Mark from Lee's Summit on 6/13/2023 6:44:45 PM:
Just following Google Maps along Hwy. 291 and Hwy. 150 is not a good idea. Although there are a few other options, there are two routes that most local people recommend (described from North/Lee's Summit to South/Pleasant Hill):
The first route that I prefer uses the paved trail along Ward Road, the sidewalks along Hwy. 150 west of 291, a short 2/3 mile section along 2 lane 150, residential side streets in Greenwood (Doc Henry, Allendale Drive, Allendale Lake Road (there is a nice sidewalk trail along a good stretch here), then 167th/Groll/171st/Gray (there is a section of gravel road here with a few larger stones), and finally low traffic 175th Street east until you reach the trail just past the active train tracks:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=10eHY4HfsGMFVR773KfJu7dHcnME9L7aW&usp=sharing
The second route is all on roads and does not use the available paved trails or nice sections of sidewalk, but traffic is reasonably light: Scherer to Thompson to Hamblen, along 150 Hwy. mostly in Downtown Greenwood where the speed limit is low, south on Smart Road where eventually you reach the trail at 167th Street (there are a few sections of gravel road here too but usually the rocks aren't too big as compared to the other route):
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=1S5Um60ydU-JTZvsemSZuVHoacidMXUs&usp=sharing