If you are planning a trip from Rich Hill to Columbia, Missouri, expect a straightforward journey spanning 179.9 miles. This Midwest drive typically takes about 3 hours and 26 minutes, making it a manageable excursion to complete in a single day. You will primarily navigate via the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and I-49. Budgeting approximately $27 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. Since the entire trip stays within the state of Missouri, you will experience a consistent regional atmosphere throughout your time on the road.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
90 miles from Rich Hill, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
I 49
39.4 mi
42m
MO 291
18.5 mi
26m
MO 58
8.5 mi
11m
North Providence Road
1.2 mi
2m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
1.1 mi
1m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rich Hill, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on Park Street
117 ft·10 sec·Park Street
2
Turn left onto 7th Street
390 ft·19 sec·7th Street
3
Turn right onto MO A
0.7 mi·1 min·East Walnut Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·10 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
5
Merge onto I 49; US 71
39 mi·42 min·I 49; US 71
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 160Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
7
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft·6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
8
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi·12 min·MO 291
9
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi·11 min·MO 58; MO 291
10
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.6 mi·52 sec·MO 291
Toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
11
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.2 mi·37 sec·MO 291
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen RoadUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn left
300 ft·7 sec
13
Continue on MO 291
9.4 mi·12 min·MO 291
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 16BToward I 70 East: Saint LouisUse the slight right lane.
32 mi·34 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
19
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
20
Continue on I 70; US 40
0.8 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 126Toward MO 163: Downtown
22
Turn right onto MO 163
1.2 mi·2 min·North Providence Road
23
Arrive at destination
MO 163
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 179.9-mile journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 3-hour and 26-minute duration. Since the route is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though aiming for off-peak hours can help ensure a smoother flow. Keep your $27 fuel budget in mind as you map out your refueling strategy along the corridor. Because the longest stretch is 54.4 miles, ensure your vehicle is ready for that initial period of sustained driving. Use that single planned break to stretch your legs before tackling the final leg of your trip into Columbia.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 90 miles from Rich Hill, MO, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 40 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 49m
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 Rich Hill, 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 Rich Hill, MO
This is one driving day of about 179.9 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Rich Hill, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 67.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
5
40.4 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 160
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
6
40.5 mi into trip|~44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
7
57.9 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|MO 291
Take the exit onto MO 291 toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
7
67.6 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 16B
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.13 one way
$56.25 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.88
$61.76
premium
$4.89
$34.62
$69.24
diesel
$5.61
$39.72
$79.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54
0
$18.89
$8.64
Efficient EV
45
0
$15.74
$7.20
EV Truck/SUV
72
0
$25.19
$11.51
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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 16, 2026
Origin
Rich Hill, MO
Late night
in Rich Hill on Sunday
Local time
2:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbia, MO
Late night
in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
2:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Oak Grove, MO
90 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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 26m 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 mixed driving experience as you transition across the state, with highway travel accounting for 37% of your total distance. You will encounter a variety of road types, moving between fast-paced interstate segments and more localized stretches. The longest uninterrupted portion of your trip occurs on the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, covering 54.4 miles of your itinerary. This stretch requires steady focus, while the rest of the route provides a balance of different driving conditions. Overall, it serves as a functional connection between these two Missouri locations.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
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 179.9 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 40.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 3h 26m. Total distance: 179.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 40.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Columbia, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
