Jennings, MO to Joplin, MO is 285.6 miles and takes about 5h 26m via Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor and I 44 Business, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, taking you through the Midwest region. Expect a drive mostly on surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate cruise. It's a manageable one-day drive, perfect if you want to get to Joplin without a long, drawn-out travel 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
142.8 miles from Jennings, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 43m 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 Skinker Boulevard
2.8 mi
5m
Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
2.7 mi
3m
Jennings Station Road
2.2 mi
4m
McCausland Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
Kienlen Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
— 261.3 mi, about 4h 43m
Traffic on I-44
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,437 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,103
Quietest
2 AM
~188 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Jennings, MO and Joplin, MO.
1
Start on Jennings Station Road
2.2 mi·4 min·Jennings Station Road
2
Continue on Kienlen Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·Kienlen Avenue
3
Continue on North Skinker Boulevard
2.8 mi·5 min·North Skinker Boulevard
4
Continue on McCausland Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·McCausland Avenue
5
Turn left onto Arsenal Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Arsenal Street
6
Turn right onto Jamieson Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·Jamieson Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 44 WestUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 44
0.7 mi·54 sec·Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway
9
Continue on I 44
2.7 mi·3 min·Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 44
3.5 mi·4 min·Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 44; US 50
261 mi·4 hr 43 min·Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43
156 ft·7 sec·South Main Street
14
Turn right
60 ft·6 sec
15
Turn right
83 ft·6 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 26m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning from Jennings, MO, will comfortably get you to Joplin, MO, before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 261.3-mile stretch on the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, as services might be less frequent. The $45 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices. Since this is a one-day trip, you can afford to linger a bit longer at your chosen stop or depart a little later if 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 142.8 miles from Jennings, MO, or about 2h 43m 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 63 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.8 miles or 2h 43m 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 22m
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 Jennings, 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 Jennings, MO
This is one driving day of about 285.6 miles and 5h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Jennings, 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 8.2 and 285.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
8.2 mi into trip|~15m in|Arsenal Street
Turn left onto Arsenal Street
Navigation decision point
6
8.5 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 44 West
8
277 mi into trip|~5h 9m 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
285.6 mi into trip|~5h 26m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
285.6 mi into trip|~5h 26m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.64 one way
$95.28 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$51.78
$103.56
premium
$5.26
$59.13
$118.27
diesel
$6.18
$69.48
$138.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.7
1
$29.99
$13.71
Efficient EV
71.4
0
$24.99
$11.42
EV Truck/SUV
114.2
1
$39.98
$18.28
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Jennings, MO
Morning
in Jennings on Saturday
Local time
6:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Chance Rain Showers
NW 17 mph31% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:40AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Destination
Joplin, MO
Morning
in Joplin on Saturday
Local time
6:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Chance Rain Showers
N 20 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:40AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
50°F
Cuba, MO
143 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 26m 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 275.7
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 226.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, with a 3% highway share. The bulk of the driving, 261.3 miles, will be on the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. This means you'll experience a more rural, less-interrupted drive for a significant portion of the trip. Be prepared for a gradual transition from highway cruising to surface street navigation as you approach your destination.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 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 8.2 miles in near Arsenal Street.
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 26m 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 8.2 miles (Arsenal Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 277 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 30 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 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.2 miles (Arsenal Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 277 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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 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.
