Spanning 288.8 miles across Missouri, this route connects Joplin to Malden in approximately 5 hours and 56 minutes. You will primarily navigate via US 60, the Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, and MO 53. Because the drive is under six hours, it is entirely manageable as a single-day trip for most travelers. Budgeting about $44 for fuel covers the journey, which stays firmly within the Midwest region. Whether you are relocating or just passing through, the highway-focused profile makes for a straightforward, efficient transit across 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
144.4 miles from Joplin, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m 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
19.6 mi
29m
James River Freeway
14.4 mi
16m
MO J
11.5 mi
20m
East 7th Street
6.8 mi
14m
North Westwood Boulevard
3.9 mi
6m
Cimarron Road
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 176.5 mi, about 3h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joplin, MO and Malden, 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
20 mi·29 min·MO 53
17
Turn left onto MO J
12 mi·20 min·MO J
18
Turn right onto MO 25 Business
0.4 mi·45 sec·North Douglas Street
19
Turn left onto MO 25 Business
0.2 mi·28 sec·West Main Street
20
Turn right onto MO 25 Business
442 ft·10 sec·South Madison Street
21
Turn right onto West Laclede Street
63 ft·2 sec·West Laclede Street
22
Arrive at destination
West Laclede Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a one-day drive, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid fatigue during the final leg of the trip. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to choose where you want to break up the 288.8 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that 176.5-mile stretch on US 60, to ensure you stay within your $44 budget. By planning your single rest break near the midpoint, you can comfortably navigate the Congressman Gene Taylor Highway and MO 53 without feeling rushed. Prioritize a steady pace to handle the highway-focused sections safely and efficiently.
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 144.4 miles from Joplin, MO, or about 2h 51m 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 64 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.4 miles or 2h 51m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Malden, 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 288.8 miles and 5h 56m.
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 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 288.7 — 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.
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
5
288.7 mi into trip|~5h 56m in|MO 25 Business / South Madison Street
Turn right onto MO 25 Business / South Madison Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.15 one way
$90.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$49.57
$99.15
premium
$4.89
$55.58
$111.15
diesel
$5.61
$63.76
$127.53
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 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
86.6
1
$30.32
$13.86
Efficient EV
72.2
0
$25.27
$11.55
EV Truck/SUV
115.5
1
$40.43
$18.48
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 15, 2026
Origin
Joplin, MO
Late night
in Joplin on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Malden, MO
Late night
in Malden on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live 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
19 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 56m 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.
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 69.7
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a focused, highway-heavy experience with 73% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel will be spent on a 176.5-mile stretch along US 60, which serves as the backbone of this trip. As you transition from the western side of the state toward Malden, the road character remains consistent with a highway-oriented pace. You will find that the route minimizes technical local driving, allowing you to maintain a steady speed for the majority of the nearly six-hour duration.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 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.
This is a straightforward 5h 56m drive. You will face about 12 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 61.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Malden, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Poplar Bluff along the way.
Poplar Bluff
157.6 mi in|~3h 6m|via US 60
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 56m. Total distance: 288.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 176.5 miles on US 60. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 61.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Malden, MO before the return drive.
