How far is Joplin, MO from Warrensburg, MO?

The driving distance from Joplin, MO to Warrensburg, MO is about 161.6 miles (260 km), with a travel time of about 03h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 123.5 miles (198.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 42m 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
161.54 mi
03h 21m
Flight
123.47 mi
198.71 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
123.47 mi
Kilometers
198.71 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
161.54 mi
Kilometers
259.97 km
Drive Time
03h 21m

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 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Warrensburg
Thu, Apr 23, 12:52 PM CDT
Return by in Joplin
Thu, Apr 23, 4:14 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Joplin
2026-04-23T09:31
Arrive Warrensburg
Thu, Apr 23, 12:52 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:21 AM to 11:21 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
10:18 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
Rich Hill
MO

City in Missouri

From Joplin
80.8 mi
01h 40m
To Warrensburg
80.7 mi
01h 40m

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
78°F
Thursday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 21 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    69 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Purple Heart Trail

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 49 Business, MO F, MO D: Passaic

    1093 ft · 24 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right

    2.8 mi · 4 min

  17. 17

    Turn left

    6.4 mi · 9 min

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn right

    5.5 mi · 8 min

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    17.8 mi · 24 min

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Northwest 401 Road

    1 mi · 4 min · Northwest 401 Road

  21. 21

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Northwest 401

    156 m · 23 sec · Northwest 401

  22. 22

    Turn right

    2.8 mi · 4 min

  23. 23

    Turn left

    23.1 mi · 29 min

  24. 24

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward MO 13 Business: Warrensburg

    73 m · 3 sec

  25. 25

    Exit the roundabout onto MO 13 Business: Warrensburg

    3.9 mi · 8 min

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Maguire Street

Car Route Details

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

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
26 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
1 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Purple Heart Trail
69 mi · 43%
I 49 Business
18 mi · 11%
Trooper Charles P. Corbin Memorial Highway
10.5 mi · 6%
West MacArthur Drive
8.78 mi · 5%
MO 13 Business
3.93 mi · 2%
George Washington Carver Memorial Highway
3.2 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Purple Heart Trail

Continue on Purple Heart Trail

69 mi · 01h 14m

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 21m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.1 mi
123.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rich Hill
01h 40m from Joplin
Leave By
10:18 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 161.6 miles (260 km) and usually takes 03h 21m 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?

Rich Hill is a useful midpoint, sitting about 80.8 miles from Joplin and 80.7 miles from Warrensburg.

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

The direct path is about 123.5 miles (198.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.1 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 10:18 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.49 one way or $42.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Rich Hill

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

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

RAIL

Lee's Summit

91 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Warrensburg

92 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Independence

110 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.
RAIL

Union Station

112 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Joplin and Warrensburg. Straight-line distance: 123.47 mi (198.71 km).

Joplin

#1 Joplin

The most populous city in Jasper County, Missouri.

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

#2 Warrensburg

City in Missouri

Population20,539
Coordinates38.7627900, -93.7360500
Altitude263
CountryUnited States
Start: Joplin (-94.51328, 37.08423)
End: Warrensburg (-93.73605, 38.76279)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 260 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.7 gal
21.58 L · about $21.49
Round trip
$42.99
11.4 gal · 43.16 L
Estimated CO2
50.7 kg one way
Round trip: 101.3 kg / 223 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $21.49 $42.99
Mid-grade $4.25 $24.24 $48.48
Premium $4.65 $26.53 $53.06
Diesel $5.30 $30.23 $60.47

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Joplin and Warrensburg. The current time is 09:31:42.

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.