Sullivan, MO to Joplin, MO is 218.4 miles and takes about 4h 6m via I 44, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving from the Midwest region to the Midwest region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused drive that's perfect for a single-day journey. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it a practical option if you're looking for a no-fuss way to cover this distance. Consider this route if you need an efficient way to get from point A to point B without many detours.
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
109.2 miles from Sullivan, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
208.5 mi
3h 45m
I 44 Business
8.5 mi
17m
Elmont Road
0.5 mi
1m
MO D
0.2 mi
<1m
West Springfield Road
0.2 mi
<1m
West Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
West Washington Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
South Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 208.5 mi, about 3h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sullivan, MO and Joplin, MO.
1
Start on this road
55 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto West Washington Street
337 ft·9 sec·West Washington Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto Hughes Ford Road
117 ft·8 sec·Hughes Ford Road
4
Turn left onto West Main Street
376 ft·12 sec·West Main Street
5
Turn right onto Elmont Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Elmont Road
6
Turn straight
250 ft·13 sec
7
Turn slight right onto US Historic 66; MO 185
0.2 mi·22 sec·West Springfield Road
8
Turn left onto MO D
0.2 mi·32 sec·MO D
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 44 West: Cuba
10
Merge onto I 44
209 mi·3 hr 45 min·I 44
11
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.
12
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43
156 ft·7 sec·South Main Street
13
Turn right
60 ft·6 sec
14
Turn right
83 ft·6 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim for an early morning departure to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop on this route, you'll want to plan your fuel and rest breaks strategically. Ensure you have enough gas before embarking on the longest stretch of 208.5 miles on I 44 to avoid any last-minute detours. This route is straightforward enough that you can be quite flexible with your timing.
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 109.2 miles from Sullivan, MO, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 208.5 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 48 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.2 miles or 1h 59m 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 15m
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 Sullivan, 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 Sullivan, MO
This is one driving day of about 218.4 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Sullivan, 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 208.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 218.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Hughes Ford Road
At end of road, turn right onto Hughes Ford Road
Navigation decision point
6
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West: Cuba
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 44 West: Cuba
8
209.8 mi into trip|~3h 48m 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
218.4 mi into trip|~4h 5m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
218.4 mi into trip|~4h 6m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.14 one way
$68.29 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.49
$74.98
premium
$4.89
$42.03
$84.06
diesel
$5.61
$48.22
$96.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.5
0
$22.93
$10.48
Efficient EV
54.6
0
$19.11
$8.74
EV Truck/SUV
87.4
1
$30.58
$13.98
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
26 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 20, 2026
Origin
Sullivan, MO
Late night
in Sullivan on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Joplin, MO
Late night
in Joplin on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Richland, MO
109 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
19 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
4h 6m 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 210.8
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
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 158.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with a 99% highway share, making it a very efficient way to travel. You'll be on I 44 for the vast majority of the trip, including one continuous stretch of 208.5 miles. Expect a consistent driving experience focused on covering ground quickly. While the route is primarily interstate, you might encounter brief transitions onto I 44 Business or Elmont Road as you approach your destination. It's a profile that prioritizes speed and directness over varied scenery.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 208.5 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and I 44 Business. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Hughes Ford Road.
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 6m drive. You will face about 11 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 (Hughes Ford Road): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 209.8 miles (I 44 Business; MO 66): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
St. Louis Area is the region around St. Louis, Missouri. It borders St. Louis Metro East (Illinois) along the Mississippi River. Within Missouri, it borders Southeast Missouri, Central Missouri, and Northeast Missouri.
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.
The longest stretch is about 208.5 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.
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 (Hughes Ford Road): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 209.8 miles (I 44 Business; MO 66): 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 and Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Joplin, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
