Origin
Jefferson City, MO
Afternoon in Jefferson City on Tuesday
Local time
12:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jefferson City, MO to Branson, MO
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 23m
Distance
173 mi
278 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 12m
★
6 AM
3h 24m
8 AM
3h 48m
10 AM
3h 32m
12 PM
3h 30m
3 PM
3h 34m
5 PM
3h 47m
8 PM
3h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jefferson City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Branson, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Jefferson City, MO to Branson, MO covers 173 miles and takes about 3h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Jefferson Street, Rex M Whitton Expressway, Madison Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.05 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
86.5 miles from Jefferson City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 23m drive with frequent turns across 173 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jefferson Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Jefferson City, MO to Branson, MO is easy. At 3h 23m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Jefferson City, MO to Branson, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Rex M Whitton Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Madison Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| C | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MO 5 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Jefferson Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 44 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 65 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Jefferson Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson City, MO and Branson, MO.
1
Start on East Wall Way
154 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Wall Way
2
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Jefferson Street
3
Turn left onto Rex M Whitton Expressway
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 straight
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
6
Merge slight left onto C. F. “Red” Whaley Expressway
56 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
C. F. “Red” Whaley Expressway
7
Take the exit right toward MO 5 South, MO 7 South: Lebanon
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
MO 5 South, MO 7 South: Lebanon
8
Merge slight left
24 mi
·
29 min
9
Turn left onto North Jefferson Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Jefferson Avenue
10
Take the exit right toward I 44 West: Springfield
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 44 West: Springfield
11
Merge slight left
46 mi
·
49 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 65 South: Branson
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
US 65 South: Branson
13
Merge slight left onto Schoolcraft Freeway
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Schoolcraft Freeway
14
Continue on American Legion Memorial Highway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
15
Continue on US Highway 65
12 mi
·
13 min
·
US Highway 65
16
Continue on American Legion Memorial Highway
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
17
Take the exit slight right toward MO 248, CR 165, Red Route
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
MO 248, CR 165, Red Route
18
Keep slight left to continue on Red Route East
259 ft
·
7 sec
·
Red Route East
19
Turn straight onto Branson Landing Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Branson Landing Boulevard
20
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Veterans Boulevard
154 ft
·
4 sec
·
Veterans Boulevard
21
Exit the roundabout onto Veterans Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Veterans Boulevard
22
Continue on South Business 65
171 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Business 65
23
Turn right
62 ft
·
5 sec
24
Arrive at your 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 86.5 miles from Jefferson City, MO, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.5 miles or 1h 41m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Branson, 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 173 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.5 mi from Jefferson City, MO · 1h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.5 miles from Jefferson City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Branson, MO
The final approach into Branson, 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 Branson, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.05 one way
$54.09 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.70 | $59.39 |
| premium | $4.89 | $33.29 | $66.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.20 | $76.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.9 | 0 | $18.17 | $8.30 |
| Efficient EV | 43.3 | 0 | $15.14 | $6.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.2 | 0 | $24.22 | $11.07 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Branson, MO
Afternoon in Branson on Tuesday
Local time
12:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
7 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 23m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Jefferson City, MO to Branson, MO covers 173 miles and takes about 3h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jefferson Street, Rex M Whitton Expressway, Madison Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.5 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 $27.05 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.
The drive from Jefferson City, MO to Branson, MO is easy. At 3h 23m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Jefferson City, MO to Branson, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Jefferson City, MO to Branson, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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