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Trip from Neosho, MO to Jefferson City, MO

Drive Time

4h 6m

Distance

211.1 mi

340 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 54m ★
6 AM
4h 7m
8 AM
4h 33m
10 AM
4h 16m
12 PM
4h 13m
3 PM
4h 17m
5 PM
4h 31m
8 PM
3h 59m

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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Downtown Neosho, MO, MO

Neosho, MO

Valeria Boltneva

Downtown Jefferson City, MO, MO

Jefferson City, MO

life vibes

Trip Overview

Traveling from Neosho to Jefferson City covers 211.1 miles of Missouri heartland, making for a manageable 4-hour and 6-minute excursion. Because the total duration is quite reasonable, this trip works perfectly as a straightforward one-day journey without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $32 for fuel to complete the trek. Navigating through the Midwest, the route utilizes a combination of Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, US 54, and MO 5 to connect these two Missouri hubs. Whether you are heading to the state capital for business or a change of scenery, the trip offers a predictable and efficient path across the state.

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

105.5 miles from Neosho, MO

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

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience that transitions between different road types as you make your way toward Jefferson City. The route features a 44% highway share, balancing faster, high-speed travel with more traditional roadway segments. Your longest uninterrupted stint behind the wheel will be a 110.1-mile stretch on the Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, which allows you to settle into a steady rhythm. Because the profile is categorized as a mixed drive, you will find variety in the road conditions rather than a monotonous interstate grind. Staying alert for these transitions ensures a smooth transition between the major highway legs and the secondary roads that complete the journey.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 110.1 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,494 ft 1,037 ft

Total Climb

505 ft

Total Descent

48 ft

Highest Point

1,494 ft

~90.5 mi in

Elevation Range

457 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Washington Street.

Route Complexity 5/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 211.1 miles you will encounter 17 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 (South Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (MO 86 / East Coler Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 17.3 miles (I 44 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 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 | South Washington Street

Turn left onto South Washington Street

Navigation decision point

6
0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | MO 86 / East Coler Street

At end of road, turn left onto MO 86 / East Coler Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

5
17.3 mi into trip | ~26m in | I 44 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

Merge onto I 44 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
127.5 mi into trip | ~2h 25m in

Take the exit toward MO 64, MO 5, MO 32: Hartville

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

Exit 129 Toward MO 64, MO 5, MO 32: Hartville
6
210.5 mi into trip | ~4h 4m in | US 50 Business / Missouri Boulevard

Turn right onto US 50 Business / Missouri Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / none lanes.

Towns Along This Route

Between Neosho, MO and Jefferson City, MO, road signs point toward Nevada and Osage Beach.

Nevada

152.9 mi in | ~2h 57m

Osage Beach

152.9 mi in | ~2h 57m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway 110.1 mi 1h 59m
US 54 57.1 mi 1h 5m
MO 5 23.7 mi 29m
MO 59 11.7 mi 17m
Elwood Junction Road 3.1 mi 4m
South Jefferson Avenue 1.6 mi 2m
North College Street 1.3 mi 2m
West McCarty Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Congressman Gene Taylor Highway — 110.1 mi, about 1h 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Neosho, MO and Jefferson City, MO.

1

Start on East Main Street

218 ft · 15 sec · East Main Street
2

Turn left onto South Washington Street

0.3 mi · 53 sec · South Washington Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto MO 86

0.2 mi · 26 sec · East Coler Street
4

Turn right onto US 60 Business

1.3 mi · 2 min · North College Street
5

Continue on US 60 Business

3.1 mi · 4 min · Elwood Junction Road
6

Turn left

0.3 mi · 50 sec
7

Turn straight onto MO 59

12 mi · 17 min · MO 59
8

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 42 sec
Toward I 44 East: Springfield
9

Merge onto I 44

110 mi · 1 hr 59 min · Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 129 Toward MO 64, MO 5, MO 32: Hartville
11

Turn left onto MO 5; MO 32; MO 64

1.6 mi · 2 min · South Jefferson Avenue
Use the none lane.
12

Continue on MO 5

24 mi · 29 min · MO 5
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward US 54: Camdenton, Nevada, Osage Beach, Jefferson City
14

Turn right onto US 54

31 mi · 35 min · US 54
Use the none / slight right lanes.
15

Turn straight onto US 54

26 mi · 29 min · US 54
Use the none lane.
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward US 50 Business
17

Keep slight right at fork

158 ft · 4 sec
18

Turn right onto US 50 Business

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Missouri Boulevard
Use the left / none lanes.
19

Turn right onto West McCarty Street

0.3 mi · 50 sec · West McCarty Street
20

Turn left onto Washington Street

250 ft · 12 sec · Washington Street
21

Turn right onto East Wall Way

341 ft · 25 sec · East Wall Way
22

Arrive at destination

East Wall Way

Trip Plan

To keep your drive stress-free, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel during the 211.1-mile journey. Departing early in the day is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and navigate the varying road types while you are fresh. Since the total travel time is just over four hours, you have the flexibility to choose a lunch break that suits your pacing preference. Keep a close eye on your fuel levels before leaving the more populated areas, as the shift from major highways to state routes can change the availability of service stations. Prioritizing this single stop will help you maintain comfort throughout the entire duration of the trip.

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 105.5 miles from Neosho, MO, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.1 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 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 105.5 miles or 2h 2m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jefferson City, MO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Neosho, 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 Neosho, MO

This is one driving day of about 211.1 miles and 4h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Neosho, 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 Congressman Gene Taylor Highway for about 110.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 105.5 mi from Neosho, MO · 2h 2m into the drive

Downtown Bentonville, AR, AR

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bentonville, AR

106 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

Bentonville, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bentonville, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 105.5 miles from Neosho, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Congressman Gene Taylor Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 110.1 miles.

Arriving in Jefferson City, MO

The final approach into Jefferson City, 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 Jefferson City, 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...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 7.3
View on nps.gov
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

National Battlefield

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 ~18 min detour Free near mile 65.5
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$32.06 one way

$64.13 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 74 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $35.35 $70.69
premium $4.80 $39.85 $79.70
diesel $5.64 $46.90 $93.80

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 73.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 63.3 0 $22.17 $10.13
Efficient EV 52.8 0 $18.47 $8.44
EV Truck/SUV 84.4 1 $29.55 $13.51

Gas CO2

74 kg

EV CO2

25 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 data refreshed 4 hours ago

Origin

Neosho, MO

Afternoon in Neosho on Sunday

Local time

3:48 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Jefferson City, MO

Afternoon in Jefferson City on Sunday

Local time

3:48 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Rain Showers Likely

S 12 to 16 mph 62% chance 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

21 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

4h 6m 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 Neosho, MO to Jefferson City, MO covers 211.1 miles and takes about 4h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, US 54, MO 5. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 105.5 miles from Neosho, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.06 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 211.1 miles you will encounter 17 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 (South Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (MO 86 / East Coler Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 17.3 miles (I 44 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Neosho, MO and Jefferson City, MO, road signs point toward Nevada and Osage Beach.

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