Origin
Columbia, MO
Late night in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, MO to Union, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
98.9 mi
159 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 58m
★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Columbia, MO to Union, MO is 98.9 miles and takes about 2h 6m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and MO 47, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, making it a straightforward journey between two Missouri towns. You'll experience a mixed drive profile, meaning it's not all interstate or all backroads. With a recommended one-day trip, you can easily make this drive without needing an overnight stay, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.4 miles from Columbia, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 64.2 mi | 1h 12m |
| MO 47 | 29.9 mi | 45m |
| Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| North Providence Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Church Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Park Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Independence Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 64.2 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MO and Union, 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
64 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 193
Toward MO 47: Warrenton, Hawk Point
7
Turn right onto MO 47
30 mi
·
45 min
·
MO 47
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto MO A
206 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Independence Drive
9
Turn left onto North Church Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Church Street
10
Turn right onto East Park Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Park Avenue
11
Turn left
62 ft
·
4 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given this is a manageable 98.9-mile drive taking just over two hours, you have plenty of flexibility. Consider leaving Columbia, MO in the morning to arrive in Union, MO with ample time for activities. While the longest stretch is over 60 miles, the overall drive is short enough that you likely won't need many stops, though planning for a quick break around the halfway point might be comfortable. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before heading out, as the estimated fuel cost is around $15 for this trip.
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 49.4 miles from Columbia, MO, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.2 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.4 miles or 57m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union, 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 98.9 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 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 64.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49.4 miles from Columbia, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.2 miles.
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 98.9 — 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
67.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward MO 47: Warrenton, Hawk Point
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 193
Toward MO 47: Warrenton, Hawk Point
4
68.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
MO 47
Turn right onto MO 47
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
98.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 5m in
|
East Park Avenue
Turn right onto East Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
98.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.46 one way
$30.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.98 | $33.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.03 | $38.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.84 | $43.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.7 | 0 | $10.38 | $4.75 |
| Efficient EV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.65 | $3.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.6 | 0 | $13.85 | $6.33 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Union, MO
Late night in Union on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Warrenton, MO
49 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 6m 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 route features a 30% highway share, balancing faster travel with more local road driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 64.2 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. As you progress, the road will transition, offering a mix of high-speed sections and potentially more winding or slower-paced segments as you move onto MO 47 and Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway. Expect the driving experience to evolve throughout the approximately 2-hour journey.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.2 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Columbia, MO to Union, MO is easy. At 2h 6m with 30% 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 67.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.1 miles (MO 47): Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Union, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Hawk Point along the way.
Hawk Point
67.9 mi in
|
~1h 18m
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 2h 6m. Total distance: 98.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.2 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 67.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.1 miles (MO 47): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Union, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Union, MO
Explore more options from Columbia, MO or browse trips ending in Union, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.