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Trip from Joplin, MO to Black Jack, MO

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

5h 36m

Distance

295.4 mi

475 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 23m ★
6 AM
5h 36m
8 AM
6h 3m
10 AM
5h 46m
12 PM
5h 43m
3 PM
5h 47m
5 PM
6h 2m
8 PM
5h 28m

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

city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County, Missouri, USA

Joplin, MO

Wikimedia Commons

city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States

Black Jack, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Joplin, MO to Black Jack, MO covers 295.4 miles and takes about 5h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East 7th Street, Cimarron Road, I 44 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.18 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

147.7 miles from Joplin, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 48m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 36m drive with frequent turns across 295.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East 7th 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 5h 36m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Joplin, MO to Black Jack, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East 7th Street
Cimarron Road
I 44 East
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
I 270
I 270 North
AC
Pershall Road

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: East 7th Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Joplin, MO and Black Jack, MO.

1

Start on the route

220 ft · 18 sec · the route
2

At the end of the road, turn right

194 ft · 19 sec
3

Turn left onto East 7th Street

6.8 mi · 14 min · East 7th Street
4

Continue on Cimarron Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Cimarron Road
5

Take the ramp slight right toward I 44 East, I 49 North, US 71 North: Springfield, Kansas City

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

Merge slight left onto Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

260 mi · 4 hr 42 min · Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
7

Take the exit slight right toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis

0.2 mi · 19 sec · I 270: Chicago, Memphis
8

Keep slight left to continue on I 270 North: Chicago

0.1 mi · 12 sec · I 270 North: Chicago
9

Continue on I 270 North: Chicago

0.5 mi · 53 sec · I 270 North: Chicago
10

Merge slight left

24 mi · 29 min
11

Take the exit slight right toward AC: New Halls Ferry Road, Old Halls Ferry Road

0.3 mi · 38 sec · AC: New Halls Ferry Road, Old Halls Ferry Road
12

Turn straight onto Pershall Road

0.3 mi · 55 sec · Pershall Road
13

Turn sharp left onto New Halls Ferry Road

0.3 mi · 25 sec · New Halls Ferry Road
14

Turn right onto Mehl Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Mehl Avenue
15

At the end of the road, turn left onto Old Halls Ferry Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Old Halls Ferry Road
16

Continue on Parker Road

394 ft · 8 sec · Parker Road
17

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 147.7 miles from Joplin, MO, or about 2h 48m 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 65 miles or 1h 13m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 147.7 miles or 2h 48m 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 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Black Jack, 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 295.4 miles and 5h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 147.7 mi from Joplin, MO · 2h 48m into the drive

Downtown Cuba, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cuba, MO

148 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

Marshfield, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cuba, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 147.7 miles from Joplin, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Black Jack, MO

The final approach into Black Jack, 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 Black Jack, 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

$46.18 one way

$92.36 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 103 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $50.71 $101.41
premium $4.89 $56.85 $113.69
diesel $5.61 $65.22 $130.44

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: 103.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 88.6 1 $31.02 $14.18
Efficient EV 73.9 0 $25.85 $11.82
EV Truck/SUV 118.2 1 $41.36 $18.91

Gas CO2

103 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

Evening in Joplin on Wednesday

Local time

5:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Black Jack, MO

Evening in Black Jack on Wednesday

Local time

5:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

75°F

Cuba, MO

148 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

5h 36m 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 Black Jack, MO covers 295.4 miles and takes about 5h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 7th Street, Cimarron Road, I 44 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 147.7 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 $46.18 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 36m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Joplin, MO to Black Jack, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Joplin, MO to Black Jack, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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