Carlsbad Caverns to Lee's Summit: Road Trip Guide & Distance

737.8 miles 1187.4 km · straight line
885.4 miles estimated 1424.9 km · driving distance
17h 49min estimated drive time
$85 - $105 estimated fuel cost
~1h 59min flight time
48° NE bearing direction

How far is Carlsbad Caverns from Lee's Summit?

The distance from Carlsbad Caverns to Lee's Summit is 737.8 miles (1187.4 km) as the crow flies. Lee's Summit is located NE of Carlsbad Caverns. By car, the driving distance is approximately 885.4 miles, taking about 17h 49min. A direct flight would take roughly 1h 59min. Both are located in United States — Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico and Lee's Summit in Missouri.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Heading East means you'll be driving into the sunrise if you start early. Keep your windshield clean for the best visibility. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Carlsbad Caverns and Lee's Summit. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Carlsbad Caverns to Lee's Summit

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 17h 49min $85 - $105 Flexible stops
Fly ~1h 59min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~21h 23min $71–$133* Budget
Train ~23h 10min $106–$310* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Carlsbad Caverns & Lee's Summit

Quick Facts

Carlsbad Caverns
32.15°N, 104.56°W
America/Denver
1340m elevation
Lee's Summit
38.91°N, 94.38°W
America/Chicago
316m elevation
Explore more routes from Lee's Summit

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 246 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 61 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 33.8 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients