The drive from Webb City, MO to Jefferson City, MO covers 206 miles and takes about 3h 56m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Congressman Gene Taylor Highway, US 54, MO 5 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 113.3 miles on Congressman Gene Taylor Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.21 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
103 miles from Webb City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
113.3 mi
2h 2m
US 54
57.1 mi
1h 5m
MO 5
23.7 mi
29m
Governor Warren E Hearnes Memorial Highway
3.4 mi
3m
East 7th Street
2 mi
3m
South Jefferson Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
Cimarron Road
0.9 mi
1m
I 49 Business
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
— 113.3 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Webb City, MO and Jefferson City, MO.
1
Start on MO D
0.4 mi·38 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto I 49 Business; MO 171
0.3 mi·39 sec·East MacArthur Drive
3
Enter roundabout onto I 49 Business; MO 171
234 ft·3 sec·I 49 Business; MO 171
4
Continue on I 49 Business; MO 171
0.6 mi·37 sec·I 49 Business; MO 171
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi·41 sec
Toward MO 249 South: Joplin
6
Merge onto MO 249
3.4 mi·3 min·Governor Warren E Hearnes Memorial Highway
Toward MO 249 South: Joplin
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward MO 66, I 44 Business
8
Turn left onto I 44 Business; MO 66
2.0 mi·3 min·East 7th Street
9
Continue on I 44 Business; MO 66
0.9 mi·1 min·Cimarron Road
10
Take the ramp onto I 44 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·I 44 Business
Toward I 44 East, I 49 North, US 71 North: Springfield, Kansas City
11
Merge onto I 44; I 49; US 71
113 mi·2 hr 2 min·Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 129Toward MO 64, MO 5, MO 32: Hartville
13
Turn left onto MO 5; MO 32; MO 64
1.6 mi·2 min·South Jefferson Avenue
14
Continue on MO 5
24 mi·29 min·MO 5
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 54: Camdenton, Nevada, Osage Beach, Jefferson City
16
Turn right onto US 54
31 mi·35 min·US 54
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto US 54
26 mi·29 min·US 54
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 50 Business
19
Keep slight right at fork
158 ft·4 sec
20
Turn right onto US 50 Business
0.2 mi·29 sec·Missouri Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto West McCarty Street
0.3 mi·50 sec·West McCarty Street
22
Turn left onto Washington Street
250 ft·12 sec·Washington Street
23
Turn right onto East Wall Way
341 ft·25 sec·East Wall Way
24
Arrive at destination
East Wall Way
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 103 miles from Webb City, MO, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.3 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 45 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103 miles or 1h 54m 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 11m
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 Webb City, 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 Webb City, MO
This is one driving day of about 206 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Webb City, 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 113.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 205.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|I 49 Business; MO 171
Enter roundabout onto I 49 Business; MO 171
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
5.3 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward MO 66, I 44 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 66, I 44 Business
5
9.1 mi into trip|~12m in|I 44; I 49; US 71 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
Merge onto I 44; I 49; US 71 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
122.4 mi into trip|~2h 15m 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
205.4 mi into trip|~3h 54m in|US 50 Business / Missouri Boulevard
Turn right onto US 50 Business / Missouri Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.21 one way
$64.41 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$35.36
$70.72
premium
$4.89
$39.64
$79.29
diesel
$5.61
$45.48
$90.96
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: 72.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.8
0
$21.63
$9.89
Efficient EV
51.5
0
$18.03
$8.24
EV Truck/SUV
82.4
1
$28.84
$13.18
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Webb City, MO
Afternoon
in Webb City on Saturday
Local time
2:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jefferson City, MO
Afternoon
in Jefferson City on Saturday
Local time
2:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Lebanon, MO
103 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
17 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
3h 56m 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.
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...
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 63.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive from Webb City, MO to Jefferson City, MO covers 206 miles and takes about 3h 56m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 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 113.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
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 around 0.7 miles in near I 49 Business; MO 171.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 206 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: at 0.7 miles (I 49 Business; MO 171): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 5.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.1 miles (I 44; I 49; US 71 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Webb City, MO and Jefferson City, MO, road signs point toward Nevada and Osage Beach.
Joplin is in Southwest Missouri. It's mentioned in the song "Route 66". Joplin is the "hub" of the southwest corner of Missouri, southeast Kansas, and northeast Oklahoma. The population of Joplin in 2020 was 51,762, but, with several "suburbs" around Joplin, the population of the Joplin metro area was over 210,077.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 206 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Webb City, MO to Jefferson City, MO covers 206 miles and takes about 3h 56m 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 103 miles from Webb City, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.21 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 206 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: at 0.7 miles (I 49 Business; MO 171): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 5.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.1 miles (I 44; I 49; US 71 / Congressman Gene Taylor Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Webb City, MO and Jefferson City, MO, road signs point toward Nevada and Osage Beach.
Yes. Nearby national parks include George Washington Carver National Monument and Wilson's Creek National Battlefield.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
