Spanning 279.5 miles across the Missouri Midwest, this drive from Clayton to Joplin typically takes about 5 hours and 17 minutes to complete. Given the duration, it works perfectly as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You can expect to budget roughly $42 for fuel, making this an affordable cross-state trek. The route relies heavily on the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, I-44 Business, and the Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this path provides a straightforward connection between the eastern and western sides of the state.
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
139.7 miles from Clayton, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 37m 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
South Hanley Road
2.6 mi
5m
Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
1.5 mi
1m
Laclede Station Road
0.6 mi
1m
Wydown Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
Big Bend Boulevard
0.4 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 Clayton, MO and Joplin, MO.
1
Start on Hillvale Drive
178 ft·7 sec·Hillvale Drive
2
Turn left onto Wydown Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·Wydown Boulevard
3
At end of road, turn left onto South Hanley Road
2.6 mi·5 min·South Hanley Road
4
Continue on Laclede Station Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Laclede Station Road
5
Turn slight right onto Big Bend Boulevard
0.4 mi·49 sec·Big Bend Boulevard
6
Turn left onto Murdoch Avenue
441 ft·16 sec·Murdoch Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·13 sec
Toward I 44 West
8
Merge onto I 44
1.5 mi·1 min·Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 44
3.5 mi·4 min·Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 44; US 50
261 mi·4 hr 43 min·Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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.
12
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43
156 ft·7 sec·South Main Street
13
Turn right
60 ft·6 sec
14
Turn right
83 ft·6 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since the trip is manageable in one day, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Plan for at least one stop to break up the drive, as this will help you stay alert during the long segments. With the longest stretch covering 261.3 miles, be sure to check your fuel levels before hitting the main corridor to avoid unnecessary detours. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy profile of this route can be more fatiguing than a straight interstate shot, so pace yourself accordingly. If you find your energy dipping, use the I-44 Business sections to find a convenient place to pull over and stretch your legs.
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 139.7 miles from Clayton, MO, or about 2h 37m 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 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.7 miles or 2h 37m 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 Joplin, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clayton, 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 Clayton, MO
This is one driving day of about 279.5 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Clayton, 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 279.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|South Hanley Road
At end of road, turn left onto South Hanley Road
Navigation decision point
5
4.4 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West
Navigation decision point
Toward I 44 West
8
270.9 mi into trip|~4h 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
5
279.4 mi into trip|~5h 17m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
279.5 mi into trip|~5h 17m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.28 one way
$82.55 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$45.57
$91.13
premium
$4.72
$51.89
$103.79
diesel
$4.80
$52.77
$105.55
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: 97.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.9
1
$29.35
$13.42
Efficient EV
69.9
0
$24.46
$11.18
EV Truck/SUV
111.8
1
$39.13
$17.89
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% 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
Clayton, MO
Late night
in Clayton on Sunday
Local time
4:58 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
Late night
in Joplin on Sunday
Local time
4:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Cloudy
S 7 mph14% 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
140 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
3 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 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.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
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...
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 269.8
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 221.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While about three-quarters of the journey utilizes major highways, the experience is defined by a massive 261.3-mile stretch along the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. This long, primary segment anchors the trip, though you should anticipate shifts in road character as you transition between the highway sections and local thoroughfares. The road doesn’t feel like a monotonous interstate grind; instead, the technical nature of the turns keeps the drive engaging from start to finish.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 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 around 0.6 miles in near South Hanley 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 17m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (South Hanley Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 270.9 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.
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.
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: at 0.6 miles (South Hanley Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 270.9 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 — Gateway Arch National Park, George Washington Carver National Monument 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 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 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.
