# Interstate 44 in Missouri

Interstate 44 (I-44) in the US state of Missouri runs northeast from the Oklahoma state line near Joplin to I-70 in Downtown St. Louis. It runs for about 293 miles (472 km) in the state, and is the longest Interstate Highway in the state.

## Route description

I-44 enters Missouri in Newton County at the eastern terminus of the Will Rogers Turnpike, 200 yards (180 m) south of the Kansas state line. The first interchange in Missouri is the eastern terminus of both U.S. Route 166 (US 166) and US 400. This highway next goes through southern Joplin and then begins to run concurrently with I-49/US 71 at exit 11 just after entering Jasper County. The freeway turns to a more eastern heading (the old route of US 166), and then I-49/US 71 splits off to the north at exit 18.
I-44 next enters Lawrence County. Near Mount Vernon, the highway curves to the northeast. The section of highway to Halltown is a completely new highway, not supplanting any previous highways. At Halltown, the road curves back to due east, beginning to follow the general pathway of old US 66, which it does all the way to downtown St. Louis. I-44 then goes around the western and northern sides of Springfield, serving as the western terminus of the James River Freeway, as well as crossing both Route 13 and US 65. The Interstate Highway continues northeast, bypassing Lebanon.
In Pulaski County, I-44 enters the Mark Twain National Forest and then leaves it to provide access to Waynesville, St. Robert, and Fort Leonard Wood before reentering the national forest. The freeway leaves the forest in Phelps County west of Rolla. I-44 then goes through Rolla, where it meets US 63. It continues its northeastern course, passing near St. James, Cuba, Bourbon, Sullivan, and Saint Clair. At this point, it roughly parallels the Meramec River.
I-44 next goes north of Pacific before moving into St. Louis County. I-44 then bisects Eureka before serving as the southern boundary of Route 66 State Park (the former site of Times Beach, known for its dioxin contamination and its eventual demolition and Superfund cleanup). I-44 then runs across unincorporated land before entering Fenton and meeting an interchange with I-270 in Sunset Hills. I-44 then goes through Crestwood, Kirkwood, Oakland, Webster Groves, and Shrewsbury before entering the city of St. Louis. I-44 runs on a due east course through St. Louis until it meets I-55 south of downtown. The two highways run concurrently for about two miles (3.2 km) until I-55 turns east at an interchange with I-64 to cross the Mississippi River on the Poplar Street Bridge. I-44 then continues north through Downtown St. Louis on the former route of I-70 to its junction with that highway at the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge; drivers wishing to access eastbound I-70 must cross the Poplar Street Bridge via I-55 and I-64.

## History

I-44 follows the general route of, and completely replaced, historic US 66 from Halltown (exit 58, the junction with a cutoff section of US 66 since renumbered as Route 96) to downtown St. Louis. From rural Joplin at exit 15 to Mount Vernon at exit 49, it largely follows a decommissioned section of US 166.
Originally, the eastern terminus of I-44 was at the I-55, I-64, I-70, and US 40 interchange by the Poplar Street Bridge. This was changed when the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge opened on February 9, 2014, rerouting I-70 over the river along a more northern alignment. I-44 now takes the old I-70 alignment through the below-grade section of roadway in St. Louis, extending the Interstate for about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to its new eastern terminus at a directional interchange with I-70 near Cass Avenue; the eastbound lanes of I-44 join the westbound lanes of I-70, and the westbound lanes of I-44 branch off the eastbound lanes of I-70.

## Future

Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDot) has proposed to improve I-44 across Missouri such as an additional lane and some curve realignment. Study is known as Forward I-44.

