Origin
Cole Camp, MO
Late night in Cole Camp on Tuesday
Local time
4:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 45m
Distance
88.9 mi
143 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cole Camp, MO
Wikimedia Commons
This 88.9-mile drive from Cole Camp, MO to Columbia, MO is a straightforward, one-day trip that should take about 1 hour and 45 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, it's an economical journey through the Midwest. The route primarily uses U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway and US 65, offering a mixed driving experience. Since it's a relatively short distance, you won't need to worry about overnight stays, allowing for a flexible schedule. This trip is ideal for a quick transit or a leisurely exploration of central Missouri.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.5 miles from Cole Camp, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 45.3 mi | 48m |
| US 65 | 29 mi | 36m |
| MO 52 | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| State Highway 52 | 3 mi | 3m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| North Providence Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cole Camp, MO and Columbia, MO.
Start on South Maple Street
Turn left onto MO 52
Continue on MO 52
Take the ramp onto MO 52
Continue on US 65
Take the exit
Merge onto I 70; US 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Take the exit
Turn right onto MO 163
Arrive at destination
For this 1 hour and 45-minute journey, leaving in the morning is your best bet, allowing ample time for any unscheduled stops. With only 88.9 miles, pacing is easy, and you can afford to be flexible. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated $14 cost covers the entire trip, but it's always wise to top off before departing Cole Camp. A specific tip for this route: consider which direction you're traveling on US 65, as it can be a busier highway, especially during peak hours.
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.
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 20 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.5 miles or 56m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, MO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Cole Camp, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cole Camp, MO
This is one driving day of about 88.9 miles and 1h 45m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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.
A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 44.5 miles from Cole Camp, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 87.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto MO 52 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp onto MO 52 toward US 65 North, MO 52 Wesy: Sedalia
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward MO 163: Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Regular Gas
$13.90 one way
$27.80 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $15.26 | $30.52 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.11 | $34.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.63 | $39.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.33 | $4.27 |
| Efficient EV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.78 | $3.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.6 | 0 | $12.45 | $5.69 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Cole Camp on Tuesday
Local time
4:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
4:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive features a 43% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads, but also encounter more local routes. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 45.3 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, offering a chance to settle in. Expect a mixed drive profile; it’s not a constant interstate grind, nor is it a purely rural, winding road. The route transitions between these characteristics, providing a varied driving experience as you make your way from southwest to central Missouri.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 52 / East Main Street.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Cole Camp, MO to Columbia, MO is easy. At 1h 45m with 43% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 52 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (MO 52): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 88.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Straightforward navigation.
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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