Oakville, MO to Neosho, MO is 285.6 miles and takes about 5h 23m via I 270 and the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip moves you across Missouri, generally southwest from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a route that primarily uses surface roads, so plan for a more leisurely pace than a pure interstate drive. It's a good option if you're looking for a single-day excursion with a reasonable driving time and fuel cost.
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
142.8 miles from Oakville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
257 mi
4h 38m
George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
12 mi
17m
I 270
5.9 mi
7m
US 60 Business
4.3 mi
6m
I 255
2.2 mi
2m
Telegraph Road
1.7 mi
3m
North Jefferson Street
0.3 mi
<1m
West Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
— 257 mi, about 4h 38m
Traffic on I-44
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,737 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,365
Quietest
2 AM
~188 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.2×
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 Oakville, MO and Neosho, MO.
1
Start on this road
120 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn left
130 ft·15 sec
3
Turn left onto Cliff Cave Road
171 ft·7 sec·Cliff Cave Road
4
Turn slight right
160 ft·3 sec
Toward MO 231
5
Turn slight right onto MO 231
1.7 mi·3 min·Telegraph Road
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·55 sec
Toward I 255 West, US 50 West: Memphis
7
Merge onto I 255; US 50
2.2 mi·2 min·I 255; US 50
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 270
5.9 mi·7 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 5BToward I 44 West, US 50 West: TulsaUse the right lane.
10
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·22 sec·this road
Exit 275Toward Soccer Park Road, North Highway Drive
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·9 sec
Exit 5BToward I 44 West: Tulsa
12
Merge onto I 44; US 50
257 mi·4 hr 38 min·Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 18AToward MO 59 South: Diamond
14
Merge onto MO 59
12 mi·17 min·George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
15
Turn slight right
0.3 mi·59 sec
16
Turn right onto US 60 Business
4.3 mi·6 min·US 60 Business
17
Turn left onto MO 86
365 ft·9 sec·West Coler Street
18
Turn right onto North Jefferson Street
0.3 mi·46 sec·North Jefferson Street
19
Turn left onto West Main Street
511 ft·22 sec·West Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 23m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning should allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. You'll have one recommended stop, and with 257 miles on the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, plan to refuel before starting that long segment. Since this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility, but monitoring your fuel is key, especially on the longer surface road portions. Factor in the $44 fuel estimate to manage your budget for the 285.6-mile trip.
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 142.8 miles from Oakville, MO, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 257 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 63 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.8 miles or 2h 40m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Neosho, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Oakville, 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 Oakville, MO
This is one driving day of about 285.6 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Oakville, 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 Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor for about 257 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 11.4 — 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|Cliff Cave Road
Turn left onto Cliff Cave Road
Navigation decision point
5
2.1 mi into trip|~5m in|I 255; US 50
Merge onto I 255; US 50
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
10.1 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Tulsa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 5B
Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Tulsa
7
11.3 mi into trip|~17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 44 West: Tulsa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 5B
Toward I 44 West: Tulsa
5
11.4 mi into trip|~18m in|I 44; US 50 / Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Merge onto I 44; US 50 / Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.64 one way
$95.28 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$51.98
$103.96
premium
$5.25
$59.07
$118.13
diesel
$6.18
$69.48
$138.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.7
1
$29.99
$13.71
Efficient EV
71.4
0
$24.99
$11.42
EV Truck/SUV
114.2
1
$39.98
$18.28
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Oakville, MO
Late night
in Oakville on Wednesday
Local time
12:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Patchy Fog
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Neosho, MO
Late night
in Neosho on Wednesday
Local time
12:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
67°F
Cuba, MO
143 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
3 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 23m 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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 275.8
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
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 216.7
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?
You'll spend about 40% of your time on highways like I 270, with the majority of the drive being on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 257 miles on the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. After leaving the urban area around I 270, expect more rural cruising as you transition to the surface roads that make up most of this route.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 257 mi on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Cliff Cave Road.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 285.6 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Cliff Cave Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 255; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Neosho is a sizeable town in Southwest Missouri and has several monikers, among them "Gateway To The Ozarks," "City of Springs," and "Flower Box City". The latter two pertain to characteristics of the town, namely the source of numerous springs as well as a citywide initiative involving flower boxes. The name Neosho is derived from a Native American word meaning "clear, cold water".
Top landmarks
•Neosho Commercial Historic District — historic district in Neosho, Missouri
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 23m. Total distance: 285.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (4%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 257 miles on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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.
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. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Cliff Cave Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 255; US 50): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Neosho, MO before the return drive.
