Connecting Columbia to Kansas City, this 125.8-mile journey is a straightforward trek across the heart of the Midwest. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 20 minutes behind the wheel, making it a highly manageable day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $19 for fuel covers the trip comfortably. Navigating this route involves traveling along the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and the George Brett Super Highway. Because the entire path stays within Missouri, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. It is an efficient way to transit between these two major hubs without the need for complex planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
62.9 miles from Columbia, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
George Brett Super Highway
6.8 mi
9m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
North Providence Road
1.2 mi
2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
0.8 mi
1m
East 13th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MO and Kansas City, MO.
1
Start on MO 163
1.2 mi·2 min·North Providence Road
2
Turn left
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
3
Merge onto I 70; US 40
0.8 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
4
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5
Continue on I 70; US 40
54 mi·58 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Exit 2LToward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, WichitaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 2PToward 13th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
13
Continue on East 13th Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·East 13th Street
14
Turn right onto Oak Street
454 ft·13 sec·Oak Street
15
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to leave whenever it suits your plans. You won't need to worry about mid-trip rest stops since the 2-hour and 20-minute duration is easily manageable in a single push. Keep in mind that the route is defined by its turn-heavy nature, so stay alert for changing road conditions as you transition between the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and the George Brett Super Highway. For the most efficient transit, try to avoid peak commuter hours in either city to ensure your travel time remains close to the 2-hour and 20-minute estimate. With a $19 fuel budget, you can easily top off your tank before departing Columbia and arrive in Kansas City with plenty of fuel to spare.
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 62.9 miles from Columbia, MO, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 28 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.9 miles or 1h 9m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kansas City, 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 125.8 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Columbia, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 125.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in
Turn left toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
3
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|I 70; US 40 / Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 70; US 40 / Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
9
125 mi into trip|~2h 18m in|I 670; I 70 Alt
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670; I 70 Alt toward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, Wichita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2L
Toward I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South:...
9
125.3 mi into trip|~2h 19m in
Take the exit toward 13th Street, Downtown
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 2P
Toward 13th Street, Downtown
5
125.7 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|Oak Street
Turn right onto Oak Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.67 one way
$39.33 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.59
$43.19
premium
$4.89
$24.21
$48.42
diesel
$5.61
$27.78
$55.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.7
0
$13.21
$6.04
Efficient EV
31.5
0
$11.01
$5.03
EV Truck/SUV
50.3
0
$17.61
$8.05
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 15, 2026
Origin
Columbia, MO
Afternoon
in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kansas City, MO
Afternoon
in Kansas City on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 20m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While the route spans 125.8 miles, the character of the road shifts frequently as you navigate through different segments. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 54.4 miles along the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a driving experience that feels more grounded and integrated into the local landscape. The combination of these specific highways creates a dynamic pace that keeps the drive engaging from the moment you leave Columbia until you reach the Kansas City area.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 around 1.2 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 20m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 125 miles (I 670; I 70 Alt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Kansas City is a major Midwestern metropolitan area that spreads across the border of Missouri and Kansas. It is a city that tends to hide itself from tourists. Reputed to have more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world except for Rome, it can be a beautiful city, too. It is unique in that it is split down the middle by the state line of Kansas and Missouri.
The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial 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 1.4 miles (I 70; US 40 / Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 125 miles (I 670; I 70 Alt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kansas City, MO before heading back.
