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Trip from Joplin, MO to Richmond, MO

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 45m

Distance

194.1 mi

312 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 33m ★
6 AM
3h 46m
8 AM
4h 11m
10 AM
3h 55m
12 PM
3h 52m
3 PM
3h 56m
5 PM
4h 10m
8 PM
3h 38m

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 Ray County, Missouri, United States

Richmond, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Joplin, MO to Richmond, MO covers 194.1 miles and takes about 3h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Purple Heart Trail, MO 210, I 435 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 116.2 miles on Purple Heart Trail. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.82 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

97 miles from Joplin, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 45m. Total distance: 194.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 45m drive with frequent turns across 194.1 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.
Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 116.2 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,004 ft 719 ft

Total Climb

482 ft

Total Descent

659 ft

Highest Point

1,004 ft

Elevation Range

284 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 194.1 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 14.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 145 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

8
14.9 mi into trip | ~22m in

Turn left toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
6
145 mi into trip | ~2h 42m in

Take the exit toward I 435 North: Des Moines

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 435 North: Des Moines
5
145.3 mi into trip | ~2h 43m in | I 435

Merge onto I 435

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
161.2 mi into trip | ~3h 1m in

Take the exit toward MO 210: North Kansas City, Richmond

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 55 Toward MO 210: North Kansas City, Richmond

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Purple Heart Trail 116.2 mi 2h 5m
MO 210 29.7 mi 38m
I 435 15.9 mi 18m
Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway 10.5 mi 11m
I 49 Business 7.8 mi 8m
George Washington Carver Memorial Highway 3.2 mi 3m
South Main Street 2.3 mi 5m
Demott Drive 2 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 116.2 mi, about 2h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

83 ft · 11 sec · this road
2

Turn left

60 ft · 6 sec
3

Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43

2.3 mi · 5 min · South Main Street
4

Turn straight onto MO 43

1.7 mi · 2 min · North Main Street Road
5

Enter roundabout onto MO 171

14 ft · 0 sec · Demott Drive
6

Continue on MO 171

2.0 mi · 3 min · Demott Drive
7

Continue on I 49 Business; MO 171

0.9 mi · 1 min · West MacArthur Drive
8

Enter roundabout onto I 49 Business; MO 171

234 ft · 3 sec · I 49 Business; MO 171
9

Continue on I 49 Business; MO 171

7.8 mi · 8 min · I 49 Business; MO 171
10

Continue on MO 96; MO 571

452 ft · 15 sec · West Central Avenue
Toward MO 96 East, MO 571 South: Carthage
11

Turn left

0.2 mi · 13 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City Use the left lane.
12

Merge onto I 49; US 71

3.2 mi · 3 min · George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
13

Continue on I 49; US 71

10 mi · 11 min · Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
14

Continue on I 49; US 71

116 mi · 2 hr 5 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward I 435 North: Des Moines Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Merge onto I 435

16 mi · 18 min · I 435
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 55 Toward MO 210: North Kansas City, Richmond Use the slight right lane.
18

Merge onto MO 210

30 mi · 38 min · MO 210
Use the left / straight lanes.
19

Continue on MO 10

1.4 mi · 1 min · MO 10
20

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward MO T: Richmond, Camden
21

Turn left onto MO T

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Camden Street
22

Continue on South Camden Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Camden Street
23

Turn right onto MO 10 Business

0.1 mi · 21 sec · West Main Street
24

Arrive at destination

MO 10 Business

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 97 miles from Joplin, MO, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.2 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 43 miles or 52m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 97 miles or 1h 50m 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 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, 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 194.1 miles and 3h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 116.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 97 mi from Joplin, MO · 1h 50m into the drive

city in Cass County, Missouri, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Garden City, MO

97 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

Nevada, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Garden City, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 97 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 Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 116.2 miles.

Arriving in Richmond, MO

The final approach into Richmond, 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 Richmond, 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...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.82 one way

$57.63 round trip

$3.77/gal 25.4 MPG avg 68 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $32.50 $65.00
premium $4.65 $35.56 $71.13
diesel $5.30 $40.53 $81.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 67.9 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 58.2 0 $20.38 $9.32
Efficient EV 48.5 0 $16.98 $7.76
EV Truck/SUV 77.6 0 $27.17 $12.42

Gas CO2

68 kg

EV CO2

23 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Joplin, MO

Late night in Joplin on Saturday

Local time

5:00 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Richmond, MO

Late night in Richmond on Saturday

Local time

5:00 AM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

55°F

Garden City, MO

97 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

4 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

3h 45m 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 Joplin, MO to Richmond, MO covers 194.1 miles and takes about 3h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, MO 210, I 435. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 97 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 $28.82 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.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 194.1 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 14.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 145 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Joplin, MO to Richmond, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 719 ft to 1,004 ft elevation with about 482 ft of total climbing.

Yes. Nearby national parks include George Washington Carver National Monument.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Richmond, MO to Joplin, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

194 mi 3h 46m

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