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Trip from Joplin, MO to Bowling Green, MO

Data updated 3 hours ago

Drive Time

5h 52m

Distance

297.1 mi

478 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

31 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 39m ★
6 AM
5h 53m
8 AM
6h 19m
10 AM
6h 2m
12 PM
5h 59m
3 PM
6h 3m
5 PM
6h 17m
8 PM
5h 45m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County, Missouri, USA

Joplin, MO

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Pike County, Missouri, United States

Bowling Green, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Joplin, MO to Bowling Green, MO covers 297.1 miles and takes about 5h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 54, Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, MO 5 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 137 miles on US 54. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.45 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

148.6 miles from Joplin, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

The drive from Joplin, MO to Bowling Green, MO covers 297.1 miles and takes about 5h 52m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 54 is the longest continuous segment at about 137 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 5h 52m drive. You will face about 14 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: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 8.3 miles (I 44; I 49; US 71 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

At end of road, turn right

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

5
8.3 mi into trip | ~17m in | I 44; I 49; US 71 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

Merge onto I 44; I 49; US 71 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
121.7 mi into trip | ~2h 19m in

Take the exit toward MO 64, MO 5, MO 32: Hartville

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

Exit 129 Toward MO 64, MO 5, MO 32: Hartville
5
147.1 mi into trip | ~2h 51m in

Take the exit toward US 54: Camdenton, Nevada, Osage Beach, Jefferson City

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

Toward US 54: Camdenton, Nevada, Osage Beach, J...
5
147.3 mi into trip | ~2h 52m in | US 54

Turn right onto US 54

Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Joplin, MO and Bowling Green, MO, road signs point toward Nevada, Osage Beach and Jefferson City.

Nevada

147.1 mi in | ~2h 51m

Osage Beach

147.1 mi in | ~2h 51m

Jefferson City

147.1 mi in | ~2h 51m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 54 137 mi 2h 42m
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway 113.3 mi 2h 2m
MO 5 23.7 mi 29m
East Liberty Street 10.3 mi 13m
East 7th Street 6.8 mi 14m
South Jefferson Avenue 1.6 mi 2m
Cimarron Road 0.9 mi 1m
I 44 Business 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 54 — 137 mi, about 2h 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Joplin, MO and Bowling Green, MO.

1

Start on this road

219 ft · 18 sec · this road
2

At end of road, turn right

193 ft · 19 sec
3

Turn left onto I 44 Business; MO 66

6.8 mi · 14 min · East 7th Street
4

Continue on I 44 Business; MO 66

0.9 mi · 1 min · Cimarron Road
5

Take the ramp onto I 44 Business

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 44 Business
Toward I 44 East, I 49 North, US 71 North: Springfield, Kansas City
6

Merge onto I 44; I 49; US 71

113 mi · 2 hr 2 min · Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 129 Toward MO 64, MO 5, MO 32: Hartville
8

Turn left onto MO 5; MO 32; MO 64

1.6 mi · 2 min · South Jefferson Avenue
9

Continue on MO 5

24 mi · 29 min · MO 5
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward US 54: Camdenton, Nevada, Osage Beach, Jefferson City
11

Turn right onto US 54

31 mi · 35 min · US 54
Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn straight onto US 54

74 mi · 1 hr 23 min · US 54
13

At end of road, turn right onto US 54

10 mi · 13 min · East Liberty Street
14

Enter roundabout onto US 54; MO 19

221 ft · 2 sec · US 54; MO 19
15

Continue on US 54; MO 19

8.1 mi · 11 min · US 54; MO 19
16

Enter roundabout onto US 54

48 ft · 0 sec · US 54
17

Continue on US 54

23 mi · 31 min · US 54
18

Turn right

1.5 mi · 2 min
19

Turn right onto US 61 Business

0.6 mi · 56 sec · US 61 Business
20

Turn left onto West Main Street

0.4 mi · 59 sec · West Main Street
21

Arrive at destination

West Main Street

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 148.6 miles from Joplin, MO, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 148.6 miles or 2h 53m 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 41m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Joplin, 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 Joplin, MO

This is one driving day of about 297.1 miles and 5h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Joplin, 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 US 54 for about 137 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 148.6 mi from Joplin, MO · 2h 53m into the drive

Downtown Quincy, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Quincy, IL

149 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

Bentonville, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bentonville, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 148.6 miles from Joplin, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 54 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 137 miles.

Arriving in Bowling Green, MO

The final approach into Bowling Green, 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 Bowling Green, MO.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

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 ~17 min detour Free near mile 10.2
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 ~17 min detour Free near mile 61.5
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$46.45 one way

$92.90 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 104 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $51.00 $102.00
premium $4.89 $57.17 $114.35
diesel $5.61 $65.60 $131.19

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$46

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$71–$96

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 103.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

31 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Buc-ee's - Tesla Supercharger

Springfield, MO

Tesla

16 DCFC

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Jefferson City, MO

Tesla

16 DCFC

Macadoodles Fine Wine & Spirits - Tesla Supercharger

Springfield, MO

Tesla

10 DCFC

Kum & Go #0702 - Tesla Supercharger

Joplin, MO

Tesla

8 DCFC

Hy-Vee - Tesla Supercharger

Osage Beach, MO

Tesla

8 DCFC

Frank Fletcher Ford

Joplin, MO

FORD_CHARGE

4 DCFC

Pilot Travel Center 669

Joplin, MO

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

Walmart 7249 (Mount Vernon, MO)

Mount Vernon, MO

Electrify America

4 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 15 Tesla: 5 EV Connect: 3 eVgo Network: 2 Electrify America: 2 NOODOE: 2 FORD_CHARGE: 1 SYNERGEV: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 89.1 1 $31.20 $14.26
Efficient EV 74.3 0 $26.00 $11.88
EV Truck/SUV 118.8 1 $41.59 $19.01

Gas CO2

104 kg

EV CO2

35 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Joplin, MO

Afternoon in Joplin on Tuesday

Local time

3:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bowling Green, MO

Afternoon in Bowling Green on Tuesday

Local time

3:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

55°F

Quincy, IL

149 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

7 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

5h 52m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Joplin, MO to Bowling Green, MO covers 297.1 miles and takes about 5h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 54, Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, MO 5. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 148.6 miles from Joplin, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.45 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 52m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 8.3 miles (I 44; I 49; US 71 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Joplin, MO and Bowling Green, MO, road signs point toward Nevada, Osage Beach and Jefferson City.

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