## Exit list

| County | Location | mi | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
| Newton | Joplin | 0.000 | 0.000 | | I-44 Toll west (Will Rogers Turnpike) – Tulsa | Continuation into Oklahoma |
| Newton | Joplin | 0.348 | 0.560 | 1 | US 166 west / US 400 west (Downstream Boulevard) – Baxter Springs | Eastern terminus of US 166/US 400 |
| Newton | Joplin | 3.987 | 6.416 | 4 | Route 43 south – Seneca | Western terminus of Route 43 concurrency |
| Newton | Joplin | 6.618 | 10.651 | 6 | I-44 BL east / Route 43 north / Route 86 east – Racine, Joplin | Eastern terminus of Route 43 concurrency; access to Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center, Freeman Hospital, and Mercy Hospital |
| Newton | Joplin | 8.817 | 14.190 | 8 | I-49 BL (Range Line Road) | Diverging diamond interchange; access to Missouri Southern State University |
| Jasper | Joplin | 11.677– 11.880 | 18.792– 19.119 | 11 | I-49 south / US 71 south / Route 249 north – Neosho, Fort Smith, Joplin | Signed as exits 11A (south) and 11B (north) eastbound; western terminus of I-49/US 71 concurrency |
| Jasper | ​ | 13.190 | 21.227 | 13 | Prigmor Road (CR 190) – Joplin | Opened November 2015 |
| Jasper | ​ | 15.483 | 24.917 | 15 | I-44 BL west / Route 66 west – Duenweg | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
| Jasper | Fidelity | 18.481 | 29.742 | 18 | I-49 north / US 71 north / Route 59 south – Carthage, Kansas City, Diamond | Signed as exits 18A (south) and 18B (north); eastern terminus of I-49/US 71 concurrency; access to George Washington Carver National Monument and Neosho National Fish Hatchery |
| Jasper | ​ | 22.497 | 36.205 | 22 | CR 100 | |
| Jasper | ​ | 26.507 | 42.659 | 26 | I-44 BL east / Route 37 – Sarcoxie, Reeds | |
| Jasper | ​ | 29.929 | 48.166 | 29 | I-44 BL west / Route U – Sarcoxie, La Russell | |
| Lawrence | ​ | 33.517 | 53.940 | 33 | To Route 97 south (CR 1010) | |
| Lawrence | ​ | 38.498 | 61.957 | 38 | Route 97 – Pierce City, Stotts City | |
| Lawrence | ​ | 44.298 | 71.291 | 44 | I-44 BL east / Route H – Mount Vernon, Monett | Access to the Missouri Veterans Home |
| Lawrence | Mount Vernon | 46.930 | 75.527 | 46 | I-44 BL west / Route 39 / Route 265 – Mount Vernon, Aurora | Access to Table Rock Lake |
| Lawrence | ​ | 49.725 | 80.025 | 49 | Route 174 – Chesapeake, Mount Vernon | |
| Lawrence | ​ | 58.133 | 93.556 | 57 | Route 96 west – Avilla | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; former US 66 west |
| Lawrence | ​ | 58.796 | 94.623 | 58 | Route O / Route Z – Halltown | |
| Lawrence | ​ | 61.964 | 99.721 | 61 | Route K / Route PP | |
| Greene | ​ | 67.011 | 107.844 | 67 | Route N / Route T – Republic, Bois D'Arc | |
| Greene | ​ | 68.958 | 110.977 | 69 | Route 360 east (James River Freeway) to US 60 | |
| Greene | ​ | 70.166 | 112.921 | 70 | Route B / Route MM | |
| Greene | ​ | 72.472 | 116.632 | 72 | I-44 BL / Route 266 (Chestnut Expressway) | Former US 66; access to Missouri State University, Drury University, Ozarks Technical Community College, Springfield-Branson National Airport, Downtown Springfield, Battlefield Mall, and Bass Pro Shops |
| Greene | Springfield | 75.480 | 121.473 | 75 | US 160 (West Bypass) – Willard | Access to Bois D'Arc Conservation Area and Andy Dalton Shooting Range |
| Greene | Springfield | 77.713 | 125.067 | 77 | Route 13 (Kansas Expressway) – Bolivar | First diverging diamond interchange in North America, existing interchange converted in 2009; access to Fantastic Caverns, Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, and Dickerson Park Zoo |
