Dixon to Columbia is 88.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 54 minutes via US 63, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest drive stays within Missouri, offering a straightforward connection between two points. Expect a journey primarily on well-maintained highways, making it an efficient trip. The short duration and manageable distance suggest this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. Consider it if you need a quick, no-fuss drive across a familiar region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.3 miles from Dixon, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 63
65.9 mi
1h 21m
MO 28
17.6 mi
24m
East Stadium Boulevard
2.3 mi
3m
US 54
1.4 mi
1m
South Providence Road
1 mi
2m
North Providence Road
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 65.9 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dixon, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on MO 28
18 mi·24 min·MO 28
2
Merge onto US 63
40 mi·52 min·US 63
3
Take the exit onto US 63
0.3 mi·40 sec·US 63
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
4
Merge onto US 54; US 63
1.4 mi·1 min·US 54; US 63
5
Take the exit onto US 63
26 mi·28 min·US 63
Toward US 63 North: Columbia
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Toward MO 740
7
Turn left onto MO 740
2.3 mi·3 min·East Stadium Boulevard
8
Turn right onto MO 163
1.0 mi·2 min·South Providence Road
9
Arrive at destination
MO 163
Trip Plan
Given the drive's duration of under two hours, you have considerable flexibility in when you depart. Leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach Columbia without feeling rushed. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, you won't need to worry extensively about budget, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Since there are no specific stops recommended, you can easily complete this journey in one day. Keep an eye on signage for US 63 as it is the primary artery for the longest portion of your 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 44.3 miles from Dixon, MO, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.9 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.3 miles or 59m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dixon, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dixon, MO
This is one driving day of about 88.5 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Dixon, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 63 for about 65.9 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.6 and 85 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
17.6 mi into trip|~24m in|US 63
Merge onto US 63
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
57.2 mi into trip|~1h 16m in|US 63
Take the exit onto US 63 toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbi...
3
57.5 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|US 54; US 63
Merge onto US 54; US 63
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
58.9 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|US 63
Take the exit onto US 63 toward US 63 North: Columbia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 63 North: Columbia
4
85 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward MO 740
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MO 740
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.84 one way
$27.67 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.19
$30.38
premium
$4.89
$17.03
$34.06
diesel
$5.61
$19.54
$39.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.6
0
$9.29
$4.25
Efficient EV
22.1
0
$7.74
$3.54
EV Truck/SUV
35.4
0
$12.39
$5.66
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Dixon, MO
Night
in Dixon on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbia, MO
Night
in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live 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
17 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
1h 54m 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?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of it utilizing major roadways. You'll experience the efficiency of the highway system for the majority of the 88.5 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 65.9 miles on US 63, providing a solid period of consistent driving. While the profile is largely highway, the inclusion of MO 28 and East Stadium Boulevard indicates a brief transition into more local road environments as you approach your destination.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.9 mi on US 63.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 63 and MO 28. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 17.6 miles in near US 63.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 54m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.6 miles (US 63): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 57.2 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.5 miles (US 54; US 63): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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.
The longest stretch is about 65.9 miles on US 63. 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 17.6 miles (US 63): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 57.2 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.5 miles (US 54; US 63): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbia, MO before heading back.
