Origin
California, MO
Morning in California on Tuesday
Local time
10:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from California, MO to Columbia, MO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
44.6 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
California, MO
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through Missouri, the 44.6-mile trip from California to Columbia is a straightforward choice. You can easily complete this drive in about 1 hour and 5 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. Budgeting around $7 for fuel will cover your travel expenses, which is quite economical for a trip of this length. Since both towns sit within the Midwest, the transition between them is seamless and familiar. Because the entire route is well under two hours, there is no need to worry about overnight lodging or complex trip splits. It is a practical, efficient connection that serves as a simple transition between these two Missouri communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North East Street | 14.7 mi | 20m |
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 12.2 mi | 13m |
| MO 179 | 7.9 mi | 14m |
| Hillside Boulevard | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| North Providence Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Oak Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
North East Street
— 14.7 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between California, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on US 50 Bus
18 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Buchanan Street
2
Turn left onto MO 87
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Oak Street
3
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
East Walnut Street
4
Turn left onto MO 87
15 mi
·
20 min
·
North East Street
5
Turn right onto MO 179
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
MO 179
6
Turn left onto MO 179
6.7 mi
·
11 min
·
MO 179
7
Turn left onto MO 179
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Hillside Boulevard
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 70 East: Columbia
9
Merge onto I 70
12 mi
·
13 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.3 miles from California, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 43.3 — 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
|
MO 87 / South Oak Street
Turn left onto MO 87 / South Oak Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
East Walnut Street
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
4
16.8 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
MO 179
Turn left onto MO 179
Navigation decision point
5
28.3 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East: Columbia
Navigation decision point
Toward I 70 East: Columbia
5
43.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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
$6.97 one way
$13.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.66 | $15.31 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.58 | $17.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.85 | $19.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.68 | $2.14 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.90 | $1.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.24 | $2.85 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Morning in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
10:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 5m 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 driving experience that keeps you engaged rather than lulled by a monotonous interstate cruise. You will spend roughly 18% of your time on highways, utilizing a mix of North East Street, the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, and MO 179. A significant portion of the journey involves navigating local roads, with your longest uninterrupted stretch lasting 14.7 miles on North East Street. The route shifts in character as you move from local thoroughfares onto the state highway system. Because of the frequent turns, you should prepare for a drive that requires more active steering than a standard highway trek.
Only 18% 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: 14.7 mi on North East Street.
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 near MO 87 / South Oak Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 5m drive. You will face about 9 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 (MO 87 / South Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.8 miles (MO 179): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in California, MO
Full guide →One of the most diverse states in the Union, California has a culture ranging from the easygoing surf spots on the beaches of Southern California to the glamor of Hollywood, and the counterculture and thriving businesses of the Bay Area. The state, which is on the west coast of the U.S., also varies greatly in natural beauty, from redwood forests on the North Coast to the ski resorts of the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains and the harsh desert of Death Valley. The largest state in the U.S. by population and the third largest by area, California boasts world-famous attractions and sights: Disneyland, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Napa Valley wine country, and the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney.
Arriving in Columbia, MO
Full guide →Founded 1821
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.
Top landmarks
- • First Christian Church — historic church in Columbia, Missouri, United States
- • Columbia Cemetery — cemetery in Columbia, Missouri, United States
- • David Guitar House — historic house in Missouri, United States
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 1h 5m. Total distance: 44.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (18%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.7 miles on North East Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 87 / South Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.8 miles (MO 179): Navigation decision point.
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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