Columbia, MO to Carthage, MO is 222.8 miles and takes about 4h 18m via I 44, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Missouri, connecting two points in the Midwest. It's a straightforward trip primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day drive. You'll likely find it to be a practical and efficient way to travel between these two cities without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
111.4 miles from Columbia, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
70.6 mi
1h 16m
US 54
52.7 mi
1h
MO 96
37.3 mi
44m
US 63
32.1 mi
35m
MO 5
24 mi
29m
East Stadium Boulevard
2.2 mi
3m
North Jefferson Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
North Providence Road
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 70.6 mi, about 1h 16m
Traffic on I-44
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,682 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,963
Quietest
2 AM
~197 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MO and Carthage, MO.
1
Start on MO 163
1.0 mi·2 min·North Providence Road
2
Turn left onto MO 740
2.2 mi·3 min·East Stadium Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 63 South: Jefferson City
4
Merge onto US 63
25 mi·27 min·US 63
5
Take the exit onto US 63
6.6 mi·8 min·US 63
Toward US 54 West, US 63 South: Jefferson City
6
Continue on US 54
53 mi·1 hr·US 54
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward MO 5 South, MO 7 South: Lebanon
8
Merge onto MO 5; MO 7
24 mi·29 min·MO 5; MO 7
9
Turn left onto MO 5; MO 64
1.6 mi·2 min·North Jefferson Avenue
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward I 44 West: Springfield
11
Merge onto I 44
71 mi·1 hr 16 min·I 44
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 57Toward MO 96: Avilla
13
Turn straight onto MO 96
37 mi·44 min·MO 96
14
Turn left onto Howard Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·Howard Street
15
Turn right onto East 4th Street
260 ft·13 sec·East 4th Street
16
Turn right onto South Grant Street
152 ft·4 sec·South Grant Street
17
Arrive at destination
South Grant Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 18m estimated drive time, leaving Columbia, MO in the morning is ideal to arrive in Carthage, MO with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your drive. Plan your fuel stops in advance, especially as you move from I 44 to US 54 and MO 96, as services might be less frequent on the state highways. A good point to consider refueling or taking a longer break could be around the transition from I 44 to US 54, approximately 70 miles into your drive.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 111.4 miles from Columbia, MO, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.6 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 49 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.4 miles or 2h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carthage, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 222.8 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Columbia, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 44 for about 70.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 28.8 and 222.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
28.8 mi into trip|~33m in|US 63
Take the exit onto US 63 toward US 54 West, US 63 South: Jefferson City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 54 West, US 63 South: Jefferson City
5
88.2 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward MO 5 South, MO 7 South: Lebanon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 5 South, MO 7 South: Lebanon
5
114 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Take the exit toward I 44 West: Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 44 West: Springfield
5
184.7 mi into trip|~3h 32m in
Take the exit toward MO 96: Avilla
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 57
Toward MO 96: Avilla
5
222.7 mi into trip|~4h 18m in|East 4th Street
Turn right onto East 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.90 one way
$65.80 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$36.32
$72.65
premium
$4.72
$41.37
$82.73
diesel
$4.80
$42.07
$84.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.8
0
$23.39
$10.69
Efficient EV
55.7
0
$19.50
$8.91
EV Truck/SUV
89.1
1
$31.19
$14.26
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Columbia, MO
Late night
in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Carthage, MO
Late night
in Carthage on Sunday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
90°F
Lebanon, MO
111 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 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
4h 18m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 176.7
The young child known as the "Plant Doctor" tended his secret garden while observing the day-to-day operations of a 19th century farm. Nature and nurture ultimately influenced George on his quest for...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 222.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to spend 97% of your time on highways for this 222.8-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch without a major change in road type is 70.6 miles on I 44. You'll transition from I 44 to US 54 and then MO 96, indicating a shift from high-speed interstate to more rural state highways as you approach your destination. Be prepared for a more rural cruising feel on the latter part of the drive.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.6 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and US 54. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 28.8 miles in near US 63.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 18m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 28.8 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114 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.
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
The longest stretch is about 70.6 miles on I 44. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 28.8 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield and George Washington Carver National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Carthage, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
