Origin
Lake Ozark, MO
Morning in Lake Ozark on Tuesday
Local time
10:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Ozark, MO to Columbia, MO
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
72.6 mi
117 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Ozark, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Lake Ozark to Columbia, you are facing a manageable 72.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 14 minutes. This trip sits entirely within the Midwest, making it a straightforward connection between two Missouri hubs. Because the drive is short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Budgeting around $11 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for the one-way trip. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you have the freedom to drive straight through or build in your own breaks as you see fit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 54 | 41.1 mi | 46m |
| US 63 | 26.1 mi | 28m |
| East Stadium Boulevard | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Bagnell Dam Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 4m |
| South Providence Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Willmore Lane | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Providence Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 54
— 41.1 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Ozark, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on US 54 Business
1.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Bagnell Dam Boulevard
2
Continue on Willmore Lane
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Willmore Lane
3
Enter roundabout
229 ft
·
4 sec
4
Continue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
5
Merge onto US 54
13 mi
·
14 min
·
US 54
6
Turn straight onto US 54
28 mi
·
32 min
·
US 54
7
Take the exit onto US 63
26 mi
·
28 min
·
US 63
Toward US 63 North: Columbia
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward MO 740
9
Turn left onto MO 740
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
East Stadium Boulevard
10
Turn right onto MO 163
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Providence Road
11
Arrive at destination
MO 163
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.3 miles from Lake Ozark, 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
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 69.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
3
1.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 54
Merge onto US 54
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
43 mi into trip
|
~51m 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
69.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward MO 740
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MO 740
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.35 one way
$22.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.46 | $24.92 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.97 | $27.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.03 | $32.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.62 | $3.48 |
| Efficient EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.35 | $2.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29 | 0 | $10.16 | $4.65 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Columbia, MO
Morning in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
10:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
SW 6 mph
3% chance
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
30 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 26m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate a mix of Willmore Lane and local routes before eventually transitioning onto US 63 North to reach your destination. Because the roads are winding and local in nature, you should stay alert behind the wheel and prepare for a more involved driving experience than you would find on a major expressway. The lack of long, uninterrupted highway stretches means the pace remains steady but requires more focus on navigating turns throughout the 72.8-mile trek.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.1 mi on US 54.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 around 1.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lake Ozark, MO to Columbia, MO is easy. At 1h 26m with 92% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.9 miles (US 54): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 43 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Starting in Lake Ozark, MO
Full guide →Lake Ozark is in Missouri.
Arriving in Columbia, MO
Full guide →Founded 1821
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.
Top landmarks
- • First Christian Church — historic church in Columbia, Missouri, United States
- • Columbia Cemetery — cemetery in Columbia, Missouri, United States
- • David Guitar House — historic house in Missouri, United States
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 26m. Total distance: 72.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.1 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: at 1.7 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.9 miles (US 54): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 43 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Columbia, MO
More trips to Columbia, MO
Explore more options from Lake Ozark, MO or browse trips ending in Columbia, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.