Columbia, MO to Clarkson Valley, MO is 107.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 12 minutes via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, moving you from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a local drive with frequent turns rather than long stretches of highway. With a drive time under three hours, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for a relaxed pace and plenty of flexibility.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.8 miles from Columbia, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
81 mi
1h 35m
Avenue of the Saints
19.1 mi
23m
Clarkson Road
2.7 mi
4m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
2m
North Providence Road
1.2 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
0.5 mi
<1m
US 40
0.3 mi
<1m
Greenbank Drive
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 81 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MO and Clarkson Valley, MO.
1
Start on MO 163
1.2 mi·2 min·North Providence Road
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
3
Merge onto I 70; US 40
0.5 mi·35 sec·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
4
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
5
Continue on I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6
Take the exit onto US 40
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 40
Exit 210AToward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
7
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
19 mi·23 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
Exit 19BToward MO 340: Olive Boulevard, Clarkson RoadUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn slight right
183 ft·6 sec
Toward MO 340
10
Turn straight onto MO 340
2.7 mi·4 min·Clarkson Road
11
Turn right onto Forest Club Drive
341 ft·20 sec·Forest Club Drive
12
Turn left onto Greenbank Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Greenbank Drive
13
Arrive at destination
Greenbank Drive
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 2-hour drive time and 107.6-mile distance, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Aim to depart in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid late-day fatigue. While there are no designated stops mentioned, factor in brief pauses as needed, especially as the route involves many turns. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; with a $17 estimated cost, a full tank before leaving Columbia should suffice, but it's always wise to confirm your range. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 81 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, so be mindful of your location relative to potential fuel stops before embarking on that segment.
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 53.8 miles from Columbia, MO, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81 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 24 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.8 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarkson Valley, 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 107.6 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Columbia, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 81 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 107.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
6
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 210A
Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Ches...
5
85 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
104.1 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward MO 340: Olive Boulevard, Clarkson Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 19B
Toward MO 340: Olive Boulevard, Clarkson Road
5
107.3 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|Greenbank Drive
Turn left onto Greenbank Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.82 one way
$33.64 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.47
$36.94
premium
$4.89
$20.71
$41.41
diesel
$5.61
$23.76
$47.51
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: 37.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.3
0
$11.30
$5.16
Efficient EV
26.9
0
$9.42
$4.30
EV Truck/SUV
43
0
$15.06
$6.89
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Columbia, MO
Late night
in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 17 mph37% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Clarkson Valley, MO
Late night
in Clarkson Valley on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Warrenton, MO
54 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
12 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
2h 12m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
21 mi from route
~51 min detour
$19
near mile 103.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter numerous turns and changes in direction. Despite a 0% highway share, the majority of your journey, an 81-mile stretch, will be on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This suggests a consistent road for a significant portion, though the overall profile indicates a need for attention due to frequent navigational shifts. Be prepared for a driving experience that requires more active navigation than a typical interstate cruise.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower 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 1.2 miles in.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Columbia, MO to Clarkson Valley, MO is easy. At 2h 12m 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 84.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower 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 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clarkson Valley, MO before heading back.
