Moscow Mills to Joplin is 278.9 miles and takes about 5h 28m via I 44, MO 47, and MO T, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. With 90% of the route on highways, expect a straightforward drive for the most part. Given the relatively short duration and high highway percentage, this route is best suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
139.5 miles from Moscow Mills, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
224.3 mi
4h 2m
MO 47
16.8 mi
25m
MO T
12.5 mi
17m
I 44 Business
8.5 mi
17m
MO W
5.9 mi
8m
Avenue of the Saints
4.9 mi
6m
MO TT
3.6 mi
5m
MO 94
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 224.3 mi, about 4h 2m
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 Moscow Mills, MO and Joplin, MO.
1
Start on MO C
0.7 mi·1 min·MO C
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·19 sec
Toward US 61 South: Wentzville
3
Merge onto US 61
4.9 mi·6 min·Avenue of the Saints
4
Turn right onto MO W
5.9 mi·8 min·MO W
5
At end of road, turn right onto Veterans Memorial Parkway
340 ft·12 sec·Veterans Memorial Parkway
6
Turn left onto MO T
13 mi·17 min·MO T
7
Continue on MO TT
3.6 mi·5 min·MO TT
8
Continue on MO 94
0.7 mi·1 min·MO 94
9
At end of road, turn left onto MO 47
11 mi·17 min·MO 47
Use the straight lane.
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; MO 47
0.4 mi·49 sec·US 50; MO 47
Use the left lane.
11
Take the exit
136 ft·5 sec
Use the right lane.
12
Turn right onto MO 47
5.6 mi·7 min·MO 47
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 44 West: Rolla
14
Merge onto I 44
224 mi·4 hr 2 min·I 44
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 this 5h 28m drive, consider an early morning departure from Moscow Mills to maximize daylight. You'll encounter only one recommended stop, so plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point. The longest stretch on I 44 is over 200 miles, so ensure you have enough fuel before entering this longer segment. The fuel cost is estimated at $43, so budget accordingly. Since this is a one-day trip, flexibility is key; you can adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
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 139.5 miles from Moscow Mills, MO, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.3 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 61 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.5 miles or 2h 49m 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 25m
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 Moscow Mills, 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 Moscow Mills, MO
This is one driving day of about 278.9 miles and 5h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Moscow Mills, 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 I 44 for about 224.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 28.6 and 278.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
28.6 mi into trip|~42m in|MO 47
At end of road, turn left onto MO 47
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
39.7 mi into trip|~59m in|US 50; MO 47
At end of road, turn left onto US 50; MO 47
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
40.2 mi into trip|~1h in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
270.3 mi into trip|~5h 10m 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
278.9 mi into trip|~5h 28m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.52 one way
$93.05 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$50.56
$101.13
premium
$5.26
$57.75
$115.49
diesel
$6.18
$67.85
$135.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.7
1
$29.28
$13.39
Efficient EV
69.7
0
$24.40
$11.16
EV Truck/SUV
111.6
1
$39.05
$17.85
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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 17, 2026
Origin
Moscow Mills, MO
Morning
in Moscow Mills on Sunday
Local time
6:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Patchy Frost then Sunny
NE 2 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
Joplin, MO
Morning
in Joplin on Sunday
Local time
6:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Clear
N 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
52°F
Cuba, MO
139 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
22 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 28m 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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 269.3
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 221.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 90% of your 278.9 miles on highways. The bulk of your travel, a continuous stretch of 224.3 miles, will be on I 44. After the highway portion, you'll transition to MO 47 and MO T, which constitute the remaining approximately 54.6 miles of the route. Expect a significant amount of highway cruising, with fewer exits once you are on I 44.
90% 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: 224.3 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and MO 47. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 28.6 miles in near MO 47.
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 28m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 28.6 miles (MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.7 miles (US 50; MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 40.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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
The longest stretch is about 224.3 miles on I 44. 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: at 28.6 miles (MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.7 miles (US 50; MO 47): Lane positioning matters here; at 40.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — George Washington Carver National Monument and Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 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.
