Maryland Heights, MO to Columbia, MO is 111 miles and takes about 2h 15m via I 70, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused journey entirely within Missouri's Midwest region. Given the relatively short distance and duration, it’s an ideal day trip or a quick leg of a longer adventure. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on the interstate, making it a predictable and efficient drive. This route is best suited for travelers prioritizing speed and ease of navigation over extensive sightseeing.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.5 miles from Maryland Heights, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
105.6 mi
2h 5m
North Providence Road
1.2 mi
2m
I 270
0.9 mi
1m
Dorsett Road
0.8 mi
1m
Schuetz Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Fee Fee Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 105.6 mi, about 2h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maryland Heights, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on Fee Fee Road
0.1 mi·31 sec·Fee Fee Road
2
Turn right onto Schuetz Road
0.2 mi·31 sec·Schuetz Road
3
Turn left onto Dorsett Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Dorsett Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·15 sec
Toward I 270 North
5
Merge onto I 270
0.9 mi·1 min·I 270
6
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 20AToward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Louis Lambert International AirportUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward I 70 West: Kansas CityUse the slight left lane.
8
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·57 sec·this road
Exit 20BToward I 70 West: Kansas City
9
Merge onto I 70
106 mi·2 hr 5 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 126Toward MO 163: Downtown
11
Turn left onto MO 163
1.2 mi·2 min·North Providence Road
12
Arrive at destination
MO 163
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over two hours, this route offers significant flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive well before lunchtime, or head out in the afternoon and still have ample daylight. Since the longest stretch is over 100 miles on I 70, plan your fuel stops accordingly, though with a fuel cost estimate of $17, it's unlikely you'll need more than one fill-up. There are no designated stops recommended, so feel free to make spontaneous breaks as needed at service areas along I 70.
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 55.5 miles from Maryland Heights, MO, or about 1h 7m 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 24 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.5 miles or 1h 7m 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 50m
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 Maryland Heights, 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 Maryland Heights, MO
This is one driving day of about 111 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Maryland Heights, 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 109.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Dorsett Road
Turn left onto Dorsett Road
Navigation decision point
8
2.2 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Louis Lambert International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20A
Toward I 70: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Lo...
7
3.2 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Kansas City
5
4 mi into trip|~6m in|I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
109.6 mi into trip|~2h 12m 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
$17.35 one way
$34.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.05
$38.11
premium
$4.89
$21.36
$42.72
diesel
$5.61
$24.51
$49.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.8 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
33.3
0
$11.65
$5.33
Efficient EV
27.8
0
$9.71
$4.44
EV Truck/SUV
44.4
0
$15.54
$7.10
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 15, 2026
Origin
Maryland Heights, MO
Morning
in Maryland Heights on Sunday
Local time
6:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbia, MO
Morning
in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
6:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°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
16 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 15m 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.
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 overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the journey on interstates. You’ll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including a continuous segment of 105.6 miles on I 70. Expect a predictable driving environment with limited deviations from the main highway. While primarily interstate, the initial and final portions may involve brief transitions on roads like North Providence Road and I 270. The character remains predominantly fast-paced and efficient throughout.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and North Providence Road. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Dorsett Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 111 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.3 miles (Dorsett Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 15m. Total distance: 111 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Dorsett Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
