Spanning 288.8 miles across Missouri, this trek from Malden to Joplin takes approximately 5 hours and 57 minutes of driving time. Because this is a highway-focused route, it is easily manageable as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget about $44 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Midwestern points. Since the route stays entirely within the state, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition across the landscape. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this straightforward journey provides a reliable connection between the two cities.
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 Malden, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 60
190.3 mi
3h 43m
Captain Aaron J Eidem Memorial Highway
52.7 mi
56m
MO 53
19.5 mi
29m
MO J
11.5 mi
20m
I 44 Business
8.5 mi
17m
South Westwood Boulevard
2.4 mi
3m
North Westwood Boulevard
1.6 mi
2m
US 67
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 190.3 mi, about 3h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Malden, MO and Joplin, MO.
1
Start on West Laclede Street
63 ft·8 sec·West Laclede Street
2
Turn left onto MO 25 Business
442 ft·14 sec·South Madison Street
3
Turn left onto MO 25 Business
0.2 mi·28 sec·West Main Street
4
Turn right onto MO 25 Business
0.4 mi·45 sec·North Douglas Street
5
Turn left onto MO J
12 mi·20 min·MO J
6
Turn right onto MO 53
20 mi·29 min·MO 53
7
Turn right onto US 67 Business
2.4 mi·3 min·South Westwood Boulevard
8
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·State Street
9
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·North Westwood Boulevard
10
Continue on US 67; US 60 Business
0.4 mi·37 sec·US 67; US 60 Business
11
Continue on US 60; US 67
4.0 mi·4 min·US 60; US 67
12
Take the exit onto US 60
186 mi·3 hr 38 min·US 60
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
14
Merge onto I 44
53 mi·56 min·Captain Aaron J Eidem Memorial Highway
15
Take the exit onto I 44 Business; MO 66
8.5 mi·17 min·I 44 Business; MO 66
Exit 15Toward I 44 Business, MO 66: Duenweg, JoplinUse the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43
156 ft·7 sec·South Main Street
17
Turn right
60 ft·6 sec
18
Turn right
83 ft·6 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your nearly six-hour journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the longest uninterrupted segment covers over 190 miles, check your fuel gauge before entering that stretch of US 60 to ensure you have enough to cover the $44 estimated fuel cost comfortably. Departing early in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential traffic and reach Joplin with plenty of daylight to spare. Because this is a one-day trip, having the flexibility to adjust your departure time is a major advantage. Keep your navigation system updated, as the transition between the Captain Aaron J Eidem Memorial Highway and local connectors requires careful attention.
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 Malden, MO, or about 3h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 190.3 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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.4 miles or 3h 5m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Joplin, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Malden, 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 Malden, MO
This is one driving day of about 288.8 miles and 5h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Malden, 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 190.3 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 288.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MO 25 Business / South Madison Street
Turn left onto MO 25 Business / South Madison Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|MO 25 Business / West Main Street
Turn left onto MO 25 Business / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
226.7 mi into trip|~4h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 44 West: Joplin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 44 West: Joplin
8
280.2 mi into trip|~5h 39m in|I 44 Business; MO 66
Take the exit onto I 44 Business; MO 66 toward I 44 Business, MO 66: Duenweg, Joplin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 15
Toward I 44 Business, MO 66: Duenweg, Joplin
5
288.8 mi into trip|~5h 57m in
Turn right
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
Malden, MO
Night
in Malden on Saturday
Local time
11:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Joplin, MO
Night
in Joplin on Saturday
Local time
11:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°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 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 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.
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 219.1
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 278.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive defined by speed and efficiency, with roughly 76% of your journey spent on highways. You will primarily navigate via US 60, the Captain Aaron J Eidem Memorial Highway, and MO 53. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 190.3-mile stretch on US 60, which serves as the backbone of the trip. While the road is designed for consistent travel, the mix of highway segments and local roads keeps the experience from feeling like a monotonous interstate grind. By staying focused on these main arteries, you can maintain a steady pace throughout the entire 288.8-mile transit.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 190.3 mi on US 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and Captain Aaron J Eidem Memorial Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 25 Business / South Madison Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 57m 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 (MO 25 Business / South Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MO 25 Business / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 226.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 57m. Total distance: 288.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 190.3 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 (MO 25 Business / South Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MO 25 Business / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 226.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 6.0 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 Joplin, MO before the return drive.
