Origin
Jefferson City, MO
Afternoon in Jefferson City on Saturday
Local time
12:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jefferson City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Monett, MO
Tolga deniz Aran
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 .
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson City, MO and Monett, MO.
Start on East Wall Way
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
Turn left onto US 50; US 63
Turn right onto Madison Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 54
Take the exit
Merge onto MO 5; MO 7
Turn left onto MO 5; MO 64
Take the exit
Merge onto I 44
Take the exit
Turn left onto MO B; MO MM
Continue on this road
Turn straight onto US 60; MO 413
Continue on US 60; MO 14; MO 413
Continue on US 60; MO 413
Continue on US 60; MO 265
Turn right onto US 60 Business
Continue on US 60 Business
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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.
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.
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
Merge onto US 54 / C. F. “Red” Whaley Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward I 44 West: Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward MO MM, MO B
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$28.06 one way
$56.13 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Jefferson City on Saturday
Local time
12:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Monett on Saturday
Local time
12:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
179.5 mi in 3h 42m, mostly highway — 58.5 mi of that is on I 44.
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.
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.
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
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.
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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