Origin
Joplin, MO
Afternoon in Joplin on Sunday
Local time
2:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Joplin, MO to Malden, MO
Drive Time
5h 56m
Distance
288.8 mi
465 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
Joplin, MO
Miloš Steklý
Malden, MO
ShotPot
Trip Overview
The drive from Joplin, MO to Malden, MO covers 288.8 miles and takes about 5h 56m 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 $43.87 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
144.4 miles from Joplin, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 51m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 5h 56m highway drive covering 288.8 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.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 56m 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: 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 12 key pointsThese 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
288.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 56m in
|
MO 25 Business / South Madison Street
Turn right onto MO 25 Business / South Madison Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Joplin, MO to Malden, 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 | 19.6 mi | 29m |
| James River Freeway | 14.4 mi | 16m |
| MO J | 11.5 mi | 20m |
| East 7th Street | 6.8 mi | 14m |
| North Westwood Boulevard | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Cimarron Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 176.5 mi, about 3h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Joplin, MO and Malden, 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 69
Toward 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
Use the none lane.
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
20 mi
·
29 min
·
MO 53
17
Turn left onto MO J
12 mi
·
20 min
·
MO J
18
Turn right onto MO 25 Business
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
North Douglas Street
19
Turn left onto MO 25 Business
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
West Main Street
20
Turn right onto MO 25 Business
442 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Madison Street
21
Turn right onto West Laclede Street
63 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Laclede Street
22
Arrive at destination
West Laclede 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 144.4 miles from Joplin, MO, or about 2h 51m 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.4 miles or 2h 51m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Malden, 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 288.8 miles and 5h 56m.
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 60 for about 176.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 144.4 mi from Joplin, MO · 2h 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
144 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 144.4 miles from Joplin, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 60 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 176.5 miles.
Arriving in Malden, MO
The final approach into Malden, 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 Malden, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.87 one way
$87.73 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $48.36 | $96.71 |
| premium | $4.80 | $54.52 | $109.04 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $64.16 | $128.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.6 | 1 | $30.32 | $13.86 |
| Efficient EV | 72.2 | 0 | $25.27 | $11.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115.5 | 1 | $40.43 | $18.48 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Destination
Malden, MO
Afternoon in Malden on Sunday
Local time
2:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
81°F
Bono, AR
144 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
6 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
5h 56m 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 Malden, MO covers 288.8 miles and takes about 5h 56m 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 144.4 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 $43.87 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 56m drive. You will face about 12 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 61.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Joplin, MO to Malden, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Poplar Bluff along the way.
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