Stretching 207.8 miles through the heart of Missouri, this route connects Poplar Bluff to Jefferson City in approximately 4 hours and 32 minutes. Because the total travel time is manageable within a single day, you likely won't need an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Plan for a fuel budget of about $32 to cover the distance. Since the entire trip takes place within the Midwest, you can expect a consistent regional feel as you head north. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that works well for travelers looking to get from point A to point B efficiently.
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
103.9 miles from Poplar Bluff, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 60
60 mi
1h 11m
MO 19
54.4 mi
1h 15m
US 63
47.9 mi
1h 1m
MO 72
24.3 mi
31m
North Bishop Avenue
12.9 mi
15m
North Westwood Boulevard
2.9 mi
4m
MO 32
1.5 mi
2m
Holloway Street
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 60 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Poplar Bluff, MO and Jefferson City, MO.
1
Start on US 60 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·West Pine Street
2
Turn right onto US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·North Westwood Boulevard
3
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·State Street
4
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·North Westwood Boulevard
5
Continue on US 67; US 60 Business
0.4 mi·37 sec·US 67; US 60 Business
6
Continue on US 60; US 67
4.0 mi·4 min·US 60; US 67
7
Take the exit onto US 60
56 mi·1 hr 6 min·US 60
8
Turn right onto MO 19
13 mi·18 min·MO 19
9
Turn slight right onto MO 19
42 mi·56 min·MO 19
10
Turn left onto MO 32; MO 72
1.5 mi·2 min·MO 32; MO 72
11
Turn right onto MO 72
24 mi·31 min·MO 72
12
Turn right onto Salem Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Salem Avenue
13
Turn right onto Holloway Street
0.9 mi·2 min·Holloway Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
At end of road, turn left onto East 18th Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·East 18th Street
15
Continue on North Walnut Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·North Walnut Street
16
Turn right onto I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63
13 mi·15 min·North Bishop Avenue
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on US 63; MO 28
48 mi·1 hr 1 min·US 63; MO 28
18
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Jefferson Street
19
Turn left onto West McCarty Street
495 ft·16 sec·West McCarty Street
20
Turn right onto Washington Street
250 ft·12 sec·Washington Street
21
Turn right onto East Wall Way
341 ft·25 sec·East Wall Way
22
Arrive at destination
East Wall Way
Trip Plan
Since this is a one-day trip, departing early helps you maximize your time at your destination. You have the flexibility to schedule your one recommended stop whenever you need to stretch your legs or refuel. Keep in mind that with over 200 miles to cover, maintaining your fuel levels early on is a smart strategy to avoid unnecessary stress. If you feel fatigue setting in during the longer 60-mile segments, use that planned stop as a hard reset for your focus. Taking advantage of the route’s efficiency makes this a stress-free transition across the Missouri landscape.
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 103.9 miles from Poplar Bluff, MO, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60 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 46 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.9 miles or 2h 13m 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 Jefferson City, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Poplar Bluff, 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 Poplar Bluff, MO
This is one driving day of about 207.8 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Poplar Bluff, 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 60 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 64.4 and 207.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
64.4 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|MO 19
Turn right onto MO 19
Navigation decision point
5
145.4 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|Holloway Street
Turn right onto Holloway Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
146.5 mi into trip|~3h 13m in|I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63 / North Bishop Avenue
Turn right onto I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63 / North Bishop Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
207.7 mi into trip|~4h 32m in|Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
207.7 mi into trip|~4h 32m in|East Wall Way
Turn right onto East Wall Way
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.49 one way
$64.97 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$35.67
$71.34
premium
$4.89
$39.99
$79.98
diesel
$5.61
$45.88
$91.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.3
0
$21.82
$9.97
Efficient EV
52
0
$18.18
$8.31
EV Truck/SUV
83.1
1
$29.09
$13.30
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Poplar Bluff, MO
Late night
in Poplar Bluff on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jefferson City, MO
Late night
in Jefferson City on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Salem, MO
104 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
9 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 32m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip dominated by highway travel, which accounts for 91% of your journey. You will navigate a combination of US 60, MO 19, and US 63 as you transition between these regional arteries. The longest uninterrupted stretch lasts for 60 miles on US 60, allowing for steady progress before you encounter shifts in the road layout. Because the route is highway-focused, the driving experience is generally consistent rather than overly technical. Be prepared for the rhythm of these major roads as you maintain a steady pace toward the state capital.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60 mi on US 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and MO 19. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 64.4 miles in near MO 19.
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 32m 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 64.4 miles (MO 19): Navigation decision point; at 145.4 miles (Holloway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 146.5 miles (I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63 / North Bishop Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 60 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.
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 64.4 miles (MO 19): Navigation decision point; at 145.4 miles (Holloway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 146.5 miles (I 44 Business; US Historic 66; US 63 / North Bishop Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Jefferson City, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
