:53 AM to 11:53 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:44 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lee's Summit
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Sweet Springs
MO

City in Saline County, Missouri, United States

From Lee's Summit
61 mi
00h 56m
To Columbia
62.5 mi
00h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 to 23 mph S
Destination
81°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Southwest 3rd Street

    1495 ft · 41 sec · Southwest 3rd Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Southeast 3rd Street

    109 m · 16 sec · Southeast 3rd Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Southeast Douglas Street

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Southeast Douglas Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right toward I 470 North: Independence, Saint Louis

    1160 ft · 28 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto I 470 North: Saint Louis

    7 mi · 8 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70 East: Saint Louis

    2063 ft · 44 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    52.5 mi · 57 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

    32 mi · 34 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

    22.4 mi · 24 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 163: Downtown

    672 ft · 16 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North Providence Road

    1.2 mi · 3 min · North Providence Road

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Providence Road

Car Route Details

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

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
15 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi · 44%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi · 44%
I 470 North
7.22 mi · 6%
Southeast Douglas Street
2.2 mi · 2%
North Providence Road
1.18 mi · 1%
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
1.13 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

52.5 mi · 00h 57m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 52m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13.4 mi
110.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sweet Springs
00h 56m from Lee's Summit
Leave By
2:44 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lee's Summit and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Columbia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 123.5 miles (198.7 km) and usually takes 01h 52m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Sweet Springs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 61 miles from Lee's Summit and 62.5 miles from Columbia.

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

The direct path is about 110.1 miles (177.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:44 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.44 one way or $32.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 38.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lee's Summit and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Columbia.

Stop Ideas Near Sweet Springs

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

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

RAIL

Sedalia

32 mi away
100 block of Main Street, through parking lot
RAIL

Warrensburg

36 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Lee's Summit

83 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Independence

89 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lee's Summit and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 110.11 mi (177.21 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
Columbia

#2 Columbia

The most populous city in the state of Missouri.

Population124,769
Coordinates38.9517100, -92.3340700
Altitude215
CountryUnited States
Start: Southwest 3rd Street (-94.382168, 38.910873)
End: North Providence Road (-92.33414, 38.951711)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 199 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.36 gal
16.49 L · about $16.44
Round trip
$32.88
8.72 gal · 32.98 L
Estimated CO2
38.7 kg one way
Round trip: 77.5 kg / 171 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $16.44 $32.88
Mid-grade $4.25 $18.54 $37.09
Premium $4.65 $20.29 $40.58
Diesel $5.30 $23.13 $46.25

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Lee's Summit and Columbia. The current time is 06:11:17.

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.