How far is Joplin, MO from Washington, MO?

The driving distance from Joplin, MO to Washington, MO is about 247.6 miles (398.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 216.5 miles (348.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 27m 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
247.63 mi
04h 43m
Flight
216.51 mi
348.44 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
216.51 mi
Kilometers
348.44 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
247.63 mi
Kilometers
398.52 km
Drive Time
04h 43m

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 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Washington
Sat, May 30, 6:21 PM CDT
Return by in Joplin
Sat, May 30, 11:05 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Joplin
2026-05-30T13:37
Arrive Washington
Sat, May 30, 6:21 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:44 AM to 12:44 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
7:32 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
Lebanon
MO

City in Laclede County, Missouri, United States

From Joplin
123.7 mi
02h 21m
To Washington
124 mi
02h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
This Afternoon

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 30 1:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph S
Destination
82°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 3 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    224.6 mi · 4 hr 3 min · Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 47: Union, Saint Clair

    1030 ft · 25 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on MO 47: Union, Saint Clair

    32 m · 5 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    5.7 mi · 8 min · North Main Street

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn left

    2437 ft · 55 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right

    7.5 mi · 12 min

  12. 12

    Turn left onto East 8th Street

    554 ft · 18 sec · East 8th Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Macarthur Street

    1441 ft · 55 sec · Macarthur Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto East 3rd Street

    2306 ft · 1 min · East 3rd Street

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 3rd Street

Car Route Details

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

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
15 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
225 mi · 91%
East 7th Street
6.76 mi · 3%
North Main Street
5.74 mi · 2%
Cimarron Road
0.88 mi
I 44 East
0.62 mi
East 3rd Street
0.44 mi
Longest Stretch

Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

Merge slight left onto Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

225 mi · 04h 03m

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 43m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.1 mi
216.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lebanon
02h 21m from Joplin
Leave By
7:32 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Joplin and Partly Sunny near Washington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 247.6 miles (398.5 km) and usually takes 04h 43m 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?

Lebanon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 123.7 miles from Joplin and 124 miles from Washington.

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

The direct path is about 216.5 miles (348.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.1 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 7:32 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.96 one way or $65.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 77.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Lebanon

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

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

RAIL

Jefferson City

109 mi away
101 Jefferson Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Joplin and Washington. Straight-line distance: 216.51 mi (348.44 km).

Joplin

#1 Joplin

The most populous city in Jasper County, Missouri.

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

#2 Washington

City in Franklin County, Missouri

Population14,243
Coordinates38.5581100, -91.0120900
Altitude168
CountryUnited States
Start: Joplin (-94.51328, 37.08423)
End: Washington (-91.01209, 38.55811)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 399 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.74 gal
33.08 L · about $32.96
Round trip
$65.92
17.48 gal · 66.16 L
Estimated CO2
77.7 kg one way
Round trip: 155.3 kg / 342 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $32.96 $65.92
Mid-grade $4.25 $37.17 $74.34
Premium $4.65 $40.68 $81.35
Diesel $5.30 $46.36 $92.71

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Joplin and Washington. The current time is 13:37:53.

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.