| Greene | Springfield | 80.372 | 129.346 | 80 | I-44 BL / Route H (Glenstone Avenue) – Pleasant Hope | Access to Evangel University |
| Greene | Springfield | 82.465 | 132.715 | 82 | US 65 – Branson, Sedalia | Signed as exits 82A (south) and 82B (north); access to Table Rock Lake, Bull Shoals Lake, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Missouri State University, Drury University, and Ozarks Technical Community College |
| Greene | Springfield | 84.734 | 136.366 | 84 | Route 744 (Mulroy Road / Beaver Road) | |
| Greene | Strafford | 88.917 | 143.098 | 88 | Route 125 – Strafford, Fair Grove | Future dogbone interchange |
| Webster | ​ | 96.021 | 154.531 | 96 | Route B – Northview | |
| Webster | Marshfield | 100.938 | 162.444 | 100 | Route W / Route 38 – Marshfield | |
| Webster | ​ | 103.000 | 165.762 | 103 | Route CC | dumbbell interchange |
| Webster | ​ | 107.553 | 173.090 | 107 | Sampson Road / Sparkle Brook Road | |
| Laclede | Conway | 113.230 | 182.226 | 113 | Route J / Route Y – Conway | |
| Laclede | Phillipsburg | 118.027 | 189.946 | 118 | Route A / Route C – Phillipsburg | Former US 66 |
| Laclede | ​ | 123.011 | 197.967 | 123 | County Road | |
| Laclede | Lebanon | 127.207 | 204.720 | 127 | I-44 BL (Elm Street) / Route W / Evergreen Pkwy | Former US 66 |
| Laclede | Lebanon | 129.057 | 207.697 | 129 | Route 5 / Route 32 / Route 64 (Jefferson Avenue) – Hartville | Access to the Lake of the Ozarks, Bennett Spring State Park, and Pomme de Terre Lake |
| Laclede | Lebanon | 130.160 | 209.472 | 130 | I-44 BL (Elm Street) / Route MM | Access to Mercy Hospital |
| Laclede | ​ | 135.239 | 217.646 | 135 | Route F – Sleeper | Former US 66 |
| Laclede | ​ | 139.999 | 225.307 | 140 | Route N / Route T – Stoutland | |
| Pulaski | ​ | 145.711 | 234.499 | 145 | Route 133 / Route AB – Richland | |
| Pulaski | ​ | 150.630 | 242.415 | 150 | Route 7 / Route P – Richland, Laquey | |
| Pulaski | ​ | 153.411 | 246.891 | 153 | Route 17 – Buckhorn | |
| Pulaski | Waynesville | 156.396 | 251.695 | 156 | Route H / I-44 BL – Waynesville, Fort Leonard Wood | Access to the Missouri Veterans Cemetery |
| Pulaski | St. Robert | 159.832 | 257.225 | 159 | I-44 BL – St. Robert, Waynesville | Former US 66 |
| Pulaski | St. Robert | 161.160 | 259.362 | 161 | I-44 BL / Route Y – St. Robert, Fort Leonard Wood | Access to Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport and U.S. Army Museums at Fort Leonard Wood |
| Pulaski | ​ | 163.836 | 263.668 | 163 | Route 28 – Dixon | |
| Pulaski | ​ | 169.086 | 272.118 | 169 | Route J | |
| Phelps | ​ | 172.574 | 277.731 | 172 | Route D – Jerome, Dixon | No westbound entrance |
| Phelps | ​ | 176.531 | 284.099 | 176 | Sugar Tree Road | |
| Phelps | Doolittle | 179.447 | 288.792 | 179 | Route C / Route T – Newburg, Doolittle | |
| Phelps | Rolla | 184.579 | 297.051 | 184 | I-44 BL east (Kingshighway) / Route 72 east to US 63 south – Rolla, Salem | Western terminus of Route 72; former US 66 east; access to Phelps Health Medical Group |
| Phelps | Rolla | 185.651 | 298.776 | 185 | Route E – Rolla | Access to Missouri University of Science and Technology and Phelps Health Medical Group |
| Phelps | Rolla | 186.642 | 300.371 | 186 | I-44 BL west / US 63 east (Bishop Avenue) / Route 72 – Rolla, Jefferson City | Former US 66 |
| Phelps | Rolla | 189.744 | 305.363 | 189 | Route V (Hy Point Industrial Park Drive) | |
| Phelps | St. James | 195.613 | 314.809 | 195 | Route 8 (Jefferson Street) / Route 68 – St. James | Former US 66; access to Ozark National Scenic Riverways and Meramac Spring Park |
| Crawford | ​ | 203.388 | 327.321 | 203 | Route F / Route ZZ | |
| Crawford | Cuba | 208.284 | 335.201 | 208 | Route 19 – Cuba, Owensville | |
