Crossing Missouri from Caruthersville to Joplin covers a total distance of 326.8 miles, typically requiring about 6 hours and 45 minutes of travel time. Because this is a highway-focused drive, you can comfortably complete the journey in a single day, though it will be a full day on the road. Budgeting roughly $50 for fuel should cover your primary transit costs along the route. Navigating mainly via US 60, the Captain Aaron J. Eidem Memorial Highway, and MO 53, you will traverse the heart of the Midwest. Whether you are looking for a straightforward transit or a long-haul trek, this route offers a reliable connection between these two Missouri cities without the need for an overnight split.
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
163.4 miles from Caruthersville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 60
190.3 mi
3h 43m
Captain Aaron J Eidem Memorial Highway
52.7 mi
56m
MO 53
34.6 mi
51m
US 412
13.3 mi
15m
Independence Street
11.6 mi
17m
I 44 Business
8.5 mi
17m
I 155
7.1 mi
7m
South Westwood Boulevard
2.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 190.3 mi, about 3h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Caruthersville, MO and Joplin, MO.
1
Start on this road
45 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
510 ft·16 sec·West 3rd Street
3
Turn right onto Ward Avenue
1.3 mi·3 min·Ward Avenue
4
Turn right onto MO 84
0.3 mi·27 sec·MO 84
5
Turn straight onto MO U
1.3 mi·2 min·MO U
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
7
Merge onto I 155; US 412
7.1 mi·7 min·I 155; US 412
8
Continue on US 412; MO 84
13 mi·15 min·US 412; MO 84
9
Take the exit
470 ft·13 sec
10
Turn straight onto MO 25
12 mi·17 min·Independence Street
11
Turn left onto MO 53
35 mi·51 min·MO 53
12
Turn right onto US 67 Business
2.4 mi·3 min·South Westwood Boulevard
13
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·State Street
14
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·North Westwood Boulevard
15
Continue on US 67; US 60 Business
0.4 mi·37 sec·US 67; US 60 Business
16
Continue on US 60; US 67
4.0 mi·4 min·US 60; US 67
17
Take the exit onto US 60
186 mi·3 hr 38 min·US 60
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
19
Merge onto I 44
53 mi·56 min·Captain Aaron J Eidem Memorial Highway
20
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.
21
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43
156 ft·7 sec·South Main Street
22
Turn right
60 ft·6 sec
23
Turn right
83 ft·6 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To keep your 6-hour and 45-minute drive manageable, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the longest stretch spans 190.3 miles, try to time your break near the midpoint to avoid fatigue during the second half of the trip. Departing early in the morning is your best strategy to ensure you arrive in Joplin before the end of the day, leaving you with plenty of flexibility for the evening. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge throughout that long US 60 segment, as finding service stations can be less frequent depending on your specific pace. Use your $50 fuel budget as a baseline, but consider keeping a small buffer for local fluctuations as you move across the state.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 163.4 miles from Caruthersville, MO, or about 3h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 190.3 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 72 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 163.4 miles or 3h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 34m
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 Caruthersville, 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 Caruthersville, MO
This is one driving day of about 326.8 miles and 6h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Caruthersville, 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 US 60 for about 190.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 326.8 — 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|West 3rd Street
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
264.7 mi into trip|~5h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 44 West: Joplin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
8
318.2 mi into trip|~6h 27m 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
326.8 mi into trip|~6h 45m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
326.8 mi into trip|~6h 45m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.09 one way
$102.18 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg114 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$56.10
$112.19
premium
$4.89
$62.89
$125.78
diesel
$5.61
$72.15
$144.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98
1
$34.31
$15.69
Efficient EV
81.7
0
$28.60
$13.07
EV Truck/SUV
130.7
1
$45.75
$20.92
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Caruthersville, MO
Evening
in Caruthersville on Saturday
Local time
8:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Joplin, MO
Evening
in Joplin on Saturday
Local time
8:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
6h 45m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip defined by its highway-focused nature, with 78% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. The personality of this drive is anchored by a significant 190.3-mile stretch on US 60, which serves as the backbone of your journey. You will spend most of your time maintaining a steady pace, as the route is designed for efficiency rather than technical, winding roads. As you shift between the Captain Aaron J. Eidem Memorial Highway and the various state routes, the environment remains consistent with a standard Midwestern highway experience. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that rewards drivers who appreciate the rhythm of long, uninterrupted miles.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 190.3 mi on US 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and Captain Aaron J Eidem Memorial Highway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 3rd Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 326.8 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 264.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 318.2 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 45m. Total distance: 326.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 45m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 190.3 miles on US 60. 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Joplin, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 264.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 318.2 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.5 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.
