Origin
Kearney, MO
Afternoon in Kearney on Sunday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kearney, MO to Joplin, MO
Drive Time
2h 44m
Distance
178.8 mi
288 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 33m
★
6 AM
2h 44m
8 AM
3h 6m
10 AM
2h 52m
12 PM
2h 50m
3 PM
2h 53m
5 PM
3h 5m
8 PM
2h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Joplin, MO
Miloš Steklý
Trip Overview
The drive from Kearney, MO to Joplin, MO covers 178.8 miles and takes about 2h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, I 435 South, Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.16 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
89.4 miles from Kearney, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 44m drive with frequent turns across 178.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Kearney, MO to Joplin, MO is easy. At 2h 44m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kearney, MO to Joplin, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Kansas City Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 435 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 49 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 49 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Edward F | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East MacArthur Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Macarthur Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kearney, MO and Joplin, MO.
1
Start on South Jefferson Street
46 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Jefferson Street
2
Turn left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
3
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
4
Merge slight left onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 435 South: Saint Louis
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 435 South: Saint Louis
6
Merge slight left
9.5 mi
·
11 min
7
Keep slight left to continue on Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 49 South, US 71 South, I 470 East, US 50 East: Joplin, Lee's Summit
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
·
I 49 South, US 71 South, I 470 East, US 50 East: Joplin, Lee's Summit
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 49, I 470, US 50 East, US 71 South: Joplin, Lee's Summit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 49, I 470, US 50 East, US 71 South: Joplin, Lee's Summit
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin
11
Merge slight left
130 mi
·
2 hr 19 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward MO 571 South, MO 96, I 49 Business, MO 171 North: Webb City
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
MO 571 South, MO 96, I 49 Business, MO 171 North: Webb City
13
Turn right onto Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway
14
Keep slight right to continue on I 49 Business, MO 171 North: Webb City
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 49 Business, MO 171 North: Webb City
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East MacArthur Drive
236 ft
·
3 sec
·
East MacArthur Drive
16
Exit the roundabout onto East MacArthur Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East MacArthur Drive
17
Continue on West Macarthur Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
West Macarthur Drive
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward North Main Street Road
256 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Main Street Road
19
Exit the roundabout onto North Main Street Road
4.0 mi
·
8 min
·
North Main Street Road
20
Turn left
59 ft
·
7 sec
21
Turn right
82 ft
·
6 sec
22
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 89.4 miles from Kearney, MO, or about 1h 22m 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 80 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.4 miles or 1h 22m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Joplin, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kearney, 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 Kearney, MO
This is one driving day of about 178.8 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kearney, 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 89.4 mi from Kearney, MO · 1h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
89 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 89.4 miles from Kearney, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Joplin, MO
The final approach into Joplin, 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 Joplin, 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
$27.16 one way
$54.32 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $29.94 | $59.88 |
| premium | $4.80 | $33.75 | $67.51 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $39.72 | $79.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.6 | 0 | $18.77 | $8.58 |
| Efficient EV | 44.7 | 0 | $15.65 | $7.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.5 | 0 | $25.03 | $11.44 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Joplin, MO
Afternoon in Joplin on Sunday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
54°F
Nevada, MO
89 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
2h 44m 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 Kearney, MO to Joplin, MO covers 178.8 miles and takes about 2h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, I 435 South, Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 89.4 miles from Kearney, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.16 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Kearney, MO to Joplin, MO is easy. At 2h 44m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kearney, MO to Joplin, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Kearney, MO to Joplin, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Joplin, MO
More from Kearney, MO
More trips to Joplin, MO
Explore more options from Kearney, MO or browse trips ending in Joplin, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.
Explore maps for Kearney, MO or Joplin, MO on MapSof.net.