Connecting Uniontown to Columbia, this 202.2-mile journey takes you across the heart of Missouri. Expect to spend about 4 hours and 3 minutes behind the wheel, making this a very manageable trip for a single day. You will spend roughly $31 on fuel, so budgeting is straightforward for this Midwestern trek. Since the entire route stays within the state, you won't face any major regional shifts, allowing for a consistent driving experience. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this direct path is efficient and well-suited for a one-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
101.1 miles from Uniontown, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi
1h 35m
I 55
59.4 mi
1h 4m
Avenue of the Saints
25.4 mi
30m
US 61
11.8 mi
17m
I 270
11.5 mi
14m
North King's Highway
2.8 mi
4m
North Kingshighway Street
2.5 mi
3m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 80.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Uniontown, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on PCR 531
25 ft·2 sec·Perry County Road 531
2
Turn left onto US 61
12 mi·17 min·US 61
3
Enter roundabout onto US 61
128 ft·2 sec·North Kingshighway Street
4
Continue on US 61
2.4 mi·3 min·North Kingshighway Street
5
Continue on US 61
2.8 mi·4 min·North King's Highway
6
Turn left onto MO M
0.5 mi·1 min·MO M
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 55 North: Saint Louis
8
Merge onto I 55
59 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 55
9
Continue on I 55
1.3 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 196Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, ChicagoUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
388 ft·8 sec
Toward I 270 West: Kansas CityUse the slight left lane.
12
Continue on this road
0.7 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 196Toward I 270 West
13
Merge onto I 270
11 mi·14 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 12Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint LouisUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: WentzvilleUse the slight left lane.
16
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·9 sec·this road
Exit 12Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
17
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
25 mi·30 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit onto US 40
0.6 mi·1 min·US 40
Exit 1AToward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas CityUse the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
20
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
21
Continue on I 70; US 40
0.5 mi·34 sec·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
22
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 126Toward MO 163: Downtown
23
Turn left onto MO 163
1.2 mi·2 min·North Providence Road
24
Arrive at destination
MO 163
Trip Plan
Because this is a 4-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal schedule. While the route is short enough to tackle in one go, building in at least one planned stop will help you stay refreshed and attentive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you move between the different highway sections, particularly before entering the longer 80.7-mile stretch where service options might be more spaced out. Since you are only planning for a single day on the road, try to leave early in the morning to avoid any potential traffic congestion as you approach Columbia. This approach ensures you arrive at your destination with plenty of time to spare.
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 101.1 miles from Uniontown, MO, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.7 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 44 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.1 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 19m
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 Uniontown, 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 Uniontown, MO
This is one driving day of about 202.2 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Uniontown, 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 Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 80.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 78.6 and 117.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
78.6 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago
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 196
Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chi...
8
78.8 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 270 West: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 270 West: Kansas City
8
91.1 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis
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 12
Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Lo...
8
91.2 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Went...
8
117.2 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.02 one way
$60.04 round trip
$3.77/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.25
$33.86
$67.71
premium
$4.65
$37.05
$74.10
diesel
$5.30
$42.22
$84.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.7
0
$21.23
$9.71
Efficient EV
50.6
0
$17.69
$8.09
EV Truck/SUV
80.9
1
$28.31
$12.94
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 17, 2026
Origin
Uniontown, MO
Night
in Uniontown on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbia, MO
Night
in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Chesterfield, MO
101 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
8 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
4h 3m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile that keeps the journey from feeling monotonous. You will spend 41% of your travel time on highways, utilizing the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, I-55, and the Avenue of the Saints. Be prepared for a long, steady stretch of 80.7 miles along the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of your drive. The transition between these major arteries ensures you cover ground quickly while navigating the varied landscape of central Missouri. It is a functional route that balances fast-paced highway travel with shorter, transitionary segments.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.7 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 78.6 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 202.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 78.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 91.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
904 ft449 ft
Total Climb
781 ft
Total Descent
640 ft
Highest Point
904 ft
~187.8 mi in
Elevation Range
456 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Uniontown, MO and Columbia, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.
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 4h 3m. Total distance: 202.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.7 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower 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 78.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 91.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Columbia, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
