How far is Excelsior Springs, MO from Joplin, MO?

The driving distance from Excelsior Springs, MO to Joplin, MO is about 183.2 miles (294.9 km), with a travel time of about 02h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 156.6 miles (252 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 43m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
183.24 mi
02h 51m
Flight
156.58 mi
251.99 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Excelsior Springs.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
156.58 mi
Kilometers
251.99 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
183.24 mi
Kilometers
294.9 km
Drive Time
02h 51m

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 02h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Joplin
Sat, Apr 25, 5:23 PM CDT
Return by in Excelsior Springs
Sat, Apr 25, 8:15 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Excelsior Springs
2026-04-25T14:31
Arrive Joplin
Sat, Apr 25, 5:23 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:52 AM to 12:52 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:46 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Excelsior Springs
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Butler
MO

City in Missouri, United States

From Excelsior Springs
91.5 mi
01h 25m
To Joplin
91.7 mi
01h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph ESE
Destination
78°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Excelsior Springs and Joplin.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Excelsior Springs and Joplin.

  1. 1

    Start on South Thompson Avenue

    32 m · 11 sec · South Thompson Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn sharp right onto Saint Louis Avenue

    42 m · 7 sec · Saint Louis Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Saint Louis Avenue

    1548 ft · 55 sec · Saint Louis Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Sycamore Street

    726 ft · 22 sec · Sycamore Street

  5. 5

    Turn slight left onto Kearney Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Kearney Road

  6. 6

    Continue on West Jesse James Road

    1.2 km · 2 min · West Jesse James Road

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    15.8 mi · 19 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 435 South: Saint Louis

    1.1 km · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    9.5 mi · 11 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

    8.9 mi · 10 min · Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 49 South, US 71 South, I 470 East, US 50 East: Joplin, Lee's Summit

    1.1 km · 46 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 49, I 470, US 50 East, US 71 South: Joplin, Lee's Summit

    749 ft · 13 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin

    1594 ft · 39 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    129.8 mi · 2 hr 20 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 571 South, MO 96, I 49 Business, MO 171 North: Webb City

    706 ft · 15 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway

    6.6 mi · 7 min · Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on I 49 Business, MO 171 North: Webb City

    1.1 mi · 1 min

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East MacArthur Drive

    72 m · 3 sec · East MacArthur Drive

  19. 19

    Exit the roundabout onto East MacArthur Drive

    1.5 km · 2 min · East MacArthur Drive

  20. 20

    Continue on West Macarthur Drive

    2 mi · 3 min · West Macarthur Drive

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward North Main Street Road

    78 m · 7 sec · North Main Street Road

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto North Main Street Road

    4 mi · 9 min · North Main Street Road

  23. 23

    Turn left

    18 m · 7 sec

  24. 24

    Turn right

    25 m · 6 sec

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Excelsior Springs 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
25 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
2 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 49 South
131 mi · 71%
West Jesse James Road
16.6 mi · 9%
I 435 South
10.2 mi · 6%
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
8.88 mi · 5%
Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway
6.63 mi · 4%
North Main Street Road
4.09 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 49 South

Merge slight left

130 mi · 02h 20m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.6 mi
156.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Butler
01h 25m from Excelsior Springs
Leave By
12:46 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Excelsior Springs and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Joplin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Excelsior Springs to Joplin?

The road trip is about 183.2 miles (294.9 km) and usually takes 02h 51m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Butler is a useful midpoint, sitting about 91.5 miles from Excelsior Springs and 91.7 miles from Joplin.

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

The direct path is about 156.6 miles (252 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:46 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.40 one way or $48.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Excelsior Springs and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Joplin.

Stop Ideas Near Butler

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

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

RAIL

Lee's Summit

73 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Warrensburg

76 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Independence

93 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.
RAIL

Union Station

95 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Excelsior Springs and Joplin. Straight-line distance: 156.58 mi (251.99 km).

Excelsior Springs

#1 Excelsior Springs

City in Clay County, Missouri, United States

Population11,833
Coordinates39.3391700, -94.2260600
Altitude239
CountryUnited States
Joplin

#2 Joplin

The most populous city in Jasper County, Missouri.

Population50,956
Coordinates37.0842300, -94.5132800
Altitude306
CountryUnited States
Start: South Thompson Avenue (-94.226056, 39.33917)
End: South Main Street (-94.513461, 37.084233)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 295 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.47 gal
24.48 L · about $24.40
Round trip
$48.80
12.94 gal · 48.96 L
Estimated CO2
57.5 kg one way
Round trip: 115 kg / 254 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $24.40 $48.80
Mid-grade $4.25 $27.52 $55.03
Premium $4.65 $30.11 $60.22
Diesel $5.30 $34.32 $68.63

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 Excelsior Springs and Joplin. The current time is 14:31:45.

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.