Joplin to Kennett is 304.4 miles and takes about 6h 16m via US 60, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Missouri, taking you through the Midwest region. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on highways, making it a good option for a single-day journey. You can expect to cover a significant distance with predictable road conditions. Consider this route if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently within 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
152.2 miles from Joplin, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 60
176.5 mi
3h 27m
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
53.2 mi
57m
MO 53
34.6 mi
51m
James River Freeway
14.4 mi
16m
MO 25
11.6 mi
17m
East 7th Street
6.8 mi
14m
North Westwood Boulevard
3.9 mi
6m
1st Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 176.5 mi, about 3h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joplin, MO and Kennett, 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
53 mi·57 min·Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 69Toward MO 360 East
8
Continue on MO 360
14 mi·16 min·James River Freeway
9
Continue on US 60
81 mi·1 hr 34 min·US 60
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60
90 mi·1 hr 46 min·US 60
Toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
4.8 mi·6 min·US 60
12
Turn straight onto US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·North Westwood Boulevard
13
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·State Street
14
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
2.3 mi·3 min·North Westwood Boulevard
15
Turn slight left
133 ft·7 sec
16
Turn slight left onto MO 53
35 mi·51 min·MO 53
17
At end of road, turn right onto MO 25
12 mi·17 min·MO 25
18
Turn right onto US 412; MO 84
1.3 mi·2 min·1st Street
19
Turn left onto Kennett Street
134 ft·3 sec·Kennett Street
20
Arrive at destination
Kennett Street
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Kennett comfortably. Since it's a manageable distance, you can plan for one primary stop to refuel and stretch. The longest continuous stretch is 176.5 miles on US 60, so be sure to take a break before or during that segment. With a fuel cost estimated around $48, keep an eye on your gauge, especially as you approach the end of the US 60 portion.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 152.2 miles from Joplin, MO, or about 3h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.5 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 67 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.2 miles or 3h 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kennett, 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 304.4 miles and 6h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 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 US 60 for about 176.5 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 157.6 — 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
4
7.7 mi into trip|~15m in|I 44 Business
Take the ramp onto I 44 Business toward I 44 East, I 49 North, US 71 North: Springfield, Kansas City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 44 East, I 49 North, US 71 North: Spri...
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.
5
61.5 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward MO 360 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 69
Toward MO 360 East
6
157.6 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|US 60
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60 toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.78 one way
$101.55 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$55.19
$110.37
premium
$5.26
$63.03
$126.05
diesel
$6.18
$74.05
$148.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
EV Charging Along Route
11 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Destination Charger
Springfield, Missouri
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Dynamic EVC Charging Station
Republic, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
Flying J EV Charging Station
Springfield, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Joplin, Missouri
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Francis Energy Charging Station
Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Springfield, Missouri
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Springfield, Missouri
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Sun Country Highway Charging Station
Joplin, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
Other: 4
ChargePoint: 4
Tesla Destination: 3
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.3
1
$31.96
$14.61
Efficient EV
76.1
0
$26.64
$12.18
EV Truck/SUV
121.8
1
$42.62
$19.48
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Joplin, MO
Morning
in Joplin on Monday
Local time
11:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
S 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Kennett, MO
Morning
in Kennett on Monday
Local time
11:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
6h 16m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
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 10.5
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 highway driving, with 78% of the total distance on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 176.5 miles on US 60, offering consistent cruising. The majority of your travel will be on these main arteries before transitioning to surface roads. Expect relatively uninterrupted driving for most of the trip, with fewer urban complexities.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 176.5 mi on US 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and Congressman Gene Taylor Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 16m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 7.7 miles (I 44 Business): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.3 miles (I 44; I 49; US 71 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,655 ft267 ft
Total Climb
794 ft
Total Descent
1,531 ft
Highest Point
1,655 ft
~108.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,389 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Joplin, MO to Kennett, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Poplar Bluff along the way.
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
The longest stretch is about 176.5 miles on US 60. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Kennett, 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 13 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 7.7 miles (I 44 Business): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.3 miles (I 44; I 49; US 71 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield and George Washington Carver National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kennett, MO before the return drive.
