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Trip from High Ridge, 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 3m

Distance

267.1 mi

430 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 50m ★
6 AM
5h 3m
8 AM
5h 30m
10 AM
5h 12m
12 PM
5h 10m
3 PM
5h 14m
5 PM
5h 29m
8 PM
4h 55m

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

Downtown High Ridge, MO, MO

High Ridge, MO

Marta Branco

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

Joplin, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from High Ridge, MO to Joplin, MO covers 267.1 miles and takes about 5h 3m 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, Antire Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 252.7 miles on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.76 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

133.5 miles from High Ridge, MO

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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor 252.7 mi 4h 33m
I 44 Business 8.5 mi 17m
Antire Road 4.3 mi 9m
Beaumont-Antire Road 1 mi 1m
High Ridge Boulevard 0.1 mi <1m
South Main Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor — 252.7 mi, about 4h 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

119 ft · 14 sec · this road
2

At end of road, turn left onto High Ridge Boulevard

0.1 mi · 18 sec · High Ridge Boulevard
3

Turn left onto Antire Road

2.4 mi · 5 min · Antire Road
4

At end of road, turn right onto Antire Road

1.9 mi · 3 min · Antire Road
5

Continue on Beaumont-Antire Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Beaumont-Antire Road
6

Continue on Beaumont-Antire Road

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Beaumont-Antire Road
7

At end of road, turn left

252 ft · 4 sec
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 15 sec
Toward I 44 West, US 50 West
9

Merge onto I 44; US 50

253 mi · 4 hr 33 min · Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Use the straight lane.
10

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.
11

Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43

156 ft · 7 sec · South Main Street
12

Turn right

60 ft · 6 sec
13

Turn right

83 ft · 6 sec
14

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 133.5 miles from High Ridge, MO, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 252.7 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 59 miles or 1h 9m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 133.5 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 2m

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 High Ridge, 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 High Ridge, MO

This is one driving day of about 267.1 miles and 5h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from High Ridge, 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 252.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waynesville, MO

134 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

Byrnes Mill, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waynesville, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 133.5 miles from High Ridge, 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 252.7 miles.

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 258.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | High Ridge Boulevard

At end of road, turn left onto High Ridge Boulevard

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

5
2.6 mi into trip | ~6m in | Antire Road

At end of road, turn right onto Antire Road

Navigation decision point

6
5.5 mi into trip | ~11m in

At end of road, turn left

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

5
5.5 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the ramp toward I 44 West, US 50 West

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 44 West, US 50 West
8
258.5 mi into trip | ~4h 45m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.76 one way

$83.52 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 94 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $45.85 $91.70
premium $4.89 $51.40 $102.80
diesel $5.61 $58.97 $117.94

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 93.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 80.1 0 $28.05 $12.82
Efficient EV 66.8 0 $23.37 $10.68
EV Truck/SUV 106.8 1 $37.39 $17.09

Gas CO2

93 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 15, 2026

Origin

High Ridge, MO

Afternoon in High Ridge on Saturday

Local time

12:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Joplin, MO

Afternoon in Joplin on Saturday

Local time

12:32 PM

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

5h 3m 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

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 257.9
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...

7 mi from route ~19 min detour Free near mile 202.6
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...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour $19
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

267.1 mi in 5h 3m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 252.7 mi on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

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 near High Ridge Boulevard.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 3m drive. You will face about 9 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 (High Ridge Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.6 miles (Antire Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.5 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 3m. Total distance: 267.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (3%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 252.7 miles on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. 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.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (High Ridge Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.6 miles (Antire Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.5 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.

Yes — George Washington Carver National Monument, Wilson's Creek National Battlefield and Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Joplin, MO before the return drive.

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 High Ridge, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

267.2 mi 5h 3m

Explore more options from High Ridge, MO or browse trips ending in Joplin, MO.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.