| Crawford | ​ | 210.782 | 339.221 | 210 | Route UU | |
| Crawford | ​ | 214.250 | 344.802 | 214 | Route H – Leasburg | Access to Onondaga Cave State Park |
| Crawford | Bourbon | 218.492 | 351.629 | 218 | Route C / Route J / Route N – Bourbon | |
| Franklin | Sullivan | 224.286 | 360.953 | 225 | Route 185 north / Route D – Sullivan | Access to Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital |
| Franklin | ​ | 225.831 | 363.440 | 226 | Route 185 south / Route AF – Sullivan, Potosi | Access to Meramec State Park |
| Franklin | ​ | 230.240 | 370.535 | 230 | Route W / Route JJ – Stanton | Access to Meramec Caverns |
| Franklin | St. Clair | 238.816 | 384.337 | 239 | Route 30 / Route AB / Route WW – St. Clair | |
| Franklin | St. Clair | 240.309 | 386.740 | 240 | Route 47 – St. Clair, Union | |
| Franklin | ​ | 242.189 | 389.765 | 242 | Route AH | |
| Franklin | ​ | 247.088 | 397.650 | 247 | US 50 west / Route O / Route AT – Union, Jefferson City | Western terminus of US 50 concurrency; access to Robertsville State Park and East Central College |
| Franklin | Villa Ridge | 251.485 | 404.726 | 251 | Route 100 west – Washington | Former US 66; access to Mercy Hospital |
| Franklin | Gray Summit | 253.289 | 407.629 | 253 | I-44 BL / Route 100 east – Gray Summit | Former US 66; access to Shaw Nature Reserve and Purina Farms |
| Franklin | Pacific | 256.555 | 412.885 | 256 | I-44 BL – Pacific | |
| St. Louis | Eureka | 261.505 | 420.852 | 261 | I-44 BL west / Six Flags Road | Access to Six Flags St. Louis |
| St. Louis | Eureka | 264.459 | 425.606 | 264 | Route 109 – Eureka | Access to Babler State Park and Don Robinson State Park |
| St. Louis | Eureka | 265.262 | 426.898 | 265 | Williams Road | Eastbound exit and entrance; access to Route 66 State Park |
| St. Louis | ​ | 266.557 | 428.982 | 266 | Lewis Road | Access to Route 66 State Park Visitor Center |
| St. Louis | ​ | 268.788 | 432.572 | 269 | Beaumont Antire Road | Access to Jay Henges Shooting Range |
| St. Louis | Valley Park | 272.385 | 438.361 | 272 | Route 141 – Fenton, Valley Park | Access to SSM Health St. Clare Hospital |
| St. Louis | Fenton | 273.844 | 440.709 | 274A | Bowles Avenue | Signed as exit 274 westbound |
| St. Louis | Fenton | 274.664 | 442.029 | 274B | Mraz Lane | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
| St. Louis | Fenton | 275.630 | 443.583 | 275 | North Highway Drive / Soccer Park Road | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
| St. Louis | Sunset Hills | 275.872– 276.932 | 443.973– 445.679 | 276 | I-270 – Memphis, Chicago | Access to St. Louis Lambert International Airport |
| St. Louis | Sunset Hills | 276.132– 276.844 | 444.391– 445.537 | 277A | Route 366 east (Watson Road) | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; former US 66 |
| St. Louis | Sunset Hills–Kirkwood city line | 277.619 | 446.784 | 277B | US 50 east / US 61 / US 67 (Lindbergh Boulevard) | Eastern terminus of US 50 concurrency; access to Historic Downtown Kirkwood, The Magic House, and Laumeier Sculpture Park |
| St. Louis | Kirkwood–Crestwood city line | 278.634 | 448.418 | 278 | Big Bend Road | |
| St. Louis | Oakland–Webster Groves line | 279.736 | 450.191 | 279 | Berry Road | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
| St. Louis | Webster Groves | 280.739 | 451.806 | 280 | Elm Avenue | Access to Historic Downtown Webster Groves and Webster University |
| St. Louis | Webster Groves–Shrewsbury line | 282.300 | 454.318 | 282 | Murdoch Avenue / Laclede Station Road | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
