Florissant, MO to Nixa, MO is 232.4 miles and takes about 4h 27m via Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, offering a straightforward drive through Missouri. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a convenient option for moving between these two points. You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, so expect a more local feel compared to a pure interstate cruise. The estimated fuel cost is around $34, making it an economical choice.
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
116.2 miles from Florissant, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
189.8 mi
3h 25m
Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
16.1 mi
20m
Schoolcraft Freeway
11 mi
13m
Dougherty Ferry Road
2.5 mi
4m
Lindbergh Boulevard
1.7 mi
3m
MO 14
1.7 mi
2m
Fremont Road
1.5 mi
2m
American Legion Memorial Highway
1.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
— 189.8 mi, about 3h 25m
Traffic on I-44
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,711 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,202
Quietest
2 AM
~187 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.1×
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 Florissant, MO and Nixa, MO.
1
Start on North New Florissant Road
87 ft·5 sec·North New Florissant Road
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Washington Street
3
Turn left onto US 67
1.7 mi·3 min·Lindbergh Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 270
16 mi·20 min·Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 8Toward Dougherty Ferry RoadUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto Dougherty Ferry Road
2.5 mi·4 min·Dougherty Ferry Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on Forest Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·Forest Avenue
9
Turn left onto MO 141
0.7 mi·1 min·MO 141
10
Take the exit
105 ft·3 sec
11
Turn right onto North Highway Drive
0.1 mi·14 sec·North Highway Drive
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·13 sec
Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Rolla
13
Merge onto I 44; US 50
190 mi·3 hr 25 min·Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Exit 82AToward US 65 South: Branson
15
Merge onto US 65
11 mi·13 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 65
1.4 mi·1 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward MO J, MO CC: Fremont Hills
18
Turn straight onto MO CC
0.9 mi·1 min·MO CC
19
Turn left onto Fremont Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Fremont Road
20
Turn right onto East North Road
1.0 mi·1 min·East North Road
21
Turn left onto North Cheyenne Road
0.6 mi·1 min·North Cheyenne Road
22
At end of road, turn right onto MO 14
1.7 mi·2 min·MO 14
23
Turn left
59 ft·4 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 27m estimated driving time, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to allow for a relaxed pace and potential unexpected delays. The longest stretch is nearly 190 miles on the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, so plan for a mid-drive break before or after this segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $34, you can budget accordingly, but it's always wise to top off your tank before heading out, especially since most of the route is on surface roads with more frequent, though often smaller, towns. One stop is recommended, so pick a spot that breaks up the drive around the halfway point.
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 116.2 miles from Florissant, MO, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 189.8 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 51 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.2 miles or 2h 15m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nixa, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Florissant, 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 Florissant, MO
This is one driving day of about 232.4 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Florissant, 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 189.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 213.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.1 mi into trip|~6m in|I 270 / Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
Merge onto I 270 / Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
19.3 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit toward Dougherty Ferry Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward Dougherty Ferry Road
5
23.9 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Rolla
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Rolla
5
24.1 mi into trip|~35m in|I 44; US 50 / Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Merge onto I 44; US 50 / Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
213.9 mi into trip|~4h in
Take the exit toward US 65 South: Branson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 82A
Toward US 65 South: Branson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.32 one way
$68.64 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$37.89
$75.78
premium
$4.72
$43.15
$86.30
diesel
$4.80
$43.88
$87.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.7
0
$24.40
$11.16
Efficient EV
58.1
0
$20.34
$9.30
EV Truck/SUV
93
1
$32.54
$14.87
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% 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 Jul 15, 2026
Origin
Florissant, MO
Late night
in Florissant on Sunday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Clear
NE 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Nixa, MO
Late night
in Nixa on Sunday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Partly Cloudy
E 2 mph13% chanceLive forecast
89°F
Cuba, MO
116 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
4h 27m 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.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
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
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 232.4
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 surface roads, with only about 6% of the drive on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 189.8 miles on the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, which is mostly surface roads. Expect frequent intersections and lower speed limits as you navigate through towns and rural areas. The transition from higher-speed roads to local streets will be noticeable throughout your drive.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 189.8 mi on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near I 270 / Rosemary Straub Davison Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 232.4 miles you will encounter 17 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: at 3.1 miles (I 270 / Rosemary Straub Davison Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 27m. Total distance: 232.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 189.8 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Nixa, 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: at 3.1 miles (I 270 / Rosemary Straub Davison Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield and Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Nixa, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
