How far is Bowling Green, MO from Joplin, MO?

The driving distance from Bowling Green, MO to Joplin, MO is about 297.8 miles (479.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 238.2 miles (383.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 44m 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
297.75 mi
04h 52m
Flight
238.26 mi
383.44 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bowling Green.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
238.26 mi
Kilometers
383.44 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
297.75 mi
Kilometers
479.19 km
Drive Time
04h 52m

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 04h 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Joplin
Wed, May 13, 2:14 AM CDT
Return by in Bowling Green
Wed, May 13, 7:06 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bowling Green
2026-05-12T21:21
Arrive Joplin
Wed, May 13, 2:14 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:52 AM to 12:52 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:16 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bowling Green
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
Linn Creek
MO

City in Camden County, Missouri, United States

From Bowling Green
148.7 mi
02h 26m
To Joplin
149.1 mi
02h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Tuesday

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 16 mph SW
Destination
79°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 16 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bowling Green and Joplin.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bowling Green and Joplin.

  1. 1

    Start on West Main Street

    2173 ft · 1 min · West Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North 9th Street

    3011 ft · 57 sec · North 9th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left

    1.5 mi · 3 min

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left

    9.6 mi · 13 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight left

    13.8 mi · 19 min

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route

    74 m · 3 sec

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout

    8.1 mi · 11 min

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Scott's Corner

    19 m · 1 sec

  9. 9

    Exit the rotary

    10.4 mi · 14 min

  10. 10

    Turn left onto US 54 West: Jefferson City

    105.6 mi · 2 hr

  11. 11

    Take the exit right toward MO 5 South, MO 7 South: Lebanon

    1203 ft · 29 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    24 mi · 29 min

  13. 13

    Turn left onto North Jefferson Avenue

    1.6 mi · 2 min · North Jefferson Avenue

  14. 14

    Take the exit right toward I 44 West: Springfield

    731 ft · 18 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    113 mi · 2 hr 2 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 44 Business, MO 66: Duenweg, Joplin

    8.5 mi · 17 min

  17. 17

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    48 m · 7 sec · South Main Street

  18. 18

    Turn right

    18 m · 7 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right

    25 m · 6 sec

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bowling Green and Joplin.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
20 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
2 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 44 West
113 mi · 38%
US 54 West
106 mi · 35%
MO 5 South
24.2 mi · 8%
North 9th Street
22.5 mi · 8%
Scott's Corner
10.4 mi · 4%
I 44 Business
8.55 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 44 West

Merge slight left

113 mi · 02h 02m

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
04h 52m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+59.6 mi
238.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Linn Creek
02h 26m from Bowling Green
Leave By
7:16 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Bowling Green and Sunny near Joplin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bowling Green to Joplin?

The road trip is about 297.8 miles (479.2 km) and usually takes 04h 52m 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?

Linn Creek is a useful midpoint, sitting about 148.7 miles from Bowling Green and 149.1 miles from Joplin.

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

The direct path is about 238.2 miles (383.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 59.6 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 7:16 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.63 one way or $79.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 93.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Bowling Green and Sunny near Joplin.

Stop Ideas Near Linn Creek

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Linn Creek, 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 Linn Creek.

RAIL

Jefferson City

76 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Sedalia

87 mi away
100 block of Main Street, through parking lot

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bowling Green and Joplin. Straight-line distance: 238.26 mi (383.44 km).

Bowling Green

#1 Bowling Green

City in Missouri

Population4,759
Coordinates39.3419900, -91.1951400
Altitude272
CountryUnited States
Joplin

#2 Joplin

The most populous city in Jasper County, Missouri.

Population50,956
Coordinates37.0842300, -94.5132800
Altitude306
CountryUnited States
Start: West Main Street (-91.19514, 39.341984)
End: South Main Street (-94.513461, 37.084233)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 479 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.51 gal
39.77 L · about $39.63
Round trip
$79.27
21.02 gal · 79.54 L
Estimated CO2
93.4 kg one way
Round trip: 186.8 kg / 412 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $39.63 $79.27
Mid-grade $4.25 $44.70 $89.40
Premium $4.65 $48.91 $97.83
Diesel $5.30 $55.75 $111.49

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 · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Bowling Green and Joplin. The current time is 21:21:45.

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.