This trip from Ashland to Joplin, Missouri, covers 220.9 miles and takes about 4 hours and 17 minutes, making it a very manageable day trip. You'll spend most of your time on I-44, with brief segments on US-54 and MO-5. The drive is primarily highway-focused, so expect a straightforward journey across the Midwest. With a fuel cost estimated around $35, it's an economical option for a single day's travel. This route is best suited for a single-day adventure, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
110.5 miles from Ashland, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
113 mi
2h 2m
US 54
52.7 mi
1h
MO 5
24 mi
29m
US 63
20.3 mi
23m
I 44 Business
8.5 mi
17m
North Jefferson Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
East Broadway
0.2 mi
<1m
South Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 113 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ashland, MO and Joplin, MO.
1
Start on MO Y
0.2 mi·29 sec·East Broadway
2
Enter roundabout
91 ft·2 sec
3
Continue
0.2 mi·27 sec
4
Merge onto US 63
14 mi·14 min·US 63
5
Take the exit onto US 63
6.6 mi·8 min·US 63
Toward US 54 West, US 63 South: Jefferson City
6
Continue on US 54
53 mi·1 hr·US 54
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward MO 5 South, MO 7 South: Lebanon
8
Merge onto MO 5; MO 7
24 mi·29 min·MO 5; MO 7
9
Turn left onto MO 5; MO 64
1.6 mi·2 min·North Jefferson Avenue
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward I 44 West: Springfield
11
Merge onto I 44
113 mi·2 hr 2 min·I 44
12
Take the exit onto I 44 Business; MO 66
8.5 mi·17 min·I 44 Business; MO 66
Exit 15Toward I 44 Business, MO 66: Duenweg, JoplinUse the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43
156 ft·7 sec·South Main Street
14
Turn right
60 ft·6 sec
15
Turn right
83 ft·6 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Consider an early morning departure from Ashland to maximize your daylight and allow for a relaxed pace, especially since the drive is only 4 hours and 17 minutes. With only one suggested stop, you have the flexibility to decide when and where to take a break. The fuel cost is estimated at $35, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Ashland to avoid unnecessary stops. Since this is a day trip, you can easily adjust your timing based on traffic or personal preference. A good tip is to be aware that I-44 can have significant truck traffic, so plan accordingly, especially during peak hours.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 110.5 miles from Ashland, MO, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 49 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.5 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Joplin, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ashland, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ashland, MO
This is one driving day of about 220.9 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Ashland, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 44 for about 113 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 212.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
14.1 mi into trip|~15m in|US 63
Take the exit onto US 63 toward US 54 West, US 63 South: Jefferson City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 54 West, US 63 South: Jefferson City
5
73.4 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward MO 5 South, MO 7 South: Lebanon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 5 South, MO 7 South: Lebanon
5
99.2 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward I 44 West: Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 44 West: Springfield
8
212.3 mi into trip|~3h 59m in|I 44 Business; MO 66
Take the exit onto I 44 Business; MO 66 toward I 44 Business, MO 66: Duenweg, Joplin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 15
Toward I 44 Business, MO 66: Duenweg, Joplin
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.54 one way
$69.07 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.92
$75.84
premium
$4.89
$42.51
$85.02
diesel
$5.61
$48.77
$97.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.3
0
$23.19
$10.60
Efficient EV
55.2
0
$19.33
$8.84
EV Truck/SUV
88.4
1
$30.93
$14.14
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Ashland, MO
Late night
in Ashland on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Joplin, MO
Late night
in Joplin on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Lebanon, MO
110 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 17m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
George Washington Carver National Monument
National Monument
The young child known as the "Plant Doctor" tended his secret garden while observing the day-to-day operations of a 19th century farm. Nature and nurture ultimately influenced George on his quest for...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 213.3
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway, with a 99% highway share, designed for efficient travel. You'll experience a highway-focused drive with the longest uninterrupted stretch spanning 113 miles on I-44. While the majority is interstate, expect to transition onto US-54 and MO-5 for portions of your journey. The road character is consistent, prioritizing speed and directness over winding scenic byways. This means you'll likely encounter a steady pace for the bulk of your 4-hour drive.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and US 54. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 17m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 14.1 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Joplin is in Southwest Missouri. It's mentioned in the song "Route 66". Joplin is the "hub" of the southwest corner of Missouri, southeast Kansas, and northeast Oklahoma. The population of Joplin in 2020 was 51,762, but, with several "suburbs" around Joplin, the population of the Joplin metro area was over 210,077.
The longest stretch is about 113 miles on I 44. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 14.1 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — George Washington Carver National Monument and Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Joplin, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
