Trip from Raytown, MO to Joplin, MO

Drive Time

2h 21m

Distance

152.9 mi

246 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 12m ★
6 AM
2h 22m
8 AM
2h 41m
10 AM
2h 28m
12 PM
2h 27m
3 PM
2h 29m
5 PM
2h 40m
8 PM
2h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Raytown, MO, MO

Raytown, MO

Valeria Boltneva

Downtown Joplin, MO, MO

Joplin, MO

Miloš Steklý

Trip Overview

The drive from Raytown, MO to Joplin, MO covers 152.9 miles and takes about 2h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 435 South, I 49 South, I 49 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.22 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

76.4 miles from Raytown, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 21m drive with frequent turns across 152.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 435 South 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 Raytown, MO to Joplin, MO is easy. At 2h 21m 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 Raytown, MO to Joplin, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 435 South 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
North Main Street Road Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: I 435 South — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East 63rd Street

2.0 mi · 3 min · East 63rd Street
2

Turn left onto I 435 South

0.3 mi · 41 sec · I 435 South
3

Merge slight left

4.4 mi · 5 min
4

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
5

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
6

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
7

Merge slight left

130 mi · 2 hr 19 min
8

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
9

Turn right onto Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway

6.6 mi · 7 min · Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway
10

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
11

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East MacArthur Drive

236 ft · 3 sec · East MacArthur Drive
12

Exit the roundabout onto East MacArthur Drive

0.9 mi · 1 min · East MacArthur Drive
13

Continue on West Macarthur Drive

2.0 mi · 3 min · West Macarthur Drive
14

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward North Main Street Road

256 ft · 7 sec · North Main Street Road
15

Exit the roundabout onto North Main Street Road

4.0 mi · 8 min · North Main Street Road
16

Turn left

59 ft · 7 sec
17

Turn right

82 ft · 6 sec
18

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 76.4 miles from Raytown, MO, or about 1h 10m 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 14m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 76.4 miles or 1h 10m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 56m

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 Raytown, 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 Raytown, MO

This is one driving day of about 152.9 miles and 2h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Raytown, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 76.4 mi from Raytown, MO · 1h 10m into the drive

Downtown Nevada, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Nevada, MO

76 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.

Popular next leg

Nevada, MO to Joplin, MO

64.4 mi · 1h 17m

Pacing Suggestions

Nevada, MO

Fuel and coffee

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

Nevada, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 76.4 miles from Raytown, 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

$23.22 one way

$46.45 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 54 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $25.60 $51.20
premium $4.80 $28.86 $57.73
diesel $5.64 $33.97 $67.94

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 53.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 45.9 0 $16.05 $7.34
Efficient EV 38.2 0 $13.38 $6.12
EV Truck/SUV 61.2 0 $21.41 $9.79

Gas CO2

53 kg

EV CO2

18 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 3 days ago

Origin

Raytown, MO

Morning in Raytown on Monday

Local time

10:50 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Joplin, MO

Morning in Joplin on Monday

Local time

10:50 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

54°F

Nevada, MO

76 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

8 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 21m 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 Raytown, MO to Joplin, MO covers 152.9 miles and takes about 2h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 435 South, I 49 South, I 49. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76.4 miles from Raytown, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.22 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.
The drive from Raytown, MO to Joplin, MO is easy. At 2h 21m 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 Raytown, MO to Joplin, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Raytown, MO to Joplin, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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