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Trip from Crestwood, MO to Joplin, MO

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 6m

Distance

271.9 mi

438 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 53m ★
6 AM
5h 7m
8 AM
5h 34m
10 AM
5h 16m
12 PM
5h 13m
3 PM
5h 17m
5 PM
5h 32m
8 PM
4h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Crestwood, MO, MO

Crestwood, MO

Theodore Nguyen

city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County, Missouri, USA

Joplin, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Crestwood, MO to Joplin, MO covers 271.9 miles and takes about 5h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, I 44 Business, Watson Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 260.7 miles on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.51 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

135.9 miles from Crestwood, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 30m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 6m. Total distance: 271.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (3%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 6m drive with frequent turns across 271.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor is the longest continuous segment at about 260.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 6m 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: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles (MO 366 / Watson Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn left

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn sharp left

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

7
0.1 mi into trip | ~1m in | MO 366 / Watson Road

Turn sharp right onto MO 366 / Watson Road

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
2.4 mi into trip | ~5m in | US Historic 66

Keep slight left at fork onto US Historic 66 toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Tulsa

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Tulsa
8
263.3 mi into trip | ~4h 49m 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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor 260.7 mi 4h 43m
I 44 Business 8.5 mi 17m
Watson Road 1.9 mi 3m
US Historic 66 0.6 mi <1m
South Main Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor — 260.7 mi, about 4h 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Crestwood, MO and Joplin, MO.

1

Start on MO 366

63 ft · 7 sec · Watson Road
2

Turn left

378 ft · 33 sec
Use the left lane.
3

Turn sharp left

330 ft · 27 sec
4

Turn sharp right onto MO 366

1.9 mi · 3 min · Watson Road
Use the left lane.
5

Take the ramp onto US Historic 66

0.4 mi · 40 sec · US Historic 66
Toward I 44 West, I 270, US 50 West: Tulsa, Chicago, Memphis
6

Keep slight left at fork onto US Historic 66

0.2 mi · 14 sec · US Historic 66
Toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Tulsa Use the slight left lane.
7

Merge onto I 44; US 50

261 mi · 4 hr 43 min · Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit onto I 44 Business; MO 66

8.5 mi · 17 min · I 44 Business; MO 66
Exit 15 Toward I 44 Business, MO 66: Duenweg, Joplin Use 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

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 135.9 miles from Crestwood, MO, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 260.7 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 60 miles or 1h 8m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 135.9 miles or 2h 30m 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 5m

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 Crestwood, 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 Crestwood, MO

This is one driving day of about 271.9 miles and 5h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Crestwood, 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 Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor for about 260.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 135.9 mi from Crestwood, MO · 2h 30m into the drive

city in and the county seat of Pulaski County, Missouri, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waynesville, MO

136 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Wentzville, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waynesville, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 135.9 miles from Crestwood, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 260.7 miles.

Arriving in Joplin, MO

The final approach into Joplin, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Joplin, MO.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

George Washington Carver National Monument

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 262.5
View on nps.gov
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

National Battlefield

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 ~21 min detour Free near mile 206.3
View on nps.gov
Gateway Arch National Park

Gateway Arch National Park

National Park

Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...

11 mi from route ~29 min detour $19
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$42.51 one way

$85.02 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 95 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $46.67 $93.35
premium $4.89 $52.32 $104.65
diesel $5.61 $60.03 $120.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 95.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 81.6 1 $28.55 $13.05
Efficient EV 68 0 $23.79 $10.88
EV Truck/SUV 108.8 1 $38.07 $17.40

Gas CO2

95 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Crestwood, MO

Late night in Crestwood on Saturday

Local time

3:30 AM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Joplin, MO

Late night in Joplin on Saturday

Local time

3:30 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

76°F

Waynesville, MO

136 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

2 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

5h 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Crestwood, MO to Joplin, MO covers 271.9 miles and takes about 5h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, I 44 Business, Watson Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 135.9 miles from Crestwood, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.51 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 6m 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: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles (MO 366 / Watson Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Crestwood, 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 Gateway Arch National 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Joplin, MO to Crestwood, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

271.7 mi 5h 5m

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