Origin
Joplin, MO
Night in Joplin on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Joplin, MO to Belton, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 35m
Distance
137.2 mi
221 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 25m
★
6 AM
2h 36m
8 AM
2h 56m
10 AM
2h 43m
12 PM
2h 41m
3 PM
2h 44m
5 PM
2h 55m
8 PM
2h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Joplin, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Belton, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 137.2-mile drive from Joplin, MO to Belton, MO is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $21, it's an economical journey through the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes local roads, including South Main Street and North Main Street Road, with a small portion on Demott Drive. Given its relatively short duration and local road focus, this trip is best suited for a single day of travel, allowing for flexibility and exploration along the way. You'll be staying within Missouri for this entire journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
68.6 miles from Joplin, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 106.6 mi | 1h 54m |
| Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway | 10.5 mi | 11m |
| I 49 Business | 7.8 mi | 8m |
| George Washington Carver Memorial Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| South Main Street | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| Demott Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| West MacArthur Drive | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 106.6 mi, about 1h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joplin, MO and Belton, MO.
1
Start on this road
83 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
60 ft
·
6 sec
3
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
South Main Street
4
Turn straight onto MO 43
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street Road
5
Enter roundabout onto MO 171
14 ft
·
0 sec
·
Demott Drive
6
Continue on MO 171
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Demott Drive
7
Continue on I 49 Business; MO 171
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West MacArthur Drive
8
Enter roundabout onto I 49 Business; MO 171
234 ft
·
3 sec
·
I 49 Business; MO 171
9
Continue on I 49 Business; MO 171
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
I 49 Business; MO 171
10
Continue on MO 96; MO 571
452 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Central Avenue
Toward MO 96 East, MO 571 South: Carthage
11
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
Use the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 49; US 71
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
13
Continue on I 49; US 71
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 49; US 71
107 mi
·
1 hr 54 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 174
Toward MO 58: Belton, Raymore
16
Turn left onto MO 58
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 171st Street
17
Continue on MO 58
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East North Avenue
18
Turn left onto East Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
·
East Walnut Street
19
Arrive at destination
East Walnut Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 35-minute drive covering 137.2 miles, starting in the morning is a good idea to allow for flexibility with stops. Since it's a local road-focused route with one recommended stop, you can easily break up the journey as needed without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $21, and plan your last fuel stop accordingly before you get too far into the local road segments. A specific tip for this route is to be extra mindful of speed limit changes as you transition between different towns and local road sections.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.6 miles from Joplin, MO, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.6 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 30 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.6 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belton, 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 137.2 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 106.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 68.6 miles from Joplin, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 106.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 135.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US Historic 66; MO 43 / South Main Street
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
4.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
MO 171 / Demott Drive
Enter roundabout onto MO 171 / Demott Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
14.9 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Turn left toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
6
135.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward MO 58: Belton, Raymore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 174
Toward MO 58: Belton, Raymore
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.37 one way
$40.74 round trip
$3.77/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $22.97 | $45.95 |
| premium | $4.65 | $25.14 | $50.28 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $28.65 | $57.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.41 | $6.59 |
| Efficient EV | 34.3 | 0 | $12.00 | $5.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.9 | 0 | $19.21 | $8.78 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Belton, MO
Night in Belton on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Nevada, MO
69 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
1 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
2h 35m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share. The journey is characterized by frequent turns and navigation through local streets rather than high-speed cruising. There isn't a significantly long uninterrupted stretch to report, indicating a consistent need for attention to your navigation. This profile suggests a drive where you'll be engaging with the road and its immediate surroundings more directly, rather than covering large distances quickly.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.6 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Joplin, MO to Belton, MO is easy. At 2h 35m with 6% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US Historic 66; MO 43 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (MO 171 / Demott Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 35m. Total distance: 137.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 106.6 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US Historic 66; MO 43 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (MO 171 / Demott Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — George Washington Carver National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Belton, MO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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