Driving from Little Rock to Joplin - need help please :) (Ozark: car, best)

[miss_engineer08]

Hi everyone

Need some suggestions on the best route to take to avoid the mountaneous terrain between Arkansas and Missouri. I know taking interstate 40 to 540 is the most direct route but 540 looks too mountaneous for me. I have an older car and dont want to stress it too much. From looking at the map, looks like Interstate 40 is fairly flat. Mapquest says to take interstate 40 to us 69 to interstate 44. Interstate 44 seemed flat as well.

I know it will take longer but just want some piece of mind.

Thanks in advance!

[bchris02]

Originally Posted by miss_engineer08

Hi everyone

Need some suggestions on the best route to take to avoid the mountaneous terrain between Arkansas and Missouri. I know taking interstate 40 to 540 is the most direct route but 540 looks too mountaneous for me. I have an older car and dont want to stress it too much. From looking at the map, looks like Interstate 40 is fairly flat. Mapquest says to take interstate 40 to us 69 to interstate 44. Interstate 44 seemed flat as well.

I know it will take longer but just want some piece of mind.

Thanks in advance!

I-540 would be your best bet. It is mountainous but its not that strenuous. Anything other than that will take you into windy, curvy, steep territory. If you had time to spare you could go into Oklahoma and take the Muskogee Turnpike up to Tulsa and then hit 44 and take it into Joplin, but that would add a few hours onto your trip.

[WLR]

If you simply cannot abide mountains then you could go:

I-40 to Memphis
I-55 to St Louis
Exit onto I270 bypass
I-44 to Joplin

BUT, I say you should use I540. Interstate highways have grading standards and it will be a smooth ride.

[nmnita]

you are going to hit a few mountains, but we aren't talking the Rockies or the high sierras, we are talking a few mountains and some curvy roads: again, very little and the only other way, up toward Memphis and over would be so far out of your way...

Nita

[DC at the Ridge]

I-540.

Especially if you're worried about a breakdown. There's a lot of traffic on 540, it's patrolled by state troopers, and getting assistance if your car breaks down will be easiest on 540. Plus the winding roads of alternate routes are going to be harder on your car with the braking and downshifting.

[miss_engineer08]

Thank you everyone for your inputs.Good point on 540 being a better route to take in case of a breakdown. Appreciate all your help!

[TWD39]

I-40 to 540 is pretty much all flat, but the interstate does get really rough around Ozark. 540 is a breeze to drive. There's about a 20 mile stretch where you see the mountains, but it will only feel like a gradual incline on the interstate. Plus you get to go through the Hopper Tunnel which is neat.

Once you get to Fayettville, the terrain is normal all the way to Joplin.

[CSD610]

My husband who is an over the road driver says 40 - 540 is the best route, 4 lane, shoulders if you have trouble, hills not like they used to be.