Origin
Columbia, MO
Late night in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
2:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, MO to Wellston, 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 26m
Distance
118.8 mi
191 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 16m
★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 46m
10 AM
2h 33m
12 PM
2h 31m
3 PM
2h 34m
5 PM
2h 45m
8 PM
2h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wellston, MO
Theodore Nguyen
Trip Overview
Columbia, MO to Wellston, MO is 118.8 miles and takes about 2h 26m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a local drive with frequent turns rather than a straightforward highway cruise. It's a manageable distance, making it ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed. Consider this route if you prefer a less intense driving experience with more interaction with local road networks.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 109.4 mi | 2h 10m |
| Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Saint Charles Rock Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Inner Belt Expressway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| North Providence Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Page Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 109.4 mi, about 2h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MO and Wellston, 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
109 mi
·
2 hr 10 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 238A
Toward I 170 South: Clayton
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 170
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Inner Belt Expressway
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 5
Toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
426 ft
·
11 sec
Toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Turn left onto MO 180
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Saint Charles Rock Road
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
12
Turn left onto MO D
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Page Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
MO D
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 26m duration and 118.8 miles, this is a perfect same-day trip. Aim to depart Columbia in the morning to maximize daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic as you get closer to Wellston. The estimated fuel cost is $19, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Columbia. While there are no designated stops in the data, the relatively short distance means you can easily pull over if needed, but plan for more frequent navigation checks due to the 'turn-heavy' nature of the route. Keep an eye on your GPS, especially on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway and Saint Charles Rock Road.
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 59.4 miles from Columbia, MO, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.4 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 26 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.4 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wellston, 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 118.8 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 109.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 59.4 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 109.4 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 115.2 — 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
7
113.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 170 South: Clayton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 238A
Toward I 170 South: Clayton
7
114.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road
8
115.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward MO 180: Saint Charles Rock Road
4
115.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m in
|
MO 180 / Saint Charles Rock Road
Turn left onto MO 180 / Saint Charles Rock Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.57 one way
$37.15 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.39 | $40.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.86 | $45.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.23 | $52.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.6 | 0 | $12.47 | $5.70 |
| Efficient EV | 29.7 | 0 | $10.40 | $4.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.5 | 0 | $16.63 | $7.60 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Wellston, MO
Late night in Wellston on Sunday
Local time
2:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Warrenton, MO
59 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
4 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 26m 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 characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive', with a highway share of 100%, suggesting you'll primarily be on major roadways but with frequent directional changes. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 109.4 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, providing a significant period of consistent travel. As you approach your destination, the route likely transitions from more open highway to a more developed, urban-influenced network, indicated by the Saint Charles Rock Road segment. Be prepared for a driving experience that requires attention to navigation due to the numerous turns.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.4 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 118.8 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 114.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 26m. Total distance: 118.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109.4 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 113.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 114.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wellston, 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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