How far is Forsyth, MO from Saint Joseph, MO?

The driving distance from Forsyth, MO to Saint Joseph, MO is about 273.8 miles (440.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 23m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 232.8 miles (374.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 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
273.76 mi
04h 23m
Flight
232.74 mi
374.56 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Forsyth.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
232.74 mi
Kilometers
374.56 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
273.76 mi
Kilometers
440.58 km
Drive Time
04h 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 04h 23m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Saint Joseph
Thu, May 14, 1:42 AM CDT
Return by in Forsyth
Thu, May 14, 6:06 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Forsyth
2026-05-13T21:19
Arrive Saint Joseph
Thu, May 14, 1:42 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 23m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:23 AM to 12:23 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
8:14 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Forsyth
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
Clinton
MO

City in Missouri, United States

From Forsyth
132.9 mi
02h 11m
To Saint Joseph
140.9 mi
02h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph NW
Destination
82°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Forsyth and Saint Joseph.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Forsyth and Saint Joseph.

  1. 1

    Start on Rockhill Drive

    567 ft · 25 sec · Rockhill Drive

  2. 2

    Turn slight left

    10.2 mi · 15 min

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right

    1279 ft · 31 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto American Legion Memorial Highway

    1.3 mi · 1 min · American Legion Memorial Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on US Highway 65

    12 mi · 14 min · US Highway 65

  6. 6

    Continue on American Legion Memorial Highway

    10.9 mi · 13 min · American Legion Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Schoolcraft Freeway

    10.7 mi · 13 min · Schoolcraft Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 44 West: Joplin

    1.3 km · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Payne Stewart Highway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · Payne Stewart Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 13: Bolivar

    596 ft · 15 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on MO 13: Bolivar

    46 m · 4 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on MO 13 North: Bolivar

    64 m · 7 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto North Kansas Expressway

    87.2 mi · 1 hr 43 min · North Kansas Expressway

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    35.9 mi · 39 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 49 North, US 71 North, MO 7 North: Kansas City

    37.9 mi · 46 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward 11th Street, Downtown

    1637 ft · 26 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto East 11th Street

    130 m · 16 sec · East 11th Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Charlotte Street

    888 ft · 23 sec · Charlotte Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto East 9th Street

    977 ft · 23 sec · East 9th Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Locust Street

    691 ft · 18 sec · Locust Street

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    3 mi · 6 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville

    1.4 km · 2 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward US 169 North: Smithville

    1540 ft · 24 sec

  24. 24

    Continue straight

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight left toward I 29 North, US 71 North: K.C.I. Airport, Saint Joseph

    2441 ft · 60 sec

  26. 26

    Merge slight right

    11.5 mi · 13 min

  27. 27

    Merge slight left

    2.7 mi · 3 min

  28. 28

    Keep slight left to continue on I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph

    26 mi · 28 min

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward I 229 North: Downtown Saint Joseph

    2673 ft · 54 sec

  30. 30

    Continue straight

    5.7 mi · 7 min

  31. 31

    Take the exit slight right toward Central Business District

    1382 ft · 34 sec

  32. 32

    Continue on Edmond Street

    2408 ft · 58 sec · Edmond Street

  33. 33

    Turn left onto South 10th Street

    841 ft · 21 sec · South 10th Street

  34. 34

    Turn right onto Frederick Avenue

    116 m · 6 sec · Frederick Avenue

  35. 35

    Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue

    42 m · 3 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Forsyth and Saint Joseph.

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
36 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
5 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Kansas Expressway
123 mi · 45%
I 29 North
40.7 mi · 15%
I 49 North
37.9 mi · 14%
American Legion Memorial Highway
12.2 mi · 4%
US Highway 65
12 mi · 4%
Schoolcraft Freeway
10.7 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

North Kansas Expressway

Merge slight left onto North Kansas Expressway

87.2 mi · 01h 43m

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 23m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41 mi
232.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clinton
02h 11m from Forsyth
Leave By
8:14 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Forsyth and Sunny near Saint Joseph.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Forsyth to Saint Joseph?

The road trip is about 273.8 miles (440.6 km) and usually takes 04h 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?

Clinton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 132.9 miles from Forsyth and 140.9 miles from Saint Joseph.

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

The direct path is about 232.8 miles (374.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 41 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 8:14 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.43 one way or $72.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 85.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Forsyth and Sunny near Saint Joseph.

Stop Ideas Near Clinton

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

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

RAIL

Warrensburg

44 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Sedalia

61 mi away
100 block of Main Street, through parking lot
RAIL

Lee's Summit

80 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Independence

98 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Forsyth and Saint Joseph. Straight-line distance: 232.74 mi (374.56 km).

Forsyth

#1 Forsyth

County seat of Taney County, Missouri, United States

Population2,560
Coordinates36.6850600, -93.1199000
Altitude283
CountryUnited States
Saint Joseph

#2 Saint Joseph

The most populous city in Buchanan County, Missouri.

Population74,074
Coordinates39.7686100, -94.8466300
Altitude270
CountryUnited States
Start: Rockhill Drive (-93.120022, 36.685081)
End: Walter Welsh Avenue (-94.846632, 39.768853)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 441 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 50m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 54m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.66 gal
36.57 L · about $36.43
Round trip
$72.86
19.32 gal · 73.14 L
Estimated CO2
85.8 kg one way
Round trip: 171.7 kg / 379 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $36.43 $72.86
Mid-grade $4.25 $41.08 $82.17
Premium $4.65 $44.96 $89.92
Diesel $5.30 $51.24 $102.47

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 14, 2026

There is no time difference between Forsyth and Saint Joseph. The current time is 21:19:28.

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.