Brentwood, MO to Joplin, MO is 276.3 miles and takes about 5h 11m via Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The drive primarily uses surface roads, offering a more local feel compared to interstate travel. It’s a straightforward trip that’s easy to complete in a single day.
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
138.2 miles from Brentwood, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
261.3 mi
4h 43m
I 44 Business
8.5 mi
17m
Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway
3.5 mi
4m
North Elm Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
South Brentwood Boulevard
0.9 mi
1m
East Kirkham Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Litzsinger Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
South Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
— 261.3 mi, about 4h 43m
Traffic on I-44
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,417 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,956
Quietest
2 AM
~186 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brentwood, MO and Joplin, MO.
1
Start on this road
68 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right
59 ft·6 sec
3
Turn right onto Litzsinger Road
157 ft·4 sec·Litzsinger Road
4
Turn right onto South Brentwood Boulevard
0.9 mi·1 min·South Brentwood Boulevard
5
Continue on East Kirkham Avenue
0.5 mi·56 sec·East Kirkham Avenue
6
Turn left onto North Elm Avenue
1.3 mi·2 min·North Elm Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·13 sec
Toward I 44 West
8
Continue on I 44
3.5 mi·4 min·Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 44; US 50
261 mi·4 hr 43 min·Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43
156 ft·7 sec·South Main Street
12
Turn right
60 ft·6 sec
13
Turn right
83 ft·6 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 11m estimated drive time, leaving Brentwood, MO in the morning should allow you to reach Joplin, MO with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop and a mostly surface road profile, you can be flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 261.3-mile stretch on the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, as services might be more spaced out than on an interstate. The estimated fuel cost of $43 is a good baseline for budgeting, but always check local prices.
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 138.2 miles from Brentwood, MO, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 261.3 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 61 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.2 miles or 2h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 9m
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 Brentwood, 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 Brentwood, MO
This is one driving day of about 276.3 miles and 5h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Brentwood, 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 Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor for about 261.3 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 276.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Litzsinger Road
Turn right onto Litzsinger Road
Navigation decision point
8
267.7 mi into trip|~4h 54m 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
5
276.3 mi into trip|~5h 11m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
276.3 mi into trip|~5h 11m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.80 one way
$81.61 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$45.05
$90.09
premium
$4.72
$51.30
$102.60
diesel
$4.80
$52.17
$104.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.9
1
$29.01
$13.26
Efficient EV
69.1
0
$24.18
$11.05
EV Truck/SUV
110.5
1
$38.68
$17.68
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Brentwood, MO
Morning
in Brentwood on Sunday
Local time
9:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Clear
SW 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Joplin, MO
Morning
in Joplin on Sunday
Local time
9:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
S 8 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
89°F
Cuba, MO
138 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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 11m 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 266.8
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
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...
9 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 219.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 3% of this 276.3-mile route is on highways, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest stretch on a single road is 261.3 miles along the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. Expect a driving experience that is more connected to towns and local scenery rather than high-speed interstate cruising. You’ll notice a change in pace as you transition from the limited highway segments to the more varied surface road profile.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 261.3 mi on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 11m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (Litzsinger Road): Navigation decision point; at 267.7 miles (I 44 Business; MO 66): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Top landmarks
•Bonnie & Clyde Garage Apartment — house in Joplin, United States of America
•Joplin Downtown Historic District — building in Missouri, United States
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 261.3 miles on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (Litzsinger Road): Navigation decision point; at 267.7 miles (I 44 Business; MO 66): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — George Washington Carver National Monument, Gateway Arch National Park and Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Joplin, MO before the return drive.
