Chesterfield, MO to Neosho, MO is 274.6 miles and takes about 5h 15m via I 44 and Manchester Road, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Missouri, moving you from the Midwest region toward its southwestern edge. With the vast majority of the route on the interstate, it's a fairly straightforward trip. Plan for this to be a single-day commitment unless you want to build in extra time for exploring the areas along the way.
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
137.3 miles from Chesterfield, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
234.8 mi
4h 13m
Manchester Road
16.8 mi
24m
George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
12 mi
17m
US 60 Business
4.3 mi
6m
Clarkson Road
3.6 mi
6m
Baxter Road
1.6 mi
2m
Santa Maria Drive
0.3 mi
1m
North Jefferson Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 234.8 mi, about 4h 13m
Traffic on I-44
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,432 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,709
Quietest
2 AM
~177 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.1×
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 Chesterfield, MO and Neosho, MO.
1
Start on Santa Maria Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Santa Maria Drive
2
At end of road, turn right onto Wild Horse Creek Road
0.1 mi·19 sec·Wild Horse Creek Road
3
Turn left onto Baxter Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Baxter Road
4
Turn right onto MO 340
3.6 mi·6 min·Clarkson Road
5
Turn right onto MO 100
17 mi·24 min·Manchester Road
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: St. Clair
7
Merge onto I 44; US 50
235 mi·4 hr 13 min·I 44; US 50
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 18AToward MO 59 South: Diamond
9
Merge onto MO 59
12 mi·17 min·George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
10
Turn slight right
0.3 mi·59 sec
11
Turn right onto US 60 Business
4.3 mi·6 min·US 60 Business
12
Turn left onto MO 86
365 ft·9 sec·West Coler Street
13
Turn right onto North Jefferson Street
0.3 mi·46 sec·North Jefferson Street
14
Turn left onto West Main Street
511 ft·22 sec·West Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving Chesterfield, MO in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Neosho, MO before dark. The longest continuous stretch is 234.8 miles on I 44, so consider planning a stop for fuel and a break around the halfway point of that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $49, and it's always wise to top off before hitting longer highway stretches. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility with your timing and can adjust your pace as needed.
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 137.3 miles from Chesterfield, MO, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 234.8 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 60 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.3 miles or 2h 39m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Neosho, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chesterfield, 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 Chesterfield, MO
This is one driving day of about 274.6 miles and 5h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Chesterfield, 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 234.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 274.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Wild Horse Creek Road
At end of road, turn right onto Wild Horse Creek Road
Navigation decision point
5
22.4 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the exit toward I 44 West, US 50 West: St. Clair
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: St. Clair
5
22.6 mi into trip|~35m in|I 44; US 50
Merge onto I 44; US 50
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
257.4 mi into trip|~4h 49m in
Take the exit toward MO 59 South: Diamond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 18A
Toward MO 59 South: Diamond
5
274.2 mi into trip|~5h 14m in|North Jefferson Street
Turn right onto North Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.55 one way
$81.10 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$44.77
$89.54
premium
$4.72
$50.98
$101.97
diesel
$4.80
$51.85
$103.70
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: 96.1 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
82.4
1
$28.83
$13.18
Efficient EV
68.7
0
$24.03
$10.98
EV Truck/SUV
109.8
1
$38.44
$17.57
Gas CO2
96 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
Chesterfield, MO
Late night
in Chesterfield on Sunday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Clear
SW 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:48PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Neosho, MO
Late night
in Neosho on Sunday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
S 6 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:48PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
89°F
Cuba, MO
137 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 15m 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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 265.1
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 208.3
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily interstate driving, with 87% of the 274.6 miles on highways like I 44. You'll experience a significant stretch of 234.8 miles on I 44 before transitioning to surface roads like Manchester Road and George Washington Carver Memorial Highway. Expect a steady pace on the interstate, with exits becoming more frequent as you approach towns off the main highway.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 234.8 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and Manchester Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Wild Horse Creek Road.
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 15m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Wild Horse Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.6 miles (I 44; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Neosho is a sizeable town in Southwest Missouri and has several monikers, among them "Gateway To The Ozarks," "City of Springs," and "Flower Box City". The latter two pertain to characteristics of the town, namely the source of numerous springs as well as a citywide initiative involving flower boxes. The name Neosho is derived from a Native American word meaning "clear, cold water".
Top landmarks
•Neosho Commercial Historic District — historic district in Neosho, Missouri
The longest stretch is about 234.8 miles on I 44. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 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 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Wild Horse Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.6 miles (I 44; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — George Washington Carver National Monument, Wilson's Creek National Battlefield and Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Neosho, MO before the return drive.
