Joplin to Dellwood is 289.3 miles and takes about 5h 29m via Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The profile suggests mostly surface roads, so expect a less highway-focused experience. It's a single-day trip, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a relatively straightforward drive between these two points in 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
144.7 miles from Joplin, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
261.5 mi
4h 44m
Inner Belt Expressway
8.5 mi
10m
East 7th Street
6.8 mi
14m
Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway
3.5 mi
4m
Airport Road
1.8 mi
2m
South Brentwood Boulevard
1.6 mi
3m
South Elm Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Cimarron Road
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
— 261.5 mi, about 4h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joplin, MO and Dellwood, 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
262 mi·4 hr 44 min·Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 44; US 50
3.5 mi·4 min·Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·20 sec
Exit 280Toward Elm AvenueUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
136 ft·5 sec
Toward Elm Avenue, Webster University, Shop & Dine, Universities & Theater, City Hall & InformationUse the left lane.
10
Turn left onto South Elm Avenue
1.3 mi·2 min·South Elm Avenue
11
Turn right onto East Kirkham Avenue
0.5 mi·55 sec·East Kirkham Avenue
12
Continue on South Brentwood Boulevard
1.6 mi·3 min·South Brentwood Boulevard
13
Turn right onto Eager Road
0.2 mi·32 sec·Eager Road
14
Turn left
0.4 mi·32 sec
Toward I 170 North
15
Merge onto I 170
8.5 mi·10 min·Inner Belt Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 9AToward Airport RoadUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto Airport Road
1.8 mi·2 min·Airport Road
18
Continue on Hereford Avenue
0.4 mi·39 sec·Hereford Avenue
19
Continue on Chambers Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Chambers Road
20
Arrive at destination
Chambers Road
Trip Plan
Given the 5 hour 29 minute estimated drive time, leaving Joplin in the morning should allow you to reach Dellwood with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to take a break. The fuel cost is estimated at $45, so ensure you have sufficient funds or a reliable payment method. Since this is a single-day drive, you don't need to worry about overnight accommodations, but be mindful of the longest stretch being over 260 miles on Congressman Gene Taylor Highway; plan for a brief stretch break during that segment.
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 144.7 miles from Joplin, MO, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 261.5 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 64 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.7 miles or 2h 45m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dellwood, 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 289.3 miles and 5h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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 261.5 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 286.2 — 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.
7
273.4 mi into trip|~5h 6m in
Take the exit toward Elm Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 280
Toward Elm Avenue
9
273.5 mi into trip|~5h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Elm Avenue, Webster University, Shop & Dine, Universities & Theater, City Hall & Information
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Elm Avenue, Webster University, Shop & D...
7
286.2 mi into trip|~5h 25m in
Take the exit toward Airport Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 9A
Toward Airport Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.23 one way
$90.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$49.66
$99.32
premium
$4.89
$55.67
$111.35
diesel
$5.61
$63.87
$127.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.8
1
$30.38
$13.89
Efficient EV
72.3
0
$25.31
$11.57
EV Truck/SUV
115.7
1
$40.50
$18.52
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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 18, 2026
Origin
Joplin, MO
Night
in Joplin on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Sunny
N 12 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 12:45PM CDT until April 19 at 2:12PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 12:45PM CDT until April 22 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Destination
Dellwood, MO
Night
in Dellwood on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Sunny
NW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 12:45PM CDT until April 19 at 2:12PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 12:45PM CDT until April 22 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
74°F
Washington, MO
145 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
4 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 29m 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 drive is primarily on surface roads, with only about 30% of the route utilizing highways. You'll spend most of your time on local roads, with Congressman Gene Taylor Highway being the longest continuous stretch at 261.5 miles. Be prepared for more frequent intersections and traffic lights as you transition away from the highway segments, especially as you approach your destination. The Inner Belt Expressway and East 7th Street will likely be your final approach.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 261.5 mi on Congressman Gene Taylor Highway.
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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 289.3 miles you will encounter 9 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: 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 273.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Joplin, MO and Dellwood, MO, road signs point toward Webster University, Shop & Dine, Universities & Theater and City Hall & Information.
Webster University
273.5 mi in|~5h 6m
Shop & Dine
273.5 mi in|~5h 6m
Universities & Theater
273.5 mi in|~5h 6m
City Hall & Information
273.5 mi in|~5h 6m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 29m. Total distance: 289.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 261.5 miles on Congressman Gene Taylor Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 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.
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 Dellwood, 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. There are 28 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 273.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dellwood, MO before the return drive.
