Camdenton to Joplin is 147.2 miles and takes about 2h 53m via I 44 and MO 5, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Missouri, taking you across the Midwest region. It's a straightforward highway-focused trip, ideal for a single-day journey. Expect a largely efficient commute with minimal detours, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
73.6 miles from Camdenton, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 147.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 99% of the journey on main roads like I 44 and I 44 Business. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 113 miles on I 44, offering a consistent pace. While the majority is high-speed highway, there are brief moments on MO 5 that might offer a slight change of scenery before you merge back onto the interstate. It's a drive built for efficiency, not necessarily for lingering roadside attractions.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 113 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and MO 5. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 5 Bus / South Business Route 5.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 53m drive. You will face about 10 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 5 Bus / South Business Route 5): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 138.6 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MO 5 Bus / South Business Route 5
Turn right onto MO 5 Bus / South Business Route 5
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
25.4 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the exit toward I 44 West: Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 44 West: Springfield
8
138.6 mi into trip|~2h 36m 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
147.1 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
147.2 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
113 mi
2h 2m
MO 5
21.4 mi
26m
I 44 Business
8.5 mi
17m
South Business Route 5
2.2 mi
4m
North Jefferson Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
South Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
US 54
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 113 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Camdenton, MO and Joplin, MO.
1
Start on US 54
51 ft·5 sec·US 54
2
Turn right onto MO 5 Bus
2.2 mi·4 min·South Business Route 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward MO 5 South: Leabanon
4
Merge onto MO 5
21 mi·26 min·MO 5
5
Turn left onto MO 5; MO 64
1.6 mi·2 min·North Jefferson Avenue
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward I 44 West: Springfield
7
Merge onto I 44
113 mi·2 hr 2 min·I 44
8
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.
9
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43
156 ft·7 sec·South Main Street
10
Turn right
60 ft·6 sec
11
Turn right
83 ft·6 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 2h 53m duration, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving mid-morning should allow you to arrive in Joplin with ample daylight. The $23 fuel estimate suggests you won't need to worry too much about gas stops, but it's always wise to fill up before starting the longest stretch of 113 miles on I 44. Keep an eye out for the transition onto I 44 Business as you approach Joplin for the final leg of your trip.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.6 miles from Camdenton, MO, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113 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 32 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.6 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 16m
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 Camdenton, 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 Camdenton, MO
This is one driving day of about 147.2 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Camdenton, 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 113 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73.6 mi from Camdenton, MO
· 1h 25m 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...
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
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 86.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.01 one way
$46.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.27
$50.53
premium
$4.89
$28.33
$56.65
diesel
$5.61
$32.50
$65.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.2
0
$15.46
$7.07
Efficient EV
36.8
0
$12.88
$5.89
EV Truck/SUV
58.9
0
$20.61
$9.42
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 15, 2026
Origin
Camdenton, MO
Morning
in Camdenton on Saturday
Local time
10:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Joplin, MO
Morning
in Joplin on Saturday
Local time
10:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Marshfield, MO
74 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 53m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Camdenton, MO to Joplin, MO covers 147.2 miles and takes about 2h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 44, MO 5, 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 73.6 miles from Camdenton, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 53m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 5 Bus / South Business Route 5): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 138.6 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.
The route from Camdenton, 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 and Wilson's Creek National Battlefield.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
