Brentwood, MO to Columbia, MO is 117.5 miles and takes about 2 hours 23 minutes via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, Avenue of the Saints, and Daniel Boone Expressway, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically within Missouri, making it a straightforward trip between two familiar regions. Expect a journey with frequent turns and local road segments rather than a pure interstate cruise. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing ample time for your destination activities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.7 miles from Brentwood, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi
1h 35m
Avenue of the Saints
27.8 mi
33m
Daniel Boone Expressway
3.4 mi
4m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
North Providence Road
1.2 mi
2m
South Brentwood Boulevard
0.9 mi
2m
US 40
0.6 mi
1m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brentwood, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on this road
68 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right
59 ft·6 sec
3
Turn right onto Litzsinger Road
300 ft·12 sec·Litzsinger Road
4
Turn left onto South Brentwood Boulevard
0.9 mi·2 min·South Brentwood Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 WestUse the straight / left lanes.
6
Merge onto I 64; US 40
3.4 mi·4 min·Daniel Boone Expressway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on I 64; US 40; US 61
28 mi·33 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit onto US 40
0.6 mi·1 min·US 40
Exit 1AToward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
0.5 mi·34 sec·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 126Toward MO 163: Downtown
13
Turn left onto MO 163
1.2 mi·2 min·North Providence Road
14
Arrive at destination
MO 163
Trip Plan
For this 2 hour 23 minute drive, departing in the morning is recommended to maximize your time at your destination. Since the total distance is just over 117 miles, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day without needing to split it. While there are no mandated stops in the data, consider a brief pause midway if needed, especially around the 80.7-mile mark on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $18; plan your refueling before you leave Brentwood or upon arrival in Columbia.
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 58.7 miles from Brentwood, MO, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.7 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.7 miles or 1h 12m 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 Columbia, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brentwood, 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 Brentwood, MO
This is one driving day of about 117.5 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Brentwood, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 80.7 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 116.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
7
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 64 West, US 40 West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West
5
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in|I 64; US 40 / Daniel Boone Expressway
Merge onto I 64; US 40 / Daniel Boone Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
32.4 mi into trip|~40m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
5
116.1 mi into trip|~2h 20m 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
$18.37 one way
$36.74 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.17
$40.34
premium
$4.89
$22.61
$45.22
diesel
$5.61
$25.94
$51.89
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: 41.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.3
0
$12.34
$5.64
Efficient EV
29.4
0
$10.28
$4.70
EV Truck/SUV
47
0
$16.45
$7.52
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Brentwood, MO
Night
in Brentwood on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbia, MO
Night
in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 23m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll navigate a mix of main roads and more local streets. With a highway share of 3, a significant portion of your travel will involve navigating through towns and connecting roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 80.7 miles on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, offering a period of more consistent travel before you transition back to local segments. Be prepared for a varied driving experience that requires attention to navigation as you switch between different road types.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.7 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 23m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles (I 64; US 40 / Daniel Boone Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.7 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles (I 64; US 40 / Daniel Boone Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbia, MO before heading back.
