Drive or Fly: Joplin, MO to Lebanon, MO?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for JLN–TBN. At 122 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 22m

Distance

122.9 mi

Total Cost

$62

CO2

50 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$27

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 6m

13m in the air

Air Distance

110 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

28 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Joplin, MO → JLN 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TBN → Lebanon, MO 43m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Joplin, MO JLN — Joplin Regional Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Lebanon, MO TBN — Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport-Forney Field 29 mi, ~43m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between JLN and TBN. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 6m

1h 20m on road

Total Cost

CO2

4 kg

Route

Greyhound US1210

Door-to-Door Timeline

Joplin, MO → Joplin Bus Station (JOP6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 80m

Arrival 10m

Springfield CU Transit Center (SPR6) → Lebanon, MO 71m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $8) $8

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From JOP6 — Joplin Bus Station 2 mi, ~10m drive

To SPR6 — Springfield CU Transit Center 48 mi, ~71m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~15/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 22m	3h 6m	3h 6m
Total cost (1 person)	$62	$124	$8
Carbon footprint	50 kg CO₂	28 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 15, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Joplin, MO to Lebanon, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.