Origin
Montgomery City, MO
Late night in Montgomery City on Sunday
Local time
2:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Montgomery City, 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 3m
Distance
51 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Montgomery City, MO
Kelly
Trip Overview
Montgomery City to Columbia is 51 miles and takes about 1 hour 3 minutes via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, specifically in Missouri, making it a straightforward local journey. Expect a route that involves a good number of turns, so it's not a simple point-and-go interstate cruise. With a duration under two hours and minimal stops recommended, this trip is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times. It's a practical option when you need to get from one point to another in Missouri without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 41.1 mi | 47m |
| Danville Road | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway | 2 mi | 2m |
| North Providence Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| MO 161 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East 2nd Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 41.1 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montgomery City, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on East 2nd Street
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
East 2nd Street
2
Turn straight onto MO 161
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Danville Road
3
Continue on MO 161
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Danville Road
4
At end of road, turn right onto MO 161
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
MO 161
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
6
Merge onto I 70; US 40
41 mi
·
47 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 126
Toward MO 163: Downtown
10
Turn left onto MO 163
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North 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
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.5 miles from Montgomery City, 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 5.5 and 49.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
MO 161
At end of road, turn right onto MO 161
Navigation decision point
5
5.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia
3
6.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 70; US 40 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 70; US 40 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
49.6 mi into trip
|
~59m 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
$7.97 one way
$15.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.75 | $17.51 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.81 | $19.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.26 | $22.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.35 | $2.45 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.46 | $2.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.14 | $3.26 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
2:53 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 3m 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 drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting a need for attention to navigation. While it utilizes the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Danville Road, and Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway, a significant portion, 41.1 miles, is on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This indicates there are substantial stretches on major roadways, but the overall profile points to a route that weaves through local areas. The highway share is 100%, meaning you'll be on paved roads, but the 'turn-heavy' description implies more frequent directional changes than a typical interstate trip. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience rather than a monotonous highway run.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.1 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 5.5 miles in near MO 161.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Montgomery City, MO to Columbia, MO is easy. At 1h 3m with 1% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.5 miles (MO 161): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.1 miles (I 70; US 40 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 3m. Total distance: 51 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.1 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. 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 5.5 miles (MO 161): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.1 miles (I 70; US 40 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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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