How far is Lee's Summit, MO from Imperial, MO?
The driving distance from Lee's Summit, MO to Imperial, MO is about 252.9 miles (407 km), with a travel time of about 04h 53m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 219.3 miles (352.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 04h 53m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
The most populous city in the state of Missouri.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Lee's Summit and Imperial.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lee's Summit and Imperial.
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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
6.1 mi · 7 min · Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
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25
Take the exit slight right toward Imperial Main Street
1439 ft · 31 sec
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26
Turn left onto Imperial Main Street, Imperial, Kimmswick
31 m · 6 sec
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27
Turn left onto Imperial Main Street
1121 ft · 30 sec · Imperial Main Street
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28
Turn left onto Old State Road
85 m · 15 sec · Old State Road
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29
Turn right onto White Street
126 m · 18 sec · White Street
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30
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · White Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Lee's Summit and Imperial.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
81 mi · 01h 35m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Lee's Summit and Sunny near Imperial.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Lee's Summit to Imperial?
The road trip is about 252.9 miles (407 km) and usually takes 04h 53m 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?
Columbia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 126.3 miles from Lee's Summit and 126.7 miles from Imperial.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 219.3 miles (352.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.6 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 7:14 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.64 one way or $67.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 79.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Lee's Summit and Sunny near Imperial.
Stop Ideas Near Columbia
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Columbia.
Jefferson City
Sedalia
Hermann
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Lee's Summit and Imperial. Straight-line distance: 219.26 mi (352.87 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 Imperial
Imperial is a place in Missouri, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 38.3697800, -90.3784500 |
| Altitude | 135 |
| Country | United States |
End: Imperial (-90.37845, 38.36978)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 407 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 08h 25m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 19m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 03m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 12m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 36m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 09m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $33.64 | $67.27 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $37.94 | $75.87 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $41.51 | $83.03 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $47.31 | $94.62 |
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.