Drive or Fly: Jennings, MO to Joplin, 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 STL–JLN. At 285 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 27m

Distance

285.6 mi

Total Cost

$104

CO2

115 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$69

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

2h 51m

31m in the air

Air Distance

258 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

66 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Jennings, MO → STL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JLN → Joplin, MO 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Jennings, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 36m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 56m

3h 40m on road

Total Cost

$21

CO2

11 kg

Route

Greyhound US1210

Door-to-Door Timeline

Jennings, MO → Saint Louis (Lambert Field) (SOL6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 220m

Arrival 10m

Springfield CU Transit Center (SPR6) → Joplin, MO 101m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $21) $21

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

Stations

From SOL6 — Saint Louis (Lambert Field) 6 mi, ~10m drive

To SPR6 — Springfield CU Transit Center 68 mi, ~101m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~9/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

− Limited schedule — about 9 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	5h 27m	2h 51m	5h 56m
Total cost (1 person)	$104	$185	$21
Carbon footprint	115 kg CO₂	66 kg CO₂	11 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 Oct 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

285.6 mi 5h 26m

via I 44; US 50, I 44 Business; MO 66, I 44

Alternative (+60 min)

330.9 mi 6h 27m

via I 44, I 70, US 54

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