Connecting Columbia to Riverside, this 132-mile journey across Missouri is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 2 hours and 32 minutes behind the wheel. Because the duration is relatively short, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should expect to budget around $20 for fuel, making it an affordable excursion within the Midwest. While the route relies on I-70 West, you will encounter turn-heavy segments as you transition toward the Riverside area. It is a practical path for travelers looking to move efficiently between these two Missouri locations. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, the predictability of this drive allows for stress-free scheduling.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66 miles from Columbia, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m 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
MO 9
4.4 mi
7m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
North Providence Road
1.2 mi
2m
Northwest Platte Road
0.9 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 Riverside, 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·25 sec·East 13th Street
14
Turn right onto Locust Street
0.5 mi·59 sec·Locust Street
15
Continue on MO 9
3.0 mi·5 min·MO 9
16
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 9
1.4 mi·2 min·MO 9
Toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Briarcliff ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
251 ft·7 sec
Toward RiversideUse the straight lane.
19
Enter roundabout onto Northwest Platte Road
196 ft·3 sec·Northwest Platte Road
20
Continue on Northwest Platte Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Northwest Platte Road
21
Continue on US 69
0.3 mi·45 sec·Northwest Gateway Avenue
22
Turn right
75 ft·10 sec
23
Turn left
154 ft·11 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 132-mile trek, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal preference. With only one recommended stop planned for the duration, you can easily pace the trip to suit your comfort level without feeling rushed. Always keep that $20 fuel budget in mind, as local fuel prices can fluctuate depending on where you choose to pull off the road. Given the turn-heavy nature of the final approach into Riverside, try to avoid arriving during peak local traffic hours to ensure a smoother end to your journey. Using a reliable GPS is particularly helpful here to navigate those specific local turn-offs accurately.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66 miles from Columbia, MO, or about 1h 12m 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 29 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66 miles or 1h 12m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverside, 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 132 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 130.7 — 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
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
6
129.1 mi into trip|~2h 26m in|MO 9
Keep slight left at fork onto MO 9 toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 9 North: Riverside, Parkville
8
130.7 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Riverside
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Riverside
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.64 one way
$41.27 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.66
$45.32
premium
$4.89
$25.40
$50.80
diesel
$5.61
$29.14
$58.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.6
0
$13.86
$6.34
Efficient EV
33
0
$11.55
$5.28
EV Truck/SUV
52.8
0
$18.48
$8.45
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Columbia, MO
Late night
in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Riverside, MO
Late night
in Riverside on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Odessa, MO
66 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
17 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 32m 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 mix of driving styles as you navigate this route, which transitions away from a standard interstate grind into more technical, turn-heavy local roads. While you will spend a significant portion of your time on I-70 West, the latter half of the trip requires more attention as you shift onto local paths. There is zero highway share listed for the technical portions, meaning you will need to stay alert for frequent turns rather than setting cruise control for hours on end. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, you will find it demands more active steering than a typical cross-country highway stretch. Keep your focus sharp as the road character changes near your destination.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 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?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 132 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125 miles (I 670; I 70 Alt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Columbia, MO and Riverside, MO, road signs point toward Wichita and Downtown.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 132 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Riverside, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125 miles (I 670; I 70 Alt): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Riverside, MO before heading back.
