How far is Jefferson City, MO from West Plains, MO?

The driving distance from Jefferson City, MO to West Plains, MO is about 157.9 miles (254.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 23m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 128.9 miles (207.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
157.89 mi
03h 23m
Flight
128.93 mi
207.49 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jefferson City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
128.93 mi
Kilometers
207.49 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
157.89 mi
Kilometers
254.1 km
Drive Time
03h 23m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 23m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in West Plains
Sat, Apr 25, 6:53 PM CDT
Return by in Jefferson City
Sat, Apr 25, 10:16 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jefferson City
2026-04-25T15:30
Arrive West Plains
Sat, Apr 25, 6:53 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 23m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:23 AM to 11:23 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:14 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jefferson City
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Edgar Springs
MO

City in Phelps County, Missouri, United States

From Jefferson City
79 mi
01h 41m
To West Plains
78.9 mi
01h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 mph E
Destination
77°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Jefferson City and West Plains.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson City and West Plains.

  1. 1

    Start on East Wall Way

    47 m · 13 sec · East Wall Way

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Jefferson Street

    1130 ft · 40 sec · Jefferson Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Rex M Whitton Expressway

    11.3 mi · 14 min · Rex M Whitton Expressway

  4. 4

    Keep slight right to continue on US 63 South: Rolla

    32.6 mi · 43 min

  5. 5

    Turn right

    7.5 mi · 10 min

  6. 6

    Turn straight

    7.5 mi · 11 min

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Tim Bradley Way

    19 m · 1 sec · Tim Bradley Way

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto Tim Bradley Way

    2010 ft · 49 sec · Tim Bradley Way

  9. 9

    Turn slight right onto North Bishop Avenue

    9 m · 1 sec · North Bishop Avenue

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on North Bishop Avenue

    44 m · 3 sec · North Bishop Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on North Bishop Avenue

    65.7 mi · 1 hr 23 min · North Bishop Avenue

  12. 12

    Take the ramp straight toward US 60 East, US 63 South: Willow Springs

    13.9 mi · 16 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on US 63 South: West Plains, Thayer

    16.6 mi · 20 min

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Gibson Street

    1307 ft · 22 sec · Gibson Street

  15. 15

    Turn straight

    53 m · 6 sec

  16. 16

    Turn slight right onto Porter Wagoner Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Porter Wagoner Boulevard

  17. 17

    Continue on West Main Street

    2854 ft · 1 min · West Main Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Court Square

    117 m · 11 sec · Court Square

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Court Square

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Jefferson City and West Plains.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
19 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
0 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Bishop Avenue
65.8 mi · 42%
US 63 South
49.2 mi · 31%
US 60 East
13.9 mi · 9%
Rex M Whitton Expressway
11.3 mi · 7%
Porter Wagoner Boulevard
1.14 mi · 1%
West Main Street
0.54 mi
Longest Stretch

North Bishop Avenue

Continue on North Bishop Avenue

65.7 mi · 01h 23m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 23m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29 mi
128.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Edgar Springs
01h 41m from Jefferson City
Leave By
10:14 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Jefferson City and Mostly Sunny near West Plains.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Jefferson City to West Plains?

The road trip is about 157.9 miles (254.1 km) and usually takes 03h 23m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Edgar Springs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79 miles from Jefferson City and 78.9 miles from West Plains.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 128.9 miles (207.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 29 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:14 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.00 one way or $42.01 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Jefferson City and Mostly Sunny near West Plains.

Stop Ideas Near Edgar Springs

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Edgar Springs, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Edgar Springs.

RAIL

Jefferson City

101 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Hermann

118 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jefferson City and West Plains. Straight-line distance: 128.93 mi (207.49 km).

Jefferson City

#1 Jefferson City

The capital of Missouri.

Population42,708
Coordinates38.5767000, -92.1735200
Altitude192
CountryUnited States
West Plains

#2 West Plains

City in Missouri, United States

Population12,383
Coordinates36.7281200, -91.8523700
Altitude306
CountryUnited States
Start: Jefferson City (-92.17352, 38.5767)
End: West Plains (-91.85237, 36.72812)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 254 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.57 gal
21.09 L · about $21.00
Round trip
$42.01
11.14 gal · 42.18 L
Estimated CO2
49.5 kg one way
Round trip: 99 kg / 218 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $21.00 $42.01
Mid-grade $4.25 $23.69 $47.38
Premium $4.65 $25.92 $51.85
Diesel $5.30 $29.54 $59.09

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Missouri · Apr 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Jefferson City and West Plains. The current time is 15:30:30.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.