| St. Louis | Shrewsbury | 282.485 | 454.616 | 283 | Shrewsbury Avenue | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 284.175 | 457.335 | 284A | Jamieson Avenue | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 284.432 | 457.749 | 284B | Arsenal Street | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 284.800 | 458.341 | 285 | Southwest Avenue | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 285.602 | 459.632 | 286 | Hampton Avenue | Access to Forest Park, Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, and the Saint Louis Zoo |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 286.779 | 461.526 | 287A | Kingshighway Boulevard | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; access to Tower Grove Park and Washington University Medical Center |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 287.127 | 462.086 | 287B | Vandeventer Avenue | Also signed westbound for Kingshighway Boulevard; access to Missouri Botanical Garden |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 288.254 | 463.900 | 288 | Grand Boulevard | Access to Saint Louis University, Saint Louis University Hospital, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, John Cochran Veterans Hospital, and Missouri School for the Blind |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 289.265 | 465.527 | 289 | Jefferson Avenue | Access to Enterprise Center and Union Station |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 289.595– 290.274 | 466.058– 467.151 | 290B | I-55 south – Memphis | Western terminus of concurrency with I-55; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; former eastern terminus of I-44 |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 290.123 | 466.908 | 290A | Route 30 (12th Street / Gravois Avenue) | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 290.296 | 467.186 | 290B | Lafayette Avenue | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; former Route 755 |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 290.591 | 467.661 | 290C | Park Avenue / 7th Street | |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 291.167– 291.528 | 468.588– 469.169 | 291A | I-55 north / I-64 / US 40 east to I-70 east – Illinois | Eastern terminus of concurrency with I-55; westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 291.267 | 468.749 | 291B | Walnut Street | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 291.369 | 468.913 | 292 | Lumiere Place Boulevard / Washington Avenue / Eads Bridge | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; access to the Gateway Arch |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 292.146 | 470.163 | 292A | Convention Plaza / Martin L. King Bridge – Illinois | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; access to IL 3, I-55, I-70, and I-64 |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | | | | I-70 Express Lanes | Westbound entrance only |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 292.605 | 470.902 | 292B | Broadway | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 292.919 | 471.407 | 293 | Madison Street / St. Louis Avenue | Eastbound exit only; access to Municipal River Terminal |
| City of St. Louis | City of St. Louis | 293.183 | 471.832 | | I-70 west – Kansas City | Eastern terminus |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus HOV only Incomplete access Tolled |||||||

## Business loops

All of I-44's business routes are in Missouri. Most of these business loops were the former US 66. Missouri also has the unusual occurrence of a business loop and business spur from the same Interstate intersecting (the Waynesville–St. Robert loop and the Ft. Leonard Wood spur).