This 112.1-mile journey from Albany, MO to Columbia, MO is a straightforward, one-day road trip that takes approximately 2 hours and 9 minutes to complete. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, it's an economical option for a quick getaway. You'll primarily be on well-maintained highways, making it a comfortable drive through the Midwest region. Given its relatively short distance and duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination. No overnight stays are necessary for this particular stretch.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.1 miles from Albany, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
South Spartan Drive
24.5 mi
30m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
21.6 mi
23m
MO 210
5.9 mi
7m
MO 10
2.6 mi
3m
North Providence Road
1.2 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
0.8 mi
1m
West 73rd Street
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albany, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on Albany Road
68 ft·9 sec·Albany Road
2
Turn left onto West 73rd Street
0.3 mi·1 min·West 73rd Street
3
Turn left onto MO 210
5.9 mi·7 min·MO 210
4
Continue on MO 10
2.6 mi·3 min·MO 10
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward MO 13: Polo, Henrietta
6
Keep slight right at fork
157 ft·4 sec
Toward MO 13 South: Henrietta
7
Merge onto MO 13
25 mi·30 min·South Spartan Drive
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
9
Merge onto I 70; US 40
20 mi·21 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi·34 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
0.8 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 126Toward MO 163: Downtown
15
Turn right onto MO 163
1.2 mi·2 min·North Providence Road
16
Arrive at destination
MO 163
Trip Plan
Since this drive is only about 2 hours and 9 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility for when you depart. Leaving mid-morning could allow for a relaxed start and an arrival in Columbia, MO around lunchtime. There are no specific stops recommended, so consider packing snacks and drinks to minimize any need for detours. Keep an eye out for the transition onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway as you get closer to Columbia, as this marks a change in the road's character. With a total fuel cost of around $18, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops.
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 56.1 miles from Albany, MO, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 miles.
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 25 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.1 miles or 1h 7m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Albany, 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 Albany, MO
This is one driving day of about 112.1 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Albany, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 110.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West 73rd Street
Turn left onto West 73rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
8.9 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward MO 13: Polo, Henrietta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 13: Polo, Henrietta
5
9.2 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 13 South: Henrietta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MO 13 South: Henrietta
7
33.8 mi into trip|~43m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
5
110.8 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Take the exit toward MO 163: Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 126
Toward MO 163: Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.53 one way
$35.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.24
$38.48
premium
$4.89
$21.57
$43.15
diesel
$5.61
$24.75
$49.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.6
0
$11.77
$5.38
Efficient EV
28
0
$9.81
$4.48
EV Truck/SUV
44.8
0
$15.69
$7.17
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 20, 2026
Origin
Albany, MO
Late night
in Albany on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbia, MO
Late night
in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Concordia, MO
56 mi in
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
5 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 9m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" for much of this 112.1-mile route, though about 8% of it will be on higher-speed highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.4 miles along U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. As you travel, you'll notice the scenery shifting from more rural landscapes to the approach of a more developed area. This drive offers a mix of steady highway cruising and more frequent changes in direction as you navigate local roads, keeping you engaged behind the wheel.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 73rd Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 112.1 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 73rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Albany, MO to Columbia, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Henrietta along the way.
Columbia is a bustling college town in Missouri, halfway between St. Louis and Kansas City. It is home of the University of Missouri (also known as 'Mizzou') as well as two other post-secondary institutions Stephens College and Columbia College.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 112.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Columbia, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 73rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbia, MO before heading back.
