Origin
Columbia, MO
Late night in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, MO to Monroe City, MO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 47m
Distance
80.6 mi
130 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monroe City, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Columbia, MO to Monroe City, MO is 80.6 miles and takes about 1h 47m via US 24 and US 63, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Missouri. It's a straightforward drive that's ideal for a single-day excursion, offering a practical way to get from point A to point B without a significant time commitment. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient journey with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.3 miles from Columbia, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 24 | 43.9 mi | 1h 2m |
| US 63 | 30.5 mi | 32m |
| Range Line Street | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| North Providence Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| MO 763 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 24
— 43.9 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MO and Monroe City, 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
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 127
Toward MO 763
5
Turn left onto MO 763
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Range Line Street
6
Enter roundabout onto MO 763
169 ft
·
3 sec
·
MO 763
Toward MO 763 North: Moberly
7
Continue on MO 763
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
MO 763
Toward MO 763 North: Moberly
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 63 North: Moberly
9
Merge onto US 63
31 mi
·
32 min
·
US 63
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
Toward US 24: Moberly
11
Turn left onto US 24
44 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
US 24
12
Arrive at destination
US 24
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 47 minutes, you have plenty of flexibility for departure time and stops. Aim to leave Columbia, MO, in the morning to allow for an afternoon arrival in Monroe City, MO. The longest stretch without a significant break is 43.9 miles on US 24, so plan for a brief stop before or after this segment if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is only $13, suggesting limited fuel availability directly on the main highway sections.
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 40.3 miles from Columbia, MO, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.9 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.3 miles or 49m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monroe 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Columbia, MO
This is one driving day of about 80.6 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Columbia, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 24 for about 43.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.3 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 36.5 — 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
4
1.3 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
6
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward MO 763
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 127
Toward MO 763
5
5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
MO 763
Enter roundabout onto MO 763 toward MO 763 North: Moberly
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward MO 763 North: Moberly
4
36.5 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward US 24: Moberly
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 24: Moberly
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.60 one way
$25.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.84 | $27.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.51 | $31.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.80 | $35.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.46 | $3.87 |
| Efficient EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.05 | $3.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.28 | $5.16 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Monroe City, MO
Late night in Monroe City on Tuesday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Paris, MO
40 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
3 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
1h 47m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with a 93% highway share. You'll experience long, uninterrupted stretches, including a 43.9-mile segment primarily on US 24. Expect a consistent driving pace for most of the journey, characterized by the efficiency of major roadways like US 63 and US 24. The character of the drive is largely about covering ground smoothly, rather than navigating complex local roads.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.9 mi on US 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 24 and US 63. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 47m drive. You will face about 8 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 1.3 miles (I 70; US 40 / Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 1.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Starting in Columbia, MO
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 80.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.9 miles on US 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles (I 70; US 40 / Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 1.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Monroe City, MO before heading back.
How this page is built
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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