Origin
Shrewsbury, MO
Afternoon in Shrewsbury on Saturday
Local time
2:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shrewsbury, MO to Joplin, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 9m
Distance
275.5 mi
443 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 56m
★
6 AM
5h 9m
8 AM
5h 36m
10 AM
5h 18m
12 PM
5h 16m
3 PM
5h 20m
5 PM
5h 35m
8 PM
5h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shrewsbury, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Joplin, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Shrewsbury, MO to Joplin, MO covers 275.5 miles and takes about 5h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, I 44 Business, Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 261.3 miles on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.07 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
137.8 miles from Shrewsbury, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor | 261.3 mi | 4h 43m |
| I 44 Business | 8.5 mi | 17m |
| Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Murdoch Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Laclede Station Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
— 261.3 mi, about 4h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shrewsbury, MO and Joplin, MO.
1
Start on I 44
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
2
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 282
Toward Laclede Station Road, Murdoch Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
3
Turn right onto Laclede Station Road
395 ft
·
11 sec
·
Laclede Station Road
4
Turn right onto Murdoch Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Murdoch Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
Toward I 44 West
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Merge onto I 44
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
7
Continue on I 44
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway
8
Continue on I 44; US 50
261 mi
·
4 hr 43 min
·
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 43
156 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Main Street
11
Turn right
60 ft
·
6 sec
12
Turn right
83 ft
·
6 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 137.8 miles from Shrewsbury, MO, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 261.3 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 61 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.8 miles or 2h 31m 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 6m
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 Shrewsbury, 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 Shrewsbury, MO
This is one driving day of about 275.5 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Shrewsbury, 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 Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor for about 261.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
138 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 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 137.8 miles from Shrewsbury, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 261.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 275.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the exit toward Laclede Station Road, Murdoch Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 282
Toward Laclede Station Road, Murdoch Avenue
8
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 44 West
8
266.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 51m 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
275.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 8m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
275.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 8m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.07 one way
$86.14 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $47.29 | $94.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $53.02 | $106.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.83 | $121.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.6 | 1 | $28.93 | $13.22 |
| Efficient EV | 68.9 | 0 | $24.11 | $11.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 110.2 | 1 | $38.57 | $17.63 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Saturday
Local time
2:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Waynesville, MO
138 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 9m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 266
View on nps.gov
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
$19
View on nps.gov
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 218.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
275.5 mi in 5h 9m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 261.3 mi on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 9m drive. You will face about 9 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: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 266.9 miles (I 44 Business; MO 66): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 9m. Total distance: 275.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (3%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 261.3 miles on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 266.9 miles (I 44 Business; MO 66): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — George Washington Carver National Monument, Gateway Arch National Park and Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Joplin, MO before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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