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Trip from Jefferson City, MO to Monett, MO

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

Drive Time

3h 42m

Distance

179.5 mi

289 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 30m ★
6 AM
3h 43m
8 AM
4h 8m
10 AM
3h 52m
12 PM
3h 49m
3 PM
3h 53m
5 PM
4h 7m
8 PM
3h 35m

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

capital city of Missouri, United States and county seat of Cole County

Jefferson City, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Monett, MO, MO

Monett, MO

Tolga deniz Aran

Trip Overview

The drive from Jefferson City, MO to Monett, MO covers 179.5 miles and takes about 3h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 44, C. F. “Red” Whaley Expressway, US 60 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 58.5 miles on I 44. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.06 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

89.8 miles from Jefferson City, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 44 58.5 mi 1h 3m
C. F. “Red” Whaley Expressway 56.5 mi 1h 5m
US 60 27.3 mi 40m
MO 5 24 mi 29m
MO B 3.9 mi 6m
Farm Road 2240 3 mi 5m
East Cleveland Avenue 1.9 mi 3m
North Jefferson Avenue 1.6 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 44 — 58.5 mi, about 1h 3m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson City, MO and Monett, MO.

1

Start on East Wall Way

155 ft · 13 sec · East Wall Way
2

Turn right onto Jefferson Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Jefferson Street
3

Turn left onto US 50; US 63

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Rex M Whitton Expressway
4

Turn right onto Madison Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Madison Street
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec
6

Merge onto US 54

56 mi · 1 hr 5 min · C. F. “Red” Whaley Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward MO 5 South, MO 7 South: Lebanon
8

Merge onto MO 5; MO 7

24 mi · 29 min · MO 5; MO 7
9

Turn left onto MO 5; MO 64

1.6 mi · 2 min · North Jefferson Avenue
10

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Toward I 44 West: Springfield
11

Merge onto I 44

59 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 44
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 70 Toward MO MM, MO B
13

Turn left onto MO B; MO MM

3.9 mi · 6 min · MO B; MO MM
14

Continue on this road

314 ft · 11 sec · this road
15

Turn straight onto US 60; MO 413

9.0 mi · 13 min · US 60; MO 413
16

Continue on US 60; MO 14; MO 413

1.2 mi · 1 min · Southwest Elm Street
17

Continue on US 60; MO 413

5.3 mi · 7 min · US 60; MO 413
18

Continue on US 60; MO 265

13 mi · 19 min · US 60; MO 265
19

Turn right onto US 60 Business

3.0 mi · 5 min · Farm Road 2240
20

Continue on US 60 Business

1.9 mi · 3 min · East Cleveland Avenue
21

Arrive at destination

West Cleveland Avenue

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 89.8 miles from Jefferson City, MO, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.5 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 39 miles or 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 89.8 miles or 1h 48m 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 53m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monett, MO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Jefferson City, 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 Jefferson City, MO

This is one driving day of about 179.5 miles and 3h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Jefferson City, 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 58.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Missouri, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marshfield, MO

90 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

Lake Ozark, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Morgan, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 89.8 miles from Jefferson City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 142 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Jefferson Street

Turn right onto Jefferson Street

Navigation decision point

5
1.2 mi into trip | ~3m in | US 54 / C. F. “Red” Whaley Expressway

Merge onto US 54 / C. F. “Red” Whaley Expressway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
5
57.6 mi into trip | ~1h 8m in

Take the exit toward MO 5 South, MO 7 South: Lebanon

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward MO 5 South, MO 7 South: Lebanon
5
83.4 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in

Take the exit toward I 44 West: Springfield

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 44 West: Springfield
6
142 mi into trip | ~2h 45m in

Take the exit toward MO MM, MO B

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 70 Toward MO MM, MO B

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.06 one way

$56.13 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 63 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $30.81 $61.62
premium $4.89 $34.54 $69.09
diesel $5.61 $39.63 $79.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$28

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$53–$78

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 53.9 0 $18.85 $8.62
Efficient EV 44.9 0 $15.71 $7.18
EV Truck/SUV 71.8 0 $25.13 $11.49

Gas CO2

63 kg

EV CO2

21 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

Jefferson City, MO

Afternoon in Jefferson City on Saturday

Local time

12:38 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Monett, MO

Afternoon in Monett on Saturday

Local time

12:38 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

56°F

Marshfield, MO

90 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

3h 42m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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...

3 mi from route ~9 min detour Free near mile 148.6
Caution: BE AWARE OF HIGH-WATER DANGER
View on nps.gov
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...

24 mi from route ~60 min detour Free near mile 179.5
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

179.5 mi in 3h 42m, mostly highway — 58.5 mi of that is on I 44.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.5 mi on I 44.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and C. F. “Red” Whaley Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Jefferson Street.

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 3h 42m 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 (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 54 / C. F. “Red” Whaley Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Jefferson City, MO to Monett, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Mo B along the way.

Mo B

142 mi in | ~2h 45m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 42m. Total distance: 179.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 58.5 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: near the start (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 54 / C. F. “Red” Whaley Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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

Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Monett, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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