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Trip from Joplin, MO to Lebanon, MO

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

2h 22m

Distance

122.9 mi

198 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 12m ★
6 AM
2h 22m
8 AM
2h 42m
10 AM
2h 29m
12 PM
2h 27m
3 PM
2h 30m
5 PM
2h 41m
8 PM
2h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County, Missouri, USA

Joplin, MO

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Laclede County, Missouri, United States

Lebanon, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Joplin, MO to Lebanon, MO covers 122.9 miles and takes about 2h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East 7th Street, Cimarron Road, I 44 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.21 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

61.5 miles from Joplin, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 22m drive with frequent turns across 122.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East 7th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Joplin, MO to Lebanon, MO is easy. At 2h 22m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Joplin, MO to Lebanon, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East 7th Street
Cimarron Road
I 44 East
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
MO 64
South Jefferson Avenue
East Commercial Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: East 7th Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Joplin, MO and Lebanon, MO.

1

Start on the route

220 ft · 18 sec · the route
2

At the end of the road, turn right

194 ft · 19 sec
3

Turn left onto East 7th Street

6.8 mi · 14 min · East 7th Street
4

Continue on Cimarron Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Cimarron Road
5

Take the ramp slight right toward I 44 East, I 49 North, US 71 North: Springfield, Kansas City

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 44 East, I 49 North, US 71 North: Springfield, Kansas City
6

Merge slight left onto Congressman Gene Taylor Highway

113 mi · 2 hr 2 min · Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
7

Take the exit slight right toward MO 64, MO 5, MO 32: Hartville

0.2 mi · 26 sec · MO 64, MO 5, MO 32: Hartville
8

Turn left onto South Jefferson Avenue

1.1 mi · 1 min · South Jefferson Avenue
9

Turn right onto East Commercial Street

16 ft · 1 sec · East Commercial Street
10

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 61.5 miles from Joplin, MO, or about 1h 11m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 27 miles or 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 61.5 miles or 1h 11m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 56m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lebanon, MO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Joplin, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Joplin, MO

This is one driving day of about 122.9 miles and 2h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Joplin, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 61.5 mi from Joplin, MO · 1h 11m into the drive

location of a battle

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Battlefield, MO

61 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Carthage, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Battlefield, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 61.5 miles from Joplin, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lebanon, MO

The final approach into Lebanon, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Lebanon, MO.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.21 one way

$38.43 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 43 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $21.10 $42.19
premium $4.89 $23.65 $47.30
diesel $5.61 $27.13 $54.27

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 43 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 36.9 0 $12.90 $5.90
Efficient EV 30.7 0 $10.75 $4.92
EV Truck/SUV 49.2 0 $17.21 $7.87

Gas CO2

43 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Joplin, MO

Afternoon in Joplin on Wednesday

Local time

4:53 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lebanon, MO

Afternoon in Lebanon on Wednesday

Local time

4:53 PM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

1 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 22m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Joplin, MO to Lebanon, MO covers 122.9 miles and takes about 2h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 7th Street, Cimarron Road, I 44 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61.5 miles from Joplin, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.21 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Joplin, MO to Lebanon, MO is easy. At 2h 22m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Joplin, MO to Lebanon, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Joplin, MO to Lebanon, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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