Hazelwood, MO to Columbia, MO is 112 miles and takes about 2h 17m via I 70, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Missouri, making it a straightforward trip. It's primarily a highway-focused journey, ideal if you're looking for efficiency to get from point A to point B. Given its short duration and manageable fuel cost, this route is a practical choice for a same-day excursion or a quick transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56 miles from Hazelwood, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
105.6 mi
2h 5m
Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
2.1 mi
2m
North Providence Road
1.2 mi
2m
McDonnell Boulevard
0.6 mi
<1m
James S McDonnell Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
Fee Fee Road
0.3 mi
1m
Chapel Ridge Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 105.6 mi, about 2h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hazelwood, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on Chapel Ridge Drive
0.2 mi·56 sec·Chapel Ridge Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto Fee Fee Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Fee Fee Road
3
Turn slight right
147 ft·5 sec
4
Turn right onto James S McDonnell Boulevard
0.3 mi·27 sec·James S McDonnell Boulevard
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on McDonnell Boulevard
0.6 mi·59 sec·McDonnell Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward I 270 West: Kansas CityUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 270
2.1 mi·2 min·Rosemary Straub Davison Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 20AToward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
9
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·42 sec·this road
Exit 20A-BToward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas CityUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·41 sec
Exit 20BToward I 70 West: Kansas CityUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 70
106 mi·2 hr 5 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 126Toward MO 163: Downtown
13
Turn left onto MO 163
1.2 mi·2 min·North Providence Road
14
Arrive at destination
MO 163
Trip Plan
Given this is a short, 112-mile drive taking just over 2 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Hazelwood, MO in the morning allows ample time to reach Columbia, MO well before evening. You won't need to plan for extensive stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a significant road change is over 100 miles. Aim to fuel up before you depart or shortly after getting onto I 70 to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted journey.
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 56 miles from Hazelwood, MO, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.6 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 25 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56 miles or 1h 9m 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 52m
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 Hazelwood, 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 Hazelwood, MO
This is one driving day of about 112 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Hazelwood, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 105.6 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 4.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Fee Fee Road
At end of road, turn left onto Fee Fee Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.5 mi into trip|~2m in|James S McDonnell Boulevard
Turn right onto James S McDonnell Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 270 West: Kansas City
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 270 West: Kansas City
6
3.9 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 20A
Toward I 70: Saint Louis, Kansas City
8
4.6 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20B
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.51 one way
$35.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.23
$38.45
premium
$4.89
$21.55
$43.11
diesel
$5.61
$24.73
$49.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.2 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
33.6
0
$11.76
$5.38
Efficient EV
28
0
$9.80
$4.48
EV Truck/SUV
44.8
0
$15.68
$7.17
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Hazelwood, MO
Late night
in Hazelwood on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
W 14 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 11:39AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 11:38AM CDT until April 22 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Columbia, MO
Late night
in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
W 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 11:39AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 11:38AM CDT until April 22 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
51°F
Warrenton, MO
56 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
1 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 17m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll experience the efficiency of interstate travel for most of the 112 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 105.6 miles, all on I 70, meaning you can maintain a consistent speed for the bulk of your trip. Expect a fairly uniform driving experience as you remain on well-maintained highways throughout the 2h 17m duration.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105.6 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Rosemary Straub Davison Highway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Fee Fee Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 112 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.2 miles (Fee Fee Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.5 miles (James S McDonnell Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 112 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105.6 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Columbia, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Fee Fee Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.5 miles (James S McDonnell Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbia, MO before heading back.
