The drive from Bonne Terre, MO to Joplin, MO covers 268.1 miles and takes about 5h 25m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 44, Marty Drive, I 44 Business for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 192.3 miles on I 44.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.91 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
134 miles from Bonne Terre, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 25m. Total distance: 268.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 5h 25m highway drive covering 268.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 44 and Marty Drive. The longest continuous stretch is about 192.3 miles on I 44.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 44 is the longest continuous segment at about 192.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 early in the drive near MO 47 / Park Avenue.
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 25m 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: near the start (MO 47 / Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MO 47 / Park Avenue
Turn left onto MO 47 / Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
4.3 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward US 67 Business, MO 8: Desloge, Park Hills
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 67 Business, MO 8: Desloge, Park Hill...
5
67 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West: Rolla
Navigation decision point
Toward I 44 West: Rolla
8
259.5 mi into trip|~5h 7m 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
268 mi into trip|~5h 24m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
192.3 mi
3h 27m
Marty Drive
54.1 mi
1h 20m
I 44 Business
8.5 mi
17m
MO 19
6.5 mi
9m
US 67
3.2 mi
3m
North Desloge Drive
1.9 mi
2m
Benham Street
0.6 mi
1m
Park Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 192.3 mi, about 3h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bonne Terre, MO and Joplin, MO.
1
Start on MO E
12 ft·6 sec·North Division Street
2
Turn left onto MO 47
0.3 mi·31 sec·Park Avenue
3
Continue on MO 47
0.6 mi·1 min·Benham Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
5
Merge onto US 67
3.2 mi·3 min·US 67
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward US 67 Business, MO 8: Desloge, Park Hills
7
Turn right onto US 67 Business; MO 8
350 ft·7 sec·US 67 Business; MO 8
8
Turn left onto US 67 Business; MO 8
1.9 mi·2 min·North Desloge Drive
9
Turn right onto MO 8
54 mi·1 hr 20 min·Marty Drive
10
Continue on MO 19
6.5 mi·9 min·MO 19
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 44 West: Rolla
12
Merge onto I 44
192 mi·3 hr 27 min·I 44
13
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.
14
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43
156 ft·7 sec·South Main Street
15
Turn right
60 ft·6 sec
16
Turn right
83 ft·6 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 134 miles from Bonne Terre, MO, or about 2h 52m 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 59 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134 miles or 2h 52m 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 24m
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 Bonne Terre, 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 Bonne Terre, MO
This is one driving day of about 268.1 miles and 5h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Bonne Terre, 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 134 mi from Bonne Terre, MO
· 2h 52m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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 258.8
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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 203.4
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...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.4
0
$28.15
$12.87
Efficient EV
67
0
$23.46
$10.72
EV Truck/SUV
107.2
1
$37.53
$17.16
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Bonne Terre, MO
Late night
in Bonne Terre on Saturday
Local time
1:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Joplin, MO
Late night
in Joplin on Saturday
Local time
1:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Waynesville, MO
134 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
25 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 25m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bonne Terre, MO to Joplin, MO covers 268.1 miles and takes about 5h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 44, Marty Drive, I 44 Business. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 134 miles from Bonne Terre, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.91 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 25m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 47 / Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Bonne Terre, MO to Joplin, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include George Washington Carver National Monument, Wilson's Creek National Battlefield and Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
