How far is Herculaneum, MO from Joplin, MO?

The driving distance from Herculaneum, MO to Joplin, MO is about 277.5 miles (446.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 240.3 miles (386.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 56m 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
277.47 mi
04h 28m
Flight
240.35 mi
386.81 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Herculaneum.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
240.35 mi
Kilometers
386.81 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
277.47 mi
Kilometers
446.55 km
Drive Time
04h 28m

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 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Joplin
Thu, Apr 16, 4:52 PM CDT
Return by in Herculaneum
Thu, Apr 16, 9:20 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Herculaneum
2026-04-16T12:24
Arrive Joplin
Thu, Apr 16, 4:52 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:28 AM to 12:28 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
8:04 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Herculaneum
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
Richland
MO

City in Missouri parts of witch are in Camden, Laclede, and Pulaski Counties

From Herculaneum
138.6 mi
02h 14m
To Joplin
138.9 mi
02h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Thursday

Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph SW
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Herculaneum and Joplin.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    17 m · 7 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Joachim Avenue

    1 km · 2 min · Joachim Avenue

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Commercial Boulevard

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Commercial Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn left

    2237 ft · 45 sec

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North: Saint Louis

    1719 ft · 42 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    3.7 mi · 4 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward MO M: Antonia, Barnhart

    1759 ft · 44 sec

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn left

    11.7 mi · 18 min

  9. 9

    Turn left

    27 mi · 38 min

  10. 10

    Continue on West Gravois Avenue

    1148 ft · 29 sec · West Gravois Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn right

    1193 ft · 35 sec

  12. 12

    Take the exit left toward I 44 West: Rolla

    1208 ft · 29 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    222.8 mi · 4 hr

  14. 14

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

    8.5 mi · 17 min

  15. 15

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    48 m · 7 sec · South Main Street

  16. 16

    Turn right

    18 m · 7 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right

    25 m · 6 sec

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Herculaneum 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
18 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 44 West
223 mi · 80%
I 44 Business
8.55 mi · 3%
I 55 North
4.04 mi · 1%
Commercial Boulevard
1.32 mi
Joachim Avenue
0.62 mi
MO M
0.33 mi
Longest Stretch

I 44 West

Merge slight left

223 mi · 04h 01m

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 28m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.2 mi
240.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Richland
02h 14m from Herculaneum
Leave By
8:04 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Herculaneum and 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 Herculaneum to Joplin?

The road trip is about 277.5 miles (446.6 km) and usually takes 04h 28m 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?

Richland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 138.6 miles from Herculaneum and 138.9 miles from Joplin.

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

The direct path is about 240.3 miles (386.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.2 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 8:04 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.92 one way or $73.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Herculaneum and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Joplin.

Stop Ideas Near Richland

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

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

RAIL

Jefferson City

83 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Sedalia

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Herculaneum and Joplin. Straight-line distance: 240.35 mi (386.81 km).

Herculaneum

#1 Herculaneum

Roman town

Population4,261
Coordinates38.2683900, -90.3801200
Altitude135
CountryUnited States
Joplin

#2 Joplin

The most populous city in Jasper County, Missouri.

Population50,956
Coordinates37.0842300, -94.5132800
Altitude306
CountryUnited States
Start: (-90.380133, 38.268455)
End: South Main Street (-94.513461, 37.084233)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 447 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.79 gal
37.06 L · about $36.92
Round trip
$73.84
19.58 gal · 74.12 L
Estimated CO2
87 kg one way
Round trip: 174 kg / 384 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $36.92 $73.84
Mid-grade $4.25 $41.64 $83.27
Premium $4.65 $45.56 $91.13
Diesel $5.30 $51.93 $103.85

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Herculaneum and Joplin. The current time is 12:24:08.

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.