How far is Joplin, MO from Castor, MO?

The driving distance from Joplin, MO to Castor, MO is about 304.3 miles (489.7 km), with a travel time of about 06h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 250 miles (402.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
304.3 mi
06h 13m
Flight
249.95 mi
402.25 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Joplin.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
249.95 mi
Kilometers
402.25 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
304.3 mi
Kilometers
489.73 km
Drive Time
06h 13m

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 06h 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Castor
Sun, Apr 12, 11:45 AM CDT
Return by in Joplin
Sun, Apr 12, 5:59 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Joplin
2026-04-12T05:32
Arrive Castor
Sun, Apr 12, 11:45 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:13 PM to 1:43 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:34 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Joplin
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Willow Springs
MO

City in Howell County, Missouri, United States

From Joplin
151.9 mi
03h 06m
To Castor
152.4 mi
03h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 20 mph S
Destination
81°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 18 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    67 m · 18 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right

    59 m · 19 sec

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East 7th Street

    6.8 mi · 14 min · East 7th Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Cimarron Road

    1.4 km · 1 min · Cimarron Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 44 East, I 49 North, US 71 North: Springfield, Kansas City

    1 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

    53.2 mi · 57 min · Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 360 East

    1463 ft · 31 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on James River Freeway

    14.4 mi · 17 min · James River Freeway

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    81.3 mi · 1 hr 35 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff

    90.4 mi · 1 hr 47 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right

    4.8 mi · 6 min

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto North Westwood Boulevard

    823 ft · 14 sec · North Westwood Boulevard

  13. 13

    Turn slight left

    84 m · 12 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left

    756 ft · 16 sec

  15. 15

    Take the ramp right

    1102 ft · 27 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    27.5 mi · 32 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 25: Dexter, Bloomfield

    1387 ft · 36 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left

    14.8 mi · 22 min

  19. 19

    Turn left

    3.1 mi · 5 min

  20. 20

    Turn right

    3.6 mi · 6 min

  21. 21

    Turn left onto County Road 640

    1.7 mi · 7 min · County Road 640

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · County Road 640

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
22 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
James River Freeway
95.8 mi · 31%
US 60 East
95.1 mi · 31%
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
53.2 mi · 17%
North Westwood Boulevard
27.9 mi · 9%
East 7th Street
6.76 mi · 2%
County Road 640
1.74 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 60 East

Keep slight left to continue on US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff

90.4 mi · 01h 47m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 13m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+54.3 mi
250 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Willow Springs
03h 06m from Joplin
Leave By
11:34 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Joplin and Partly Sunny near Castor.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Joplin to Castor?

The road trip is about 304.3 miles (489.7 km) and usually takes 06h 13m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Willow Springs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 151.9 miles from Joplin and 152.4 miles from Castor.

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

The direct path is about 250 miles (402.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 54.3 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.50 one way or $81.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Joplin and Partly Sunny near Castor.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Joplin and Castor. Straight-line distance: 249.95 mi (402.25 km).

Joplin

#1 Joplin

The most populous city in Jasper County, Missouri.

Population50,956
Coordinates37.0842300, -94.5132800
Altitude306
CountryUnited States
Castor

#2 Castor

Unincorporated community in Missouri

Population4,951
Coordinates37.0675500, -89.9787100
Altitude107
CountryUnited States
Start: Joplin (-94.51328, 37.08423)
End: Castor (-89.97871, 37.06755)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 490 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 08m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 04m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 47m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.74 gal
40.65 L · about $40.50
Round trip
$81.00
21.48 gal · 81.3 L
Estimated CO2
95.4 kg one way
Round trip: 190.9 kg / 421 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $40.50 $81.00
Mid-grade $4.25 $45.68 $91.35
Premium $4.65 $49.98 $99.97
Diesel $5.30 $56.96 $113.93

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 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Joplin and Castor. The current time is 05:32:10.

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.