Joplin to Valley Park is 266 miles and takes about 4 hours 57 minutes via Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, with a fuel budget near $41 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 route mostly uses surface roads, so expect a more leisurely pace than a pure interstate drive. It's a straightforward, one-day option for getting across the state without the intensity of high-speed highway travel.
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
133 miles from Joplin, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
256.7 mi
4h 38m
East 7th Street
6.8 mi
14m
Cimarron Road
0.9 mi
1m
MO 141
0.7 mi
1m
I 44 Business
0.6 mi
1m
Marshall Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
— 256.7 mi, about 4h 38m
Traffic on I-44
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,711 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,202
Quietest
2 AM
~187 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Valley Park, 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
257 mi·4 hr 38 min·Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 272Toward MO 141: Valley Park, Fenton
8
Turn left onto MO 141
0.7 mi·1 min·MO 141
9
Take the exit
243 ft·6 sec
Toward Marshall Road
10
Turn slight right onto Marshall Road
304 ft·13 sec·Marshall Road
11
Turn left
86 ft·6 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this trip is under 5 hours, you can easily complete it in a single day. Consider leaving Joplin in the morning to allow for a relaxed pace and any brief stops you might need. With the longest stretch being 256.7 miles on Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, plan for a mid-drive break around that mark to refuel or stretch your legs. The fuel cost is estimated at $41, so ensure you have enough to cover this for your vehicle. Being on surface roads means you'll encounter more traffic lights and slower speeds, so factor that into your departure time.
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 133 miles from Joplin, MO, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 256.7 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 59 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133 miles or 2h 32m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Valley Park, 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 266 miles and 4h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 256.7 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 265.9 — 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.
6
265 mi into trip|~4h 55m in
Take the exit toward MO 141: Valley Park, Fenton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 272
Toward MO 141: Valley Park, Fenton
4
265.9 mi into trip|~4h 57m in
Take the exit toward Marshall Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Marshall Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.23 one way
$88.45 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$48.17
$96.35
premium
$5.18
$54.28
$108.56
diesel
$5.35
$56.03
$112.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.8
0
$27.93
$12.77
Efficient EV
66.5
0
$23.28
$10.64
EV Truck/SUV
106.4
1
$37.24
$17.02
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% 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 May 29, 2026
Origin
Joplin, MO
Afternoon
in Joplin on Wednesday
Local time
3:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
E 5 mph42% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 28 at 7:07PM CDT until May 29 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Destination
Valley Park, MO
Afternoon
in Valley Park on Wednesday
Local time
3:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 28 at 7:07PM CDT until May 29 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 57m 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 64.2
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily on surface roads, accounting for almost the entire 266 miles. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, with a continuous stretch of 256.7 miles on this road. Expect a consistent pace with frequent intersections and local traffic rather than high-speed cruising. The profile suggests you'll notice more of the local landscape and community feel as you navigate through towns and rural areas.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 256.7 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 57m drive. You will face about 7 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 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.
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
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 256.7 miles on Congressman Gene Taylor Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 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.
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 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 — George Washington Carver National Monument, Wilson's Creek National Battlefield and Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Valley Park, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
