Origin
Park Hills, MO
Afternoon in Park Hills on Sunday
Local time
2:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Park Hills, MO to Joplin, MO
Drive Time
5h 18m
Distance
262.3 mi
422 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
Joplin, MO
Miloš Steklý
Trip Overview
Connecting Park Hills to Joplin, this 262.3-mile trip takes you across the Missouri landscape in roughly 5 hours and 18 minutes. It is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that is easily managed as a single-day trip, leaving you plenty of time at your destination. You should budget approximately $40 for fuel to complete the trek. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, the drive offers a consistent regional feel as you transition from the eastern side of the state to the southwest. While one stop is recommended to break up the travel, the route is efficient enough that you won't need to plan for an overnight stay unless you prefer a leisurely pace.
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
131.1 miles from Park Hills, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 48m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a drive defined by efficiency, with 79% of the journey spent on highways. Your route relies heavily on I-44, which accounts for the vast majority of your time behind the wheel. You will settle into a rhythm during the longest stretch of the trip, which covers 192.3 miles of uninterrupted interstate driving. While you will navigate local stretches like Marty Drive and I-44 Business at the start and finish, the core of the experience is a steady, high-speed transit. This is a practical, no-nonsense commute that favors speed and directness over technical backroads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 44 is the longest continuous segment at about 192.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and Marty Drive. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Field Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 18m 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: at 0.1 miles (Field Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 61.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Field Street
Turn sharp left onto Field Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
61.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West: Rolla
Navigation decision point
Toward I 44 West: Rolla
8
253.7 mi into trip
|
~5h in
|
I 44 Business; MO 66
Take the exit onto I 44 Business; MO 66 toward I 44 Business, MO 66: Duenweg, Joplin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 15
Toward I 44 Business, MO 66: Duenweg, Joplin
5
262.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 17m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 44 | 192.3 mi | 3h 27m |
| Marty Drive | 53.3 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 44 Business | 8.5 mi | 17m |
| MO 19 | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| West Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| MO Z | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Community Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Bryan Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 192.3 mi, about 3h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Park Hills, MO and Joplin, MO.
1
Start on Bryan Street
386 ft
·
24 sec
·
Bryan Street
2
Turn sharp left onto Field Street
201 ft
·
10 sec
·
Field Street
3
Turn right onto Community Drive
370 ft
·
20 sec
·
Community Drive
4
Turn left onto US 67 Business
63 ft
·
2 sec
·
Taylor Avenue
5
Turn right onto Community Drive
527 ft
·
18 sec
·
Community Drive
6
At end of road, turn right onto West Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
7
Continue on MO Z
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
MO Z
8
Turn left onto MO 8
53 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
Marty Drive
9
Continue on MO 19
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
MO 19
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 44 West: Rolla
11
Merge onto I 44
192 mi
·
3 hr 27 min
·
I 44
12
Take the exit onto I 44 Business; MO 66
8.5 mi
·
17 min
·
I 44 Business; MO 66
Exit 15
Toward I 44 Business, MO 66: Duenweg, Joplin
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43
156 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Main Street
14
Turn right
60 ft
·
6 sec
15
Turn right
83 ft
·
6 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For the best experience, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid midday traffic fluctuations on the busier interstate sections. Since the trip takes over five hours, pacing yourself with at least one scheduled stop is essential to stay alert during the long 192.3-mile interstate haul. Keep a close watch on your fuel gauge throughout this segment, as the interstate stretches can sometimes have fewer accessible service exits than local roads. Because this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal preference for morning or afternoon arrival. Always double-check your route through I-44 Business as you near Joplin, as navigating the transition from the interstate into the city center is where you will encounter the most local traffic.
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 131.1 miles from Park Hills, MO, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 192.3 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 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.1 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 18m
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 Park Hills, 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 Park Hills, MO
This is one driving day of about 262.3 miles and 5h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Park Hills, 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 I 44 for about 192.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 131.1 mi from Park Hills, MO · 2h 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
131 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 131.1 miles from Park Hills, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 44 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 192.3 miles.
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.
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
$39.84 one way
$79.68 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
92 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $43.92 | $87.84 |
| premium | $4.80 | $49.52 | $99.03 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $58.27 | $116.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.7 | 0 | $27.54 | $12.59 |
| Efficient EV | 65.6 | 0 | $22.95 | $10.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 104.9 | 1 | $36.72 | $16.79 |
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
2:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
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
13 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 18m 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 Park Hills, MO to Joplin, MO covers 262.3 miles and takes about 5h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 44, Marty Drive, I 44 Business. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 131.1 miles from Park Hills, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.84 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 18m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Field Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 61.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Park Hills, 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 Park Hills, MO
More trips to Joplin, MO
Explore more options from Park Hills, MO or browse trips ending in Joplin, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.
Explore maps for Park Hills, MO or Joplin, MO on MapSof.net.