Origin
Columbia, MO
Night in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
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
111.2 mi
179 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buckner, MO
Valeria Boltneva
This 111.2-mile journey from Columbia, MO to Buckner, MO is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 2 hours and 6 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a final stretch on South Buckner Tarsney Road. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $17, and with no designated stops in the data, you have plenty of flexibility. This drive stays within the Midwest region, offering a straightforward route for a quick getaway or a convenient transfer between these Missouri locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.6 miles from Columbia, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 46.6 mi | 50m |
| South 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 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 40 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MO and Buckner, MO.
Start on MO 163
Turn left
Merge onto I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Continue on I 70; US 40
Take the exit onto US 40
Turn right onto MO BB
Continue on MO BB
Continue on MO BB
Turn left onto Washington Street
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short 2-hour duration and 111.2-mile distance, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. You can depart anytime that suits your schedule, with flexibility being a major advantage. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $17, and plan for potential stops for gas and refreshments as needed, especially during the longest stretch of 54.4 miles on the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. Since there are no mandated stops, you can tailor your breaks precisely to your comfort level.
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 24 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.6 miles or 1h 1m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buckner, MO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Columbia, 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 Columbia, MO
This is one driving day of about 111.2 miles and 2h 6m.
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.
A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 55.6 miles from Columbia, 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 1.2 and 111.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 70; US 40 / Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
Take the exit onto US 40 toward MO AA, US 40, MO BB: Grain Valley, Buckner
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto MO BB / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$17.38 one way
$34.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.09 | $38.18 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.40 | $42.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.55 | $49.10 |
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: 38.9 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 | $11.68 | $5.34 |
| Efficient EV | 27.8 | 0 | $9.73 | $4.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.5 | 0 | $15.57 | $7.12 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Buckner on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
73°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
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, rather than an open highway experience, as indicated by a 0% highway share. While there's a significant uninterrupted stretch of 54.4 miles on the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, the overall profile suggests a more varied and potentially winding path. This means you'll likely be adjusting your speed and making more frequent turns as you progress from Columbia towards Buckner. The drive is characterized by its local feel, moving away from major interstates.
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 1.2 miles in.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Columbia, MO to Buckner, 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 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles (I 70; US 40 / Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 103.2 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Columbia, MO to Buckner, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Mo Bb: Grain Valley along the way.
Mo Bb: Grain Valley
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 2h 6m. Total distance: 111.2 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.
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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