Origin
Eldon, MO
Late night in Eldon on Sunday
Local time
12:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eldon, MO to Columbia, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
61.4 mi
99 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eldon, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Trip Overview
Eldon to Columbia is 61.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 14 minutes via US 54 and US 63, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Missouri, a journey through the Midwest that's primarily highway-focused. It's a straightforward trip, ideal if you're looking for a quick connection between these two points. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained state and federal highways, making it a practical option for a day trip or an easy leg of a larger adventure.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 54 | 29 mi | 33m |
| US 63 | 26.1 mi | 28m |
| East Stadium Boulevard | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| US 54 Business | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| South Providence Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| US 54 Bus | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East North Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South Aurora Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 54
— 29 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eldon, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on West 2nd Street
84 ft
·
8 sec
·
West 2nd Street
2
Turn left onto South Aurora Street
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
South Aurora Street
3
Turn right onto East North Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East North Street
4
Turn left onto US 54 Bus; MO 87
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 54 Bus; MO 87
5
Continue on US 54 Business
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US 54 Business
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward US 54 East: Jefferson City
7
Merge onto US 54
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 54
8
Turn straight onto US 54
28 mi
·
32 min
·
US 54
9
Take the exit onto US 63
26 mi
·
28 min
·
US 63
Toward US 63 North: Columbia
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward MO 740
11
Turn left onto MO 740
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
East Stadium Boulevard
12
Turn right onto MO 163
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Providence Road
13
Arrive at destination
MO 163
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.7 miles from Eldon, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 57.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Aurora Street
Turn left onto South Aurora Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East North Street
Turn right onto East North Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 54 Bus; MO 87
Turn left onto US 54 Bus; MO 87
Navigation decision point
4
31.8 mi into trip
|
~39m 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
57.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward MO 740
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MO 740
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.60 one way
$19.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.54 | $21.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.82 | $23.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.56 | $27.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.45 | $2.95 |
| Efficient EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.37 | $2.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.60 | $3.93 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Columbia, MO
Late night in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
12:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
19 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 14m 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 is heavily highway-oriented, with 93% of your travel on faster roads. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 29 miles on US 54, offering a consistent pace. The drive transitions from US 54 to US 63, and finally to East Stadium Boulevard as you approach Columbia. Expect a smooth, efficient journey for the most part, characterized by clear signage and dependable road conditions suitable for maintaining a steady speed.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29 mi on US 54.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 54 and US 63. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Aurora Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Eldon, MO to Columbia, MO is easy. At 1h 14m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Aurora Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East North Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 54 Bus; MO 87): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving 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 1h 14m. Total distance: 61.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29 miles on US 54. 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: near the start (South Aurora Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East North Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 54 Bus; MO 87): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbia, 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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