Origin
Buckner, MO
Night in Buckner on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buckner, MO to Columbia, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
111.4 mi
179 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 58m
★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buckner, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Trip Overview
This 111.4-mile journey from Buckner, MO, to Columbia, MO, is comfortably manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 6 minutes to complete. You'll navigate primarily via local roads like North Buckner Tarsney Road, transitioning onto the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. With a projected fuel cost of around $17, this drive offers an economical way to travel within the Midwest region. The route's character suggests a more hands-on driving experience rather than a simple interstate cruise, making it ideal for those who enjoy a bit more engagement with the road. Plan for a straightforward excursion with minimal need for overnight stays.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.7 miles from Buckner, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 46.6 mi | 50m |
| North Buckner Tarsney Road | 6.7 mi | 10m |
| North Providence Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Sibley Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| US 40 | 0.2 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 Buckner, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on Washington Street
346 ft
·
19 sec
·
Washington Street
2
Turn right onto MO BB
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sibley Street
3
Continue on MO BB
6.7 mi
·
10 min
·
North Buckner Tarsney Road
4
Continue on MO BB
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
5
Continue on US 40; MO BB
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Main Street
6
Take the ramp onto US 40
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 40
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia, Saint Louis
7
Merge onto I 70; US 40
45 mi
·
48 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi
·
34 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi
·
24 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 126
Toward MO 163: Downtown
13
Turn right onto MO 163
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Providence Road
14
Arrive at destination
MO 163
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 111.4-mile distance and 2-hour, 6-minute duration, this trip offers considerable flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps after morning traffic has cleared, and arrive in Columbia with plenty of daylight remaining. With no designated stops provided, you're free to make spontaneous breaks as needed, keeping the estimated $17 fuel cost in mind. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signage as you transition between North Buckner Tarsney Road and the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile indicates frequent changes in direction.
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 55.7 miles from Buckner, MO, or about 1h 4m 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 55.7 miles or 1h 4m 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 43m
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 Buckner, 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 Buckner, MO
This is one driving day of about 111.4 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Buckner, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55.7 miles from Buckner, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 110.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MO BB / South Sibley Street
Turn right onto MO BB / South Sibley Street
Navigation decision point
6
8.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
US 40
Take the ramp onto US 40 toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia, Saint Louis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia, Saint L...
3
8.3 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
I 70; US 40 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 70; US 40 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
85.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
|
I 70 / U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
110.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m 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
$17.42 one way
$34.83 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.12 | $38.24 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.44 | $42.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.60 | $49.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39 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 | 33.4 | 0 | $11.70 | $5.35 |
| Efficient EV | 27.9 | 0 | $9.75 | $4.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.60 | $7.13 |
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.
Destination
Columbia, MO
Night in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
11:15 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
19 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 6m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for much of this 111.4-mile route, with a 0% highway share. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on roads like North Buckner Tarsney Road before merging onto the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.4 miles on the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel. This road profile means you'll be actively managing navigation and speed changes throughout the 2-hour, 6-minute journey, rather than settling into a high-speed interstate rhythm.
Only 0% 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: 54.4 mi on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near MO BB / South Sibley Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Buckner, MO to Columbia, MO is easy. At 2h 6m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (MO BB / South Sibley Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (US 40): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.3 miles (I 70; US 40 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Buckner, MO to Columbia, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Louis along the way.
Saint Louis
8.1 mi in
|
~13m
|
via US 40
About the Cities
Arriving in Columbia, MO
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 111.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
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.
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: at 0.1 miles (MO BB / South Sibley Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (US 40): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.3 miles (I 70; US 40 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbia, MO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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