Connecting the heart of Missouri, this 91.5-mile journey between Kirksville and Columbia is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes. You will spend your time navigating local streets before connecting to US 63 South for the bulk of your travel. Because the total duration is quite short, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $14 in fuel for the one-way trek. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this route is efficient and predictable for those moving through the Midwest.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46 miles from Kirksville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 63
81.4 mi
1h 31m
North Baltimore Street
4 mi
6m
MO 763
3.6 mi
6m
North Providence Road
1.2 mi
2m
East Illinois Street
0.6 mi
1m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
0.2 mi
<1m
North Franklin Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 81.4 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirksville, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on North Franklin Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·North Franklin Street
2
Turn right onto East Illinois Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Illinois Street
3
Turn right onto US 63 Bus
4.0 mi·6 min·North Baltimore Street
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·21 sec
Toward US 63 South: Macon
5
Merge onto US 63
81 mi·1 hr 31 min·US 63
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·39 sec
Toward MO 763 South: Columbia
7
Turn straight onto MO 763
0.4 mi·36 sec·MO 763
8
Enter roundabout onto MO 763
198 ft·3 sec·MO 763
Toward MO 763 South: Columbia
9
Continue on MO 763
3.2 mi·5 min·MO 763
Toward MO 763 South: Columbia
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
11
Merge onto I 70; US 40
0.2 mi·13 sec·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
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
Since this 91.5-mile trek is relatively quick, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak local congestion. With no mandatory stops required for a drive under two hours, you can comfortably make the trip in one go. Keep your $14 fuel budget in mind when planning your departure, as local fuel prices can fluctuate. A helpful tip for this specific route is to double-check your navigation before leaving the Kirksville city limits, as the initial turn-heavy local streets require careful attention before you settle onto US 63 South.
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 46 miles from Kirksville, MO, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.4 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46 miles or 54m 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 28m
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 Kirksville, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kirksville, MO
This is one driving day of about 92 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Kirksville, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 63 for about 81.4 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 86.3 and 90.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
86.3 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward MO 763 South: Columbia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MO 763 South: Columbia
5
87 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|MO 763
Enter roundabout onto MO 763 toward MO 763 South: Columbia
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward MO 763 South: Columbia
4
90.3 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
4
90.5 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|I 70; US 40 / Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 70; US 40 / Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
90.6 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward MO 163: Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 126
Toward MO 163: Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.38 one way
$28.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.79
$31.58
premium
$4.89
$17.70
$35.41
diesel
$5.61
$20.31
$40.62
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: 32.2 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
27.6
0
$9.66
$4.42
Efficient EV
23
0
$8.05
$3.68
EV Truck/SUV
36.8
0
$12.88
$5.89
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Kirksville, MO
Morning
in Kirksville on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbia, MO
Morning
in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
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
5 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 51m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate out of Kirksville using East Illinois Street and North Baltimore Street. While the route relies heavily on US 63 South, it maintains a 0% highway share, meaning you should prepare for a more traditional driving experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. The road demands your attention as it transitions from local infrastructure to the primary southward corridor. Because the path is composed entirely of non-highway roads, your pace will likely remain consistent rather than fluctuating with heavy interstate traffic.
92% 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: 81.4 mi on US 63.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 63 and North Baltimore Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 86.3 miles in.
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 51m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 86.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 87 miles (MO 763): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 90.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 81.4 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 86.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 87 miles (MO 763): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 90.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbia, MO before heading back.
