The drive from Jefferson City, MO to Webb City, MO covers 207.5 miles and takes about 3h 56m 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, MO 5 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 116.6 miles on I 44.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.44 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
103.8 miles from Jefferson City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 207.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 56m highway drive covering 207.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 44 and C. F. “Red” Whaley Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 116.6 miles on I 44.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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 116.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and C. F. “Red” Whaley Expressway. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Jefferson Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 207.5 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
6
200.2 mi into trip|~3h 47m in|I 49; US 71
Take the exit onto I 49; US 71 toward I 49 South, US 71 South, MO 249 North: Neosho, Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 11
Toward I 49 South, US 71 South, MO 249 North: N...
6
200.5 mi into trip|~3h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 249 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MO 249 North
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
116.6 mi
2h 6m
C. F. “Red” Whaley Expressway
56.5 mi
1h 5m
MO 5
24 mi
29m
Governor Warren E Hearnes Memorial Highway
5 mi
5m
North Jefferson Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
I 49 Business
0.6 mi
<1m
Madison Street
0.6 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 116.6 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson City, MO and Webb City, 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
117 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 44
12
Take the exit onto I 49; US 71
0.3 mi·24 sec·I 49; US 71
Exit 11Toward I 49 South, US 71 South, MO 249 North: Neosho, Fort Smith
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward MO 249 North
14
Merge onto MO 249
5.0 mi·5 min·Governor Warren E Hearnes Memorial Highway
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi·38 sec
Toward I 49 Business, MO 171 North: Webb City
16
Merge onto I 49 Business; MO 171
0.6 mi·46 sec·I 49 Business; MO 171
Toward I 49 Business, MO 171 North: Webb City
17
Enter roundabout onto I 49 Business; MO 171
235 ft·3 sec·East MacArthur Drive
18
Continue on I 49 Business; MO 171
0.3 mi·27 sec·East MacArthur Drive
19
Turn right onto MO D
0.4 mi·39 sec·South Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
MO D
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 103.8 miles from Jefferson City, MO, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.6 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 46 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.8 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Webb City, 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 207.5 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 116.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 103.8 mi from Jefferson City, MO
· 2h 3m 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...
7 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 200.4
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 143.1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.3
0
$21.79
$9.96
Efficient EV
51.9
0
$18.16
$8.30
EV Truck/SUV
83
1
$29.05
$13.28
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 18, 2026
Origin
Jefferson City, MO
Morning
in Jefferson City on Saturday
Local time
7:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Chance Rain Showers
NW 13 mph48% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:43AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:07AM CDT until April 19 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
Destination
Webb City, MO
Morning
in Webb City on Saturday
Local time
7:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 18 mph42% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:43AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 2:07AM CDT until April 19 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
58°F
Lebanon, MO
104 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
1 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
3h 56m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Jefferson City, MO to Webb City, MO covers 207.5 miles and takes about 3h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 44, C. F. “Red” Whaley Expressway, MO 5. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 103.8 miles from Jefferson City, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.44 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 207.5 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
The route from Jefferson City, MO to Webb City, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
