How far is Lee's Summit, MO from University City, MO?

The driving distance from Lee's Summit, MO to University City, MO is about 239.9 miles (386.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 220 miles (354.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 18m 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
239.9 mi
04h 39m
Flight
220.05 mi
354.14 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
220.05 mi
Kilometers
354.14 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
239.9 mi
Kilometers
386.08 km
Drive Time
04h 39m

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 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in University City
Thu, May 7, 1:11 PM CDT
Return by in Lee's Summit
Thu, May 7, 5:50 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lee's Summit
2026-05-07T08:32
Arrive University City
Thu, May 7, 1:11 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:39 AM to 12:39 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
7:42 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
Columbia
MO

The most populous city in the state of Missouri.

From Lee's Summit
119.7 mi
02h 19m
To University City
120.2 mi
02h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 7 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 17 mph SW
Destination
69°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 7 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    4.9 mi · 6 min · Daniel Boone Expressway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Big Bend Boulevard

    857 ft · 21 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Big Bend Boulevard, Fontbonne University

    40 m · 11 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto South Big Bend Boulevard

    2 mi · 4 min · South Big Bend Boulevard

  21. 21

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Delmar Boulevard

    889 ft · 18 sec · Delmar Boulevard

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Delmar Boulevard

    29 m · 2 sec · Delmar Boulevard

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto Delmar Boulevard

    159 m · 17 sec · Delmar Boulevard

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Kingsland Avenue

    30 m · 6 sec · Kingsland Avenue

  25. 25

    Continue on Kingsland Avenue

    53 m · 13 sec · Kingsland Avenue

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Kingsland Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
26 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
135 mi · 56%
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi · 23%
Avenue of the Saints
27.7 mi · 12%
I 470 North
7.22 mi · 3%
Daniel Boone Expressway
4.9 mi · 2%
Southeast Douglas Street
2.2 mi · 1%
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
04h 39m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.9 mi
220 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Columbia
02h 19m from Lee's Summit
Leave By
7:42 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Lee's Summit and Sunny near University City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 239.9 miles (386.1 km) and usually takes 04h 39m 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 119.7 miles from Lee's Summit and 120.2 miles from University City.

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

The direct path is about 220 miles (354.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.9 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 7:42 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.90 one way or $63.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 75.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Lee's Summit and Sunny near University City.

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 University City. Straight-line distance: 220.05 mi (354.14 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
University City

#2 University City

Suburb in St.

Population34,165
Coordinates38.6558800, -90.3092800
Altitude161
CountryUnited States
Start: Lee's Summit (-94.38217, 38.91084)
End: University City (-90.30928, 38.65588)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 386 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 47m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.46 gal
32.04 L · about $31.90
Round trip
$63.81
16.92 gal · 64.08 L
Estimated CO2
75.2 kg one way
Round trip: 150.4 kg / 332 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.90 $63.81
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.98 $71.96
Premium $4.65 $39.37 $78.75
Diesel $5.30 $44.87 $89.74

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 07, 2026

There is no time difference between Lee's Summit and University City. The current time is 08:32:22.

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.