Pacific, MO to Joplin, MO is 250.8 miles and takes about 4h 40m via Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. While it's a single-day drive, much of the route sticks to surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate experience. Consider this if you prefer a less highway-intensive trip with a manageable distance.
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
125.4 miles from Pacific, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
240.7 mi
4h 19m
I 44 Business
8.5 mi
17m
West Osage Street
1 mi
1m
South 1st Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Viaduct Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
South Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
— 240.7 mi, about 4h 19m
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
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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 Pacific, MO and Joplin, MO.
1
Start on MO F
0.1 mi·33 sec·South 1st Street
2
Turn left onto I 44 Business; US Historic 66
1.0 mi·1 min·West Osage Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn right onto Viaduct Street
324 ft·14 sec·Viaduct Street
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 44 East, US 50 East: Rolla
5
Merge onto I 44; US 50
241 mi·4 hr 19 min·Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Use the straight lane.
6
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.
7
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43
156 ft·7 sec·South Main Street
8
Turn right
60 ft·6 sec
9
Turn right
83 ft·6 sec
10
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 40m estimated drive time, leaving Pacific, MO in the morning should get you to Joplin, MO with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to break up the 250.8-mile drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the surface road sections might mean less frequent service areas compared to a full interstate route. The estimated fuel cost of $44 is a good starting point for budgeting your expenses.
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 125.4 miles from Pacific, MO, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 240.7 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 55 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.4 miles or 2h 17m 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 43m
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 Pacific, 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 Pacific, MO
This is one driving day of about 250.8 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Pacific, 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 240.7 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 242.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|I 44 Business; US Historic 66 / West Osage Street
Turn left onto I 44 Business; US Historic 66 / West Osage Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|Viaduct Street
Turn right onto Viaduct Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 East, US 50 East: Rolla
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 44 East, US 50 East: Rolla
5
1.5 mi into trip|~3m 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 lane.
8
242.2 mi into trip|~4h 23m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.84 one way
$83.67 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$45.47
$90.94
premium
$5.26
$51.93
$103.85
diesel
$6.18
$61.01
$122.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.2
0
$26.33
$12.04
Efficient EV
62.7
0
$21.95
$10.03
EV Truck/SUV
100.3
1
$35.11
$16.05
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Pacific, MO
Morning
in Pacific on Saturday
Local time
7:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Sunny
NW 9 to 13 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 1:51AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
Destination
Joplin, MO
Morning
in Joplin on Saturday
Local time
7:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers
N 16 to 21 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 1:51AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
53°F
Dixon, MO
125 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 40m 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
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 242.1
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 190.2
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 67% of your time on surface roads, with the majority of the mileage, 240.7 miles, on the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. The transition from highway to surface roads occurs relatively early in the drive. Expect a cruising pace with frequent intersections and local traffic as you move through towns and rural areas, rather than continuous high-speed travel.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 240.7 mi on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor.
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 around 0.1 miles in near I 44 Business; US Historic 66 / West Osage 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 4h 40m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (I 44 Business; US Historic 66 / West Osage Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (Viaduct Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
St. Louis County is an area in the St. Louis Area of Missouri. Its current boundaries were set in 1877, when St. Louis City split off to become an independent city separate from any county. It is the most populated part of the St. Louis area, though it has fewer sites of interest than the City. It mostly consists of suburban residential areas.
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 240.7 miles on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. 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: at 0.1 miles (I 44 Business; US Historic 66 / West Osage Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (Viaduct Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: 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 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Joplin, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
