How far is Liberty, MO from Joplin, MO?

The driving distance from Liberty, MO to Joplin, MO is about 170.9 miles (275 km), with a travel time of about 02h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 149.4 miles (240.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 29m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
170.87 mi
02h 44m
Flight
149.46 mi
240.53 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Liberty.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
149.46 mi
Kilometers
240.53 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
170.87 mi
Kilometers
274.99 km
Drive Time
02h 44m

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 02h 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Joplin
Wed, Apr 15, 6:16 PM CDT
Return by in Liberty
Wed, Apr 15, 9:01 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Liberty
2026-04-15T15:31
Arrive Joplin
Wed, Apr 15, 6:16 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:45 AM to 12:45 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:00 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Liberty
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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 Liberty
85.3 mi
01h 22m
To Joplin
85.6 mi
01h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Today

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 11:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph SW
Destination
76°F
Today

Mostly Cloudy then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 8:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 to 22 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Kansas Street

    56 m · 12 sec · East Kansas Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Missouri Street

    149 m · 23 sec · South Missouri Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Mill Street

    2061 ft · 1 min · East Mill Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Sunset Avenue

    1463 ft · 50 sec · Sunset Avenue

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on Forest Lane

    541 ft · 27 sec · Forest Lane

  6. 6

    Turn left onto West Kansas Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · West Kansas Street

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    537 ft · 14 sec

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight left toward I 35 South, US 69 South, MO 110 West: Kansas City

    1185 ft · 32 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 435 South: Saint Louis

    1.1 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    9.5 mi · 11 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

    8.9 mi · 10 min · Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 49 South, US 71 South, I 470 East, US 50 East: Joplin, Lee's Summit

    1.1 km · 46 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 49, I 470, US 50 East, US 71 South: Joplin, Lee's Summit

    749 ft · 13 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 49 South, US 71 South: Joplin

    1594 ft · 39 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    129.8 mi · 2 hr 20 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 571 South, MO 96, I 49 Business, MO 171 North: Webb City

    706 ft · 15 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway

    6.6 mi · 7 min · Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on I 49 Business, MO 171 North: Webb City

    1.1 mi · 1 min

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East MacArthur Drive

    72 m · 3 sec · East MacArthur Drive

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto East MacArthur Drive

    1.5 km · 2 min · East MacArthur Drive

  22. 22

    Continue on West Macarthur Drive

    2 mi · 3 min · West Macarthur Drive

  23. 23

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward North Main Street Road

    78 m · 7 sec · North Main Street Road

  24. 24

    Exit the roundabout onto North Main Street Road

    4 mi · 9 min · North Main Street Road

  25. 25

    Turn left

    18 m · 7 sec

  26. 26

    Turn right

    25 m · 6 sec

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
27 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
3 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 49 South
131 mi · 77%
I 435 South
10.2 mi · 6%
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
8.88 mi · 5%
Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway
6.63 mi · 4%
North Main Street Road
4.09 mi · 2%
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
2.88 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 49 South

Merge slight left

130 mi · 02h 20m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 44m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.5 mi
149.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rich Hill
01h 22m from Liberty
Leave By
1:00 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Liberty and Mostly Cloudy then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Joplin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 170.9 miles (275 km) and usually takes 02h 44m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Rich Hill is a useful midpoint, sitting about 85.3 miles from Liberty and 85.6 miles from Joplin.

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

The direct path is about 149.4 miles (240.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:00 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.74 one way or $45.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Liberty and Joplin. Straight-line distance: 149.46 mi (240.53 km).

Liberty

#1 Liberty

City in Missouri, United States

Population30,450
Coordinates39.2461100, -94.4191200
Altitude268
CountryUnited States
Joplin

#2 Joplin

The most populous city in Jasper County, Missouri.

Population50,956
Coordinates37.0842300, -94.5132800
Altitude306
CountryUnited States
Start: East Kansas Street (-94.41912, 39.246115)
End: South Main Street (-94.513461, 37.084233)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 275 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 07m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.03 gal
22.82 L · about $22.74
Round trip
$45.48
12.06 gal · 45.64 L
Estimated CO2
53.6 kg one way
Round trip: 107.2 kg / 236 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.74 $45.48
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.65 $51.29
Premium $4.65 $28.06 $56.13
Diesel $5.30 $31.98 $63.97

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Liberty and Joplin. The current time is 15:31:53.

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.