How far is Lee's Summit, MO from St. Louis, MO?

The driving distance from Lee's Summit, MO to St. Louis, MO is about 246 miles (395.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 226.2 miles (364.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 21m 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
246.01 mi
03h 40m
Flight
226.24 mi
364.1 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
226.24 mi
Kilometers
364.1 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
246.01 mi
Kilometers
395.92 km
Drive Time
03h 40m

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 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in St. Louis
Thu, Apr 23, 11:11 AM CDT
Return by in Lee's Summit
Thu, Apr 23, 2:52 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lee's Summit
2026-04-23T07:31
Arrive St. Louis
Thu, Apr 23, 11:11 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:41 AM to 11:41 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
9:38 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

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Columbia
MO

The most populous city in the state of Missouri.

From Lee's Summit
122.1 mi
01h 50m
To St. Louis
123.9 mi
01h 50m

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
82°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    81 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield

    1567 ft · 33 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    27.7 mi · 34 min · Avenue of the Saints

  17. 17

    Continue on Daniel Boone Expressway

    5.7 mi · 7 min · Daniel Boone Expressway

  18. 18

    Continue on Jack Buck Memorial Highway

    5.8 mi · 7 min · Jack Buck Memorial Highway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward 14th Street

    1115 ft · 34 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto South 14th Street

    1715 ft · 42 sec · South 14th Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Market Street

    956 ft · 25 sec · Market Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Market Street

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
135 mi · 55%
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi · 22%
Avenue of the Saints
27.7 mi · 11%
I 470 North
7.22 mi · 3%
Jack Buck Memorial Highway
5.77 mi · 2%
Daniel Boone Expressway
5.68 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

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.

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 40m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.8 mi
226.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Columbia
01h 50m from Lee's Summit
Leave By
9:38 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lee's Summit and Mostly Sunny near St. Louis.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lee's Summit to St. Louis?

The road trip is about 246 miles (395.9 km) and usually takes 03h 40m 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 122.1 miles from Lee's Summit and 123.9 miles from St. Louis.

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

The direct path is about 226.2 miles (364.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.8 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 9:38 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.73 one way or $65.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 77.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lee's Summit and Mostly Sunny near St. Louis.

Stop Ideas Near Columbia

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

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

RAIL

Jefferson City

44 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Sedalia

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

Hermann

83 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lee's Summit and St. Louis. Straight-line distance: 226.24 mi (364.1 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
St. Louis

#2 St. Louis

The second most populous city in Missouri and the center of the St.

Population315,685
Coordinates38.6272700, -90.1978900
Altitude142
CountryUnited States
Start: Southwest 3rd Street (-94.382168, 38.910873)
End: Market Street (-90.197859, 38.627348)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 396 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 11m
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 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.68 gal
32.86 L · about $32.73
Round trip
$65.46
17.36 gal · 65.72 L
Estimated CO2
77.1 kg one way
Round trip: 154.3 kg / 340 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $32.73 $65.46
Mid-grade $4.25 $36.92 $73.83
Premium $4.65 $40.40 $80.79
Diesel $5.30 $46.04 $92.08

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 St. Louis. The current time is 07:31:06.

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.