Connecting Park Hills to Joplin, this 262.3-mile trip takes you across the Missouri landscape in roughly 5 hours and 18 minutes. It is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that is easily managed as a single-day trip, leaving you plenty of time at your destination. You should budget approximately $40 for fuel to complete the trek. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, the drive offers a consistent regional feel as you transition from the eastern side of the state to the southwest. While one stop is recommended to break up the travel, the route is efficient enough that you won't need to plan for an overnight stay unless you prefer a leisurely pace.
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
131.1 miles from Park Hills, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
192.3 mi
3h 27m
Marty Drive
53.3 mi
1h 19m
I 44 Business
8.5 mi
17m
MO 19
6.5 mi
9m
West Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
MO Z
0.4 mi
<1m
Community Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Bryan Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 192.3 mi, about 3h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Park Hills, MO and Joplin, MO.
1
Start on Bryan Street
386 ft·24 sec·Bryan Street
2
Turn sharp left onto Field Street
201 ft·10 sec·Field Street
3
Turn right onto Community Drive
370 ft·20 sec·Community Drive
4
Turn left onto US 67 Business
63 ft·2 sec·Taylor Avenue
5
Turn right onto Community Drive
527 ft·18 sec·Community Drive
6
At end of road, turn right onto West Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West Main Street
7
Continue on MO Z
0.4 mi·45 sec·MO Z
8
Turn left onto MO 8
53 mi·1 hr 19 min·Marty Drive
9
Continue on MO 19
6.5 mi·9 min·MO 19
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 44 West: Rolla
11
Merge onto I 44
192 mi·3 hr 27 min·I 44
12
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.
13
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43
156 ft·7 sec·South Main Street
14
Turn right
60 ft·6 sec
15
Turn right
83 ft·6 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For the best experience, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid midday traffic fluctuations on the busier interstate sections. Since the trip takes over five hours, pacing yourself with at least one scheduled stop is essential to stay alert during the long 192.3-mile interstate haul. Keep a close watch on your fuel gauge throughout this segment, as the interstate stretches can sometimes have fewer accessible service exits than local roads. Because this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal preference for morning or afternoon arrival. Always double-check your route through I-44 Business as you near Joplin, as navigating the transition from the interstate into the city center is where you will encounter the most local traffic.
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 131.1 miles from Park Hills, MO, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 192.3 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 58 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.1 miles or 2h 48m 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 18m
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 Park Hills, 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 Park Hills, MO
This is one driving day of about 262.3 miles and 5h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Park Hills, 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 192.3 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 0.1 and 262.2 — 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|Field Street
Turn sharp left onto Field Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|West Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
61.2 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West: Rolla
Navigation decision point
Toward I 44 West: Rolla
8
253.7 mi into trip|~5h 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
262.2 mi into trip|~5h 17m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.01 one way
$82.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$45.02
$90.05
premium
$4.89
$50.48
$100.95
diesel
$5.61
$57.91
$115.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.7
0
$27.54
$12.59
Efficient EV
65.6
0
$22.95
$10.49
EV Truck/SUV
104.9
1
$36.72
$16.79
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Park Hills, MO
Night
in Park Hills on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Joplin, MO
Night
in Joplin on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Waynesville, MO
131 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
26 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 18m 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 253.2
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...
Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the B...
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 efficiency, with 79% of the journey spent on highways. Your route relies heavily on I-44, which accounts for the vast majority of your time behind the wheel. You will settle into a rhythm during the longest stretch of the trip, which covers 192.3 miles of uninterrupted interstate driving. While you will navigate local stretches like Marty Drive and I-44 Business at the start and finish, the core of the experience is a steady, high-speed transit. This is a practical, no-nonsense commute that favors speed and directness over technical backroads.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 192.3 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and Marty Drive. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Field 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 18m 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: at 0.1 miles (Field Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 61.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 18m. Total distance: 262.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 192.3 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 0.1 miles (Field Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 61.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes — George Washington Carver National Monument, Wilson's Creek National Battlefield and Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 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.
