How far is Saint Joseph, MO from Willow Springs, MO?

The driving distance from Saint Joseph, MO to Willow Springs, MO is about 308.3 miles (496.1 km), with a travel time of about 06h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 247.1 miles (397.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 08m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
308.24 mi
06h 04m
Flight
247.1 mi
397.67 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Saint Joseph.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
247.1 mi
Kilometers
397.67 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
308.24 mi
Kilometers
496.06 km
Drive Time
06h 04m

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 06h 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Willow Springs
Sun, Apr 19, 12:58 PM CDT
Return by in Saint Joseph
Sun, Apr 19, 7:02 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Saint Joseph
2026-04-19T06:53
Arrive Willow Springs
Sun, Apr 19, 12:58 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:04 PM to 1:34 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:52 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Saint Joseph
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Osceola
MO

City in St.

From Saint Joseph
154.1 mi
03h 02m
To Willow Springs
154.1 mi
03h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph WNW
Destination
67°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Saint Joseph and Willow Springs.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph and Willow Springs.

  1. 1

    Start on Walter Welsh Avenue

    127 m · 9 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North 12th Street

    91 m · 10 sec · North 12th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Francis Street

    1130 ft · 38 sec · Francis Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto North 9th Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North 9th Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right

    741 ft · 16 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    929 ft · 20 sec

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight left toward I 229 South, US 59 South: Kansas City

    992 ft · 21 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    4.5 mi · 5 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City

    1705 ft · 29 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    26.1 mi · 28 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight right

    2.2 mi · 2 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City

    12 mi · 14 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 169 South: Kansas City Downtown

    1724 ft · 29 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    5.2 mi · 7 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Broadway Boulevard

    536 ft · 18 sec · Broadway Boulevard

  16. 16

    Turn left onto West 6th Street

    1438 ft · 26 sec · West 6th Street

  17. 17

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 35 North, I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East

    721 ft · 16 sec

  18. 18

    Continue on George Brett Super Highway

    2089 ft · 39 sec · George Brett Super Highway

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on George Brett Super Highway

    2797 ft · 58 sec · George Brett Super Highway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Bruce R. Watkins Drive

    37.8 mi · 45 min · Bruce R. Watkins Drive

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 7 South: Clinton

    924 ft · 20 sec

  22. 22

    Turn slight left onto MO 7 South: Clinton

    55.5 mi · 1 hr 4 min

  23. 23

    Continue straight

    68 mi · 1 hr 19 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight left toward I 44 East: Rolla, Saint Louis

    954 ft · 23 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left onto Payne Stewart Highway

    4.3 mi · 5 min · Payne Stewart Highway

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward US 65 South: Branson

    2343 ft · 50 sec

  27. 27

    Merge slight left onto Schoolcraft Freeway

    8.3 mi · 10 min · Schoolcraft Freeway

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60 East: Cabool

    1228 ft · 53 sec

  29. 29

    Merge slight left

    76.8 mi · 1 hr 30 min

  30. 30

    Take the exit slight right

    1451 ft · 42 sec

  31. 31

    Turn left

    2.1 mi · 4 min

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Saint Joseph and Willow Springs.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
32 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
17
8 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
MO 7 South
124 mi · 40%
US 60 East
77.3 mi · 25%
I 29 South
40.7 mi · 13%
Bruce R. Watkins Drive
37.8 mi · 12%
Schoolcraft Freeway
8.29 mi · 3%
US 169 South
5.51 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

US 60 East

Merge slight left

76.8 mi · 01h 30m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 04m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+61.2 mi
247.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Osceola
03h 02m from Saint Joseph
Leave By
11:52 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Saint Joseph and Sunny near Willow Springs.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Saint Joseph to Willow Springs?

The road trip is about 308.3 miles (496.1 km) and usually takes 06h 04m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Osceola is a useful midpoint, sitting about 154.1 miles from Saint Joseph and 154.1 miles from Willow Springs.

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

The direct path is about 247.1 miles (397.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 61.2 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.03 one way or $82.06 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Saint Joseph and Sunny near Willow Springs.

Stop Ideas Near Osceola

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

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

RAIL

Warrensburg

80 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Sedalia

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

Lee's Summit

113 mi away
217 SW Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Saint Joseph and Willow Springs. Straight-line distance: 247.1 mi (397.67 km).

Saint Joseph

#1 Saint Joseph

The most populous city in Buchanan County, Missouri.

Population74,074
Coordinates39.7686100, -94.8466300
Altitude270
CountryUnited States
Willow Springs

#2 Willow Springs

City in Howell County, Missouri, United States

Population2,098
Coordinates36.9922800, -91.9698700
Altitude387
CountryUnited States
Start: Saint Joseph (-94.84663, 39.76861)
End: Willow Springs (-91.96987, 36.99228)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 496 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 08m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.88 gal
41.17 L · about $41.03
Round trip
$82.06
21.76 gal · 82.34 L
Estimated CO2
96.7 kg one way
Round trip: 193.4 kg / 426 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $41.03 $82.06
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.27 $92.55
Premium $4.65 $50.64 $101.27
Diesel $5.30 $57.71 $115.42

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Saint Joseph and Willow Springs. The current time is 06:53:39.

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.