Joplin to Sullivan is 218.4 miles and takes about 4h 6m via Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest and connecting two towns with similar regional characteristics. The profile indicates mostly surface roads, so expect a drive that feels more local and less like a high-speed interstate transit. Given the relatively short duration and modest fuel cost, this route is a straightforward option for a single-day excursion.
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
109.2 miles from Joplin, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
208.8 mi
3h 45m
East 7th Street
6.8 mi
14m
Cimarron Road
0.9 mi
1m
I 44 Business
0.6 mi
1m
Elmont Road
0.5 mi
1m
West Springfield Road
0.2 mi
<1m
MO D
<0.1 mi
<1m
West Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
— 208.8 mi, about 3h 45m
Traffic on I-44
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,442 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,784
Quietest
2 AM
~180 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joplin, MO and Sullivan, 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
209 mi·3 hr 45 min·Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 225Toward MO 185 North, MO D: Sullivan
8
Turn right onto MO D
466 ft·14 sec·MO D
9
At end of road, turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 185
0.2 mi·28 sec·West Springfield Road
10
Turn left onto Elmont Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Elmont Road
11
At end of road, turn left onto West Main Street
376 ft·12 sec·West Main Street
12
Turn right onto Hughes Ford Road
117 ft·4 sec·Hughes Ford Road
13
Turn left onto West Washington Street
337 ft·10 sec·West Washington Street
14
Turn right
55 ft·4 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving Joplin in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but planning for one stop around the halfway point, or wherever you feel the need to stretch, is wise. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially since you'll be on surface roads where stations might be less frequent than on interstates. The longest stretch without a major road change is 208.8 miles on Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, so be prepared for that continuous segment before potentially changing roads closer to Sullivan.
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 109.2 miles from Joplin, MO, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 208.8 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 48 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.2 miles or 2h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sullivan, 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 218.4 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 208.8 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 218.2 — 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.
6
217.2 mi into trip|~4h 3m in
Take the exit toward MO 185 North, MO D: Sullivan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 225
Toward MO 185 North, MO D: Sullivan
5
217.5 mi into trip|~4h 3m in|US Historic 66; MO 185 / West Springfield Road
At end of road, turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 185 / West Springfield Road
Navigation decision point
5
218.2 mi into trip|~4h 5m in|West Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.43 one way
$72.86 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$39.60
$79.19
premium
$5.26
$45.22
$90.44
diesel
$6.18
$53.13
$106.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.5
0
$22.93
$10.48
Efficient EV
54.6
0
$19.11
$8.74
EV Truck/SUV
87.4
1
$30.58
$13.98
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Joplin, MO
Morning
in Joplin on Sunday
Local time
8:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Sunny
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:40AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Destination
Sullivan, MO
Morning
in Sullivan on Sunday
Local time
8:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Patchy Frost then Sunny
NE 1 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:40AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
56°F
Richland, MO
109 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
4h 6m 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.
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...
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 60.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend virtually no time on highways, with a 0% highway share. The vast majority of your drive, 208.8 miles, will be on Congressman Gene Taylor Highway. This means you'll be navigating a route composed almost entirely of surface roads. Expect to encounter typical conditions for rural and suburban surface road travel, likely with more frequent intersections and varied speed limits.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 208.8 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 4h 6m 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 217.2 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.
Top landmarks
•Bonnie & Clyde Garage Apartment — house in Joplin, United States of America
•Joplin Downtown Historic District — building in Missouri, United States
St. Louis Area is the region around St. Louis, Missouri. It borders St. Louis Metro East (Illinois) along the Mississippi River. Within Missouri, it borders Southeast Missouri, Central Missouri, and Northeast Missouri.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 208.8 miles on Congressman Gene Taylor Highway. 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.
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: 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 217.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — George Washington Carver National Monument and Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Sullivan, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
