How far is Joplin, MO from Frontenac, MO?

The driving distance from Joplin, MO to Frontenac, MO is about 278.5 miles (448.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 247.9 miles (398.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 26m 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
278.49 mi
05h 13m
Flight
247.89 mi
398.94 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
247.89 mi
Kilometers
398.94 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
278.49 mi
Kilometers
448.19 km
Drive Time
05h 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 05h 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Frontenac
Thu, Apr 23, 1:24 PM CDT
Return by in Joplin
Thu, Apr 23, 6:37 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Joplin
2026-04-23T08:10
Arrive Frontenac
Thu, Apr 23, 1:24 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:13 AM to 1:13 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
6:34 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Joplin
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 Joplin
139.1 mi
02h 36m
To Frontenac
139.4 mi
02h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 22 mph S
Destination
83°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    260.4 mi · 4 hr 43 min · Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis

    871 ft · 19 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 270 North: Chicago

    551 ft · 12 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on I 270 North: Chicago

    2638 ft · 53 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    5.9 mi · 7 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis

    705 ft · 17 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Saint Louis

    1103 ft · 27 sec

  13. 13

    Continue on I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Saint Louis

    1108 ft · 21 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 64, US 40, US 61: Saint Louis

    920 ft · 13 sec

  15. 15

    Continue on I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Saint Louis

    681 ft · 10 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Avenue of the Saints

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 67, US 61: Lindbergh Boulevard

    1176 ft · 25 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on US 67 North: Lindbergh Boulevard

    112 m · 11 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left onto I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North

    2744 ft · 39 sec

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Avenue of the Saints

Car Route Details

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

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
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
260 mi · 93%
East 7th Street
6.76 mi · 2%
I 270 North
6.51 mi · 2%
Avenue of the Saints
1.44 mi · 1%
Cimarron Road
0.88 mi
I 44 East
0.62 mi
Longest Stretch

Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

Merge slight left onto Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

260 mi · 04h 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
05h 13m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.6 mi
247.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Richland
02h 36m from Joplin
Leave By
6:34 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Joplin and Mostly Sunny near Frontenac.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 278.5 miles (448.2 km) and usually takes 05h 13m 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 139.1 miles from Joplin and 139.4 miles from Frontenac.

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

The direct path is about 247.9 miles (398.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.6 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 6:34 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.07 one way or $74.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Joplin and Frontenac. Straight-line distance: 247.89 mi (398.94 km).

Joplin

#1 Joplin

The most populous city in Jasper County, Missouri.

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

#2 Frontenac

City in Missouri, USA

Population3,599
Coordinates38.6356100, -90.4151200
Altitude176
CountryUnited States
Start: Joplin (-94.51328, 37.08423)
End: Frontenac (-90.41512, 38.63561)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 448 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 58m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.83 gal
37.2 L · about $37.07
Round trip
$74.14
19.66 gal · 74.4 L
Estimated CO2
87.4 kg one way
Round trip: 174.7 kg / 385 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $37.07 $74.14
Mid-grade $4.25 $41.81 $83.61
Premium $4.65 $45.75 $91.50
Diesel $5.30 $52.14 $104.28

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Joplin and Frontenac. The current time is 08:10:53.

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.