Joplin to Barnhart is 271.8 miles and takes about 5h 17m via Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, East Gravois Avenue, and MO MM, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region toward its eastern edge. Expect a drive primarily on surface roads, offering a more local feel than a highway cruise. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is ideal for those who prefer a steady pace with fewer interstate miles.
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
135.9 miles from Joplin, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
223.1 mi
4h 1m
East Gravois Avenue
27 mi
38m
MO MM
12.3 mi
18m
East 7th Street
6.8 mi
14m
Cimarron Road
0.9 mi
1m
I 44 Business
0.6 mi
1m
US 61
0.2 mi
<1m
East Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
— 223.1 mi, about 4h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joplin, MO and Barnhart, MO.
1
Start on this road
219 ft·18 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right
193 ft·19 sec
3
Turn left onto I 44 Business; MO 66
6.8 mi·14 min·East 7th Street
4
Continue on I 44 Business; MO 66
0.9 mi·1 min·Cimarron Road
5
Take the ramp onto I 44 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·I 44 Business
Toward I 44 East, I 49 North, US 71 North: Springfield, Kansas City
6
Merge onto I 44; I 49; US 71
223 mi·4 hr 1 min·Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 239Toward MO WW, MO AB, MO 30: Saint Clair
8
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 30
0.1 mi·21 sec·US Historic 66; MO 30
9
Continue on US Historic 66; MO 30
0.2 mi·24 sec·West Gravois Avenue
10
Take the exit
190 ft·4 sec
Toward MO 30, MO 47
11
Merge onto MO 30; MO 47
27 mi·38 min·East Gravois Avenue
12
Turn right onto MO MM
12 mi·18 min·MO MM
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto US 61; US 67
0.2 mi·24 sec·US 61; US 67
14
Continue on East Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·East Street
15
Turn right onto Willing Street
133 ft·11 sec·Willing Street
16
Turn left onto East Street
314 ft·13 sec·East Street
17
Arrive at destination
East Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 17m estimated drive time and the surface road nature, leaving Joplin, MO, in the morning will allow you to reach Barnhart, MO, comfortably within daylight. The single stop suggested is likely sufficient for a quick break, but with 271.8 miles on surface roads, you might appreciate a brief pause around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the $42 estimate is based on current averages, and fuel availability might be less frequent than on major highways. The longest stretch is over 200 miles, so ensure you start with a full tank.
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 135.9 miles from Joplin, MO, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 223.1 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 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.9 miles or 2h 35m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Barnhart, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Joplin, 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 Joplin, MO
This is one driving day of about 271.8 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Joplin, 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 Congressman Gene Taylor Highway for about 223.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 259 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in
At end of road, turn right
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
8.3 mi into trip|~17m in|I 44; I 49; US 71 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
Merge onto I 44; I 49; US 71 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
231.5 mi into trip|~4h 18m in
Take the exit toward MO WW, MO AB, MO 30: Saint Clair
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 239
Toward MO WW, MO AB, MO 30: Saint Clair
6
232 mi into trip|~4h 19m in
Take the exit toward MO 30, MO 47
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 30, MO 47
6
259 mi into trip|~4h 57m in|MO MM
Turn right onto MO MM
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.49 one way
$84.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$46.66
$93.31
premium
$4.89
$52.31
$104.61
diesel
$5.61
$60.01
$120.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.5
1
$28.54
$13.05
Efficient EV
68
0
$23.78
$10.87
EV Truck/SUV
108.7
1
$38.05
$17.40
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Joplin, MO
Morning
in Joplin on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Barnhart, MO
Morning
in Barnhart on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
70°F
Waynesville, MO
136 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 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely surface roads, with a 0% highway share. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on local and state routes, with the longest continuous stretch being 223.1 miles on Congressman Gene Taylor Highway. Expect a consistent pace without the frequent acceleration and deceleration associated with interstate travel. This means more opportunities to observe the changing scenery as you pass through various towns and rural areas.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 223.1 mi on Congressman Gene Taylor Highway.
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 early in the drive.
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 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 8.3 miles (I 44; I 49; US 71 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 231.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
The longest stretch is about 223.1 miles on Congressman Gene Taylor Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 8.3 miles (I 44; I 49; US 71 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 231.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Barnhart, MO before the return drive.
