How far is Joplin, MO from Sedalia, MO?

The driving distance from Joplin, MO to Sedalia, MO is about 174.4 miles (280.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 132 miles (212.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 17m 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
174.35 mi
03h 38m
Flight
132.06 mi
212.53 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
132.06 mi
Kilometers
212.53 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
174.35 mi
Kilometers
280.59 km
Drive Time
03h 38m

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 03h 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sedalia
Sun, May 24, 12:15 AM CDT
Return by in Joplin
Sun, May 24, 3:54 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Joplin
2026-05-23T20:36
Arrive Sedalia
Sun, May 24, 12:15 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:39 AM to 11:39 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:42 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
El Dorado Springs
MO

City in Cedar County, Missouri, USA

From Joplin
87.2 mi
01h 49m
To Sedalia
87.2 mi
01h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph E
Destination
77°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    25 m · 12 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left

    18 m · 6 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    2.3 mi · 6 min · South Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto North Main Street Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · North Main Street Road

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Demott Drive

    4 m · 1 sec · Demott Drive

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto Demott Drive

    2 mi · 3 min · Demott Drive

  7. 7

    Continue on West MacArthur Drive

    1.5 km · 2 min · West MacArthur Drive

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    71 m · 3 sec

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout

    7.8 mi · 9 min

  10. 10

    Continue on West Central Avenue

    138 m · 16 sec · West Central Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn left onto I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City

    1109 ft · 14 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto George Washington Carver Memorial Highway

    3.2 mi · 3 min · George Washington Carver Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway

    10.5 mi · 11 min · Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    34.5 mi · 37 min · Purple Heart Trail

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 54: Nevada, El Dorado Springs

    1680 ft · 39 sec

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn right

    51.3 mi · 1 hr 5 min

  17. 17

    Turn left

    23.2 mi · 32 min

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left

    1.4 km · 2 min

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Blue Branch Road

    101 m · 9 sec · Blue Branch Road

  20. 20

    Take the ramp right toward US 65 North, MO 7 North: Warsaw, Sedalia

    1310 ft · 36 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left

    32.7 mi · 39 min

  22. 22

    Turn right onto West 32nd Street

    92 m · 12 sec · West 32nd Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Clinton Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Clinton Road

  24. 24

    At the end of the road, turn left onto South Grand Avenue

    1.2 km · 2 min · South Grand Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn right onto West Broadway Boulevard

    2304 ft · 1 min · West Broadway Boulevard

  26. 26

    Turn left onto South Ohio Avenue

    35 m · 6 sec · South Ohio Avenue

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Ohio Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
27 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Purple Heart Trail
34.5 mi · 20%
US 65 North
32.9 mi · 19%
Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
10.5 mi · 6%
West MacArthur Drive
8.78 mi · 5%
George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
3.2 mi · 2%
South Main Street
2.34 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

At the end of the road, turn right

51.3 mi · 01h 05m

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
03h 38m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+42.4 mi
132 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
El Dorado Springs
01h 49m from Joplin
Leave By
9:42 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Joplin and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Sedalia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 174.4 miles (280.6 km) and usually takes 03h 38m 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?

El Dorado Springs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 87.2 miles from Joplin and 87.2 miles from Sedalia.

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

The direct path is about 132 miles (212.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.4 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 9:42 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.19 one way or $46.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Joplin and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Sedalia.

Stop Ideas Near El Dorado Springs

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around El Dorado Springs, 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 El Dorado Springs.

RAIL

Warrensburg

102 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Sedalia

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

Lee's Summit

119 mi away
217 SW Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Joplin and Sedalia. Straight-line distance: 132.06 mi (212.53 km).

Joplin

#1 Joplin

The most populous city in Jasper County, Missouri.

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

#2 Sedalia

City in Missouri

Population21,684
Coordinates38.7044600, -93.2282600
Altitude277
CountryUnited States
Start: Joplin (-94.51328, 37.08423)
End: Sedalia (-93.22826, 38.70446)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 281 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.15 gal
23.29 L · about $23.19
Round trip
$46.38
12.3 gal · 46.58 L
Estimated CO2
54.7 kg one way
Round trip: 109.3 kg / 241 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.19 $46.38
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.16 $52.31
Premium $4.65 $28.62 $57.24
Diesel $5.30 $32.62 $65.24

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 24, 2026

There is no time difference between Joplin and Sedalia. The current time is 20:36:41.

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.