Columbia, MO to Tarkio, MO is 245.5 miles and takes about 4h 38m via I 29 and U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Missouri for its entirety. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads, making for a straightforward, uncomplicated drive. With a recommended one-day travel time, this route is ideal for a quick excursion or a travel day to your next destination.
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
122.8 miles from Columbia, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 29
75.1 mi
1h 20m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
I 435
20.9 mi
22m
US 59
13.4 mi
20m
Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
7.8 mi
9m
US Highway 59
5.8 mi
8m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 75.1 mi, about 1h 20m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,295 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,818
Quietest
2 AM
~286 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Tarkio, 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 8BToward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 435; US 24
7.8 mi·9 min·Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway
13
Continue on I435 N
1.3 mi·1 min·I435 N
14
Continue on I 435
21 mi·22 min·I 435
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71
37 mi·40 min·I 29; US 71
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
16
Continue on I 29; US 59; US 71
38 mi·40 min·I 29; US 59; US 71
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 92Toward US 59: Craig, Fairfax
18
Turn left onto US 59
12 mi·17 min·US 59
19
Turn right onto US 59
5.8 mi·8 min·US Highway 59
20
Continue on US 59; US 136
1.4 mi·2 min·US 59; US 136
21
Turn right onto US 136
0.5 mi·49 sec·Walnut Street
22
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·South 3rd Street
23
Turn right onto Main Street
158 ft·6 sec·Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 38m estimated driving time, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to allow ample time for potential brief stops. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 75.1 miles on I 29, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you hit that segment. With a fuel cost estimate of $39, budget accordingly for gas. This route offers enough flexibility that you can adjust your pace as needed.
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 122.8 miles from Columbia, MO, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.1 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 54 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.8 miles or 2h 16m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tarkio, 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 245.5 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 29 for about 75.1 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 245.5 — 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
8
119.1 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8B
Toward I 435 North, US 24 East: Des Moines
6
150.2 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|I 29; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 29; US 71 toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 29 North, US 71 North: Saint Joseph
6
225.3 mi into trip|~4h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 59: Craig, Fairfax
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 92
Toward US 59: Craig, Fairfax
5
245.5 mi into trip|~4h 37m in|Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.95 one way
$81.90 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$44.51
$89.02
premium
$5.26
$50.83
$101.66
diesel
$6.18
$59.72
$119.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
EV Charging Along Route
14 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Blink Charging Station
Columbia, Missouri
Blink
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Columbia, Missouri
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Rivian Adventure Network
Columbia, Missouri
Rivian
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Columbia, Missouri
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Columbia, Missouri
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Columbia, Missouri
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Columbia, Missouri
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Columbia, Missouri
Blink
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 4
Blink: 2
Tesla Destination: 2
Tesla: 2
EV Connect: 2
Rivian: 1
Other: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.7
0
$25.78
$11.78
Efficient EV
61.4
0
$21.48
$9.82
EV Truck/SUV
98.2
1
$34.37
$15.71
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Columbia, MO
Morning
in Columbia on Monday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
SE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tarkio, MO
Morning
in Tarkio on Monday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 6 mph0% chanceLive 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
4h 38m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 47% of this 245.5-mile drive is on highways, with the longest continuous highway stretch covering 75.1 miles on I 29. You'll transition from highway speeds to surface roads at some point during the 4h 38m trip. Expect to notice a more rural feel as you move between the main highway and the surface road sections.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.1 mi on I 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
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 38m drive. You will face about 11 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 119.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.2 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,041 ft640 ft
Total Climb
530 ft
Total Descent
307 ft
Highest Point
1,041 ft
~175.4 mi in
Elevation Range
401 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Columbia, MO to Tarkio, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Fairfax along the way.
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
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.1 miles on I 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 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 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.2 miles (I 29; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Tarkio, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
