Drive Time
4h 22m
Distance
259.2 mi
417 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
Photo: Miloš Steklý
The drive from Park Hills, MO to Joplin, MO covers 259.2 miles and takes about 4h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Field Street, Community Drive, Taylor Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.48 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
129.6 miles from Park Hills, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 22m drive with frequent turns across 259.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy — mostly straight driving
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 22m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Park Hills, MO to Joplin, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Field Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Community Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Taylor Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Marty Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 44 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 44 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Park Hills, MO and Joplin, MO.
Start on Bryan Street
Turn sharp left onto Field Street
Turn right onto Community Drive
Turn left onto Taylor Avenue
Turn right onto Community Drive
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Main Street
Continue straight
Turn left onto Marty Drive
Continue straight
Take the ramp left toward I 44 West: Rolla
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I 44 Business, MO 66: Duenweg, Joplin
Turn right onto South Main Street
Turn right
Turn right
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.6 miles or 2h 11m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Joplin, MO than in the middle of the route.
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 259.2 miles and 4h 22m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 129.6 mi from Park Hills, MO · 2h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
130 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 129.6 miles from Park Hills, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$38.48 one way
$76.96 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $43.40 | $86.80 |
| premium | $4.65 | $47.49 | $94.99 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $54.13 | $108.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.8 | 0 | $27.22 | $12.44 |
| Efficient EV | 64.8 | 0 | $22.68 | $10.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.7 | 1 | $36.29 | $16.59 |
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Park Hills on Saturday
Local time
12:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Joplin on Saturday
Local time
12:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Cahokia, IL
130 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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