The drive from Joplin, MO to Glendale, MO covers 298.3 miles and takes about 6h 14m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 60, Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, MO 53 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 176.5 miles on US 60.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.64 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
149.1 miles from Joplin, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 14m. Total distance: 298.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 6h 14m highway drive covering 298.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 60 and Congressman Gene Taylor Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 176.5 miles on US 60.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 60 is the longest continuous segment at about 176.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and Congressman Gene Taylor Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 14m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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 61.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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.
5
61.5 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward MO 360 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 69
Toward MO 360 East
6
157.6 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|US 60
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60 toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
5
291.5 mi into trip|~5h 57m in|MO 25
At end of road, turn left onto MO 25
Navigation decision point
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 Joplin, MO to Glendale, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Poplar Bluff along the way.
Poplar Bluff
157.6 mi in|~3h 6m|via US 60
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 60
176.5 mi
3h 27m
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
53.2 mi
57m
MO 53
34.6 mi
51m
James River Freeway
14.4 mi
16m
East 7th Street
6.8 mi
14m
North Westwood Boulevard
3.9 mi
6m
MO 25
2.9 mi
4m
County Road 285
1.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 176.5 mi, about 3h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joplin, MO and Glendale, 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
53 mi·57 min·Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 69Toward MO 360 East
8
Continue on MO 360
14 mi·16 min·James River Freeway
9
Continue on US 60
81 mi·1 hr 34 min·US 60
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60
90 mi·1 hr 46 min·US 60
Toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
4.8 mi·6 min·US 60
12
Turn straight onto US 60 Business; US 67 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·North Westwood Boulevard
13
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·State Street
14
Continue on US 60 Business; US 67 Business
2.3 mi·3 min·North Westwood Boulevard
15
Turn slight left
133 ft·7 sec
16
Turn slight left onto MO 53
35 mi·51 min·MO 53
17
At end of road, turn left onto MO 25
2.9 mi·4 min·MO 25
18
Turn right onto County Road 334
0.5 mi·2 min·County Road 334
19
Continue on County Road 285
1.7 mi·6 min·County Road 285
20
At end of road, turn left onto MO 153
73 ft·3 sec·South Main Street
21
Turn right onto MO VV
1.6 mi·3 min·MO VV
22
Arrive at destination
MO VV
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 149.1 miles from Joplin, MO, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.5 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 66 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.1 miles or 2h 56m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glendale, 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 298.3 miles and 6h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 60 for about 176.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 149.1 mi from Joplin, MO
· 2h 56m 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
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 10.3
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 61.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.64 one way
$93.27 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$51.20
$102.41
premium
$4.89
$57.41
$114.81
diesel
$5.61
$65.86
$131.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
10 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Dynamic EVC Charging Station
Republic, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Springfield, Missouri
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Flying J EV Charging Station
Springfield, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Joplin, Missouri
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Francis Energy Charging Station
Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Springfield, Missouri
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Joplin, Missouri
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Sun Country Highway Charging Station
Joplin, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
Other: 4
Tesla Destination: 3
ChargePoint: 3
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
89.5
1
$31.32
$14.32
Efficient EV
74.6
0
$26.10
$11.93
EV Truck/SUV
119.3
1
$41.76
$19.09
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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Joplin, MO
Afternoon
in Joplin on Thursday
Local time
3:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Glendale, MO
Afternoon
in Glendale on Thursday
Local time
3:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°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
2 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
6h 14m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Glendale, MO covers 298.3 miles and takes about 6h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 60, Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, MO 53. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 149.1 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 $46.64 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 14m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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 61.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Joplin, MO to Glendale, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Poplar Bluff along the way.
