Trip from Affton, MO to Columbia, MO

Drive Time

2h 1m

Distance

123.5 mi

199 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

Downtown Columbia, MO, MO

Photo: Lena Khrupina

Trip Overview

The drive from Affton, MO to Columbia, MO covers 123.5 miles and takes about 2h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Gravois Road, I 270 North, I 64 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.34 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

61.8 miles from Affton, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 1m drive with frequent turns across 123.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Gravois Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Affton, MO to Columbia, MO is easy. At 2h 1m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Affton, MO to Columbia, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Gravois Road Unavailable Refreshing
I 270 North Unavailable Refreshing
I 64 Unavailable Refreshing
I 64 West Unavailable Refreshing
Avenue of the Saints Unavailable Refreshing
I 70 West Unavailable Refreshing
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway Unavailable Refreshing
Sheriff Roger I Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Gravois Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Affton, MO and Columbia, MO.

1

Start on the route

266 ft · 20 sec · the route
2

Turn slight right

66 ft · 5 sec
3

Turn right onto Gravois Road

210 ft · 11 sec · Gravois Road
4

Continue on Gravois Road

4.0 mi · 7 min · Gravois Road
5

Take the ramp slight right toward I 270 North

0.4 mi · 32 sec · I 270 North
6

Merge slight left

8.1 mi · 10 min
7

Take the exit slight right toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis

0.1 mi · 17 sec · I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis
8

Keep slight left to continue on I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville

0.4 mi · 49 sec · I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
9

Continue on I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville

0.1 mi · 10 sec · I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
10

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

25 mi · 30 min · Avenue of the Saints
11

Take the exit slight left toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
12

Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

81 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
13

Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

2.0 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
14

Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

0.5 mi · 34 sec · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
15

Take the exit slight right toward MO 163: Downtown

0.1 mi · 16 sec · MO 163: Downtown
16

Turn left onto North Providence Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Providence Road
17

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 61.8 miles from Affton, MO, or about 1h into the drive.

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 80 miles or 1h 18m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 61.8 miles or 1h 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 39m

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 Affton, 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 Affton, MO

This is one driving day of about 123.5 miles and 2h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Affton, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 61.8 mi from Affton, MO · 1h into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Alton, IL

62 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

Alton, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Alton, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 61.8 miles from Affton, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Columbia, MO

The final approach into Columbia, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Columbia, MO.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.34 one way

$36.67 round trip

$3.77/gal 25.4 MPG avg 43 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $20.68 $41.36
premium $4.65 $22.63 $45.26
diesel $5.30 $25.79 $51.58

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 43.2 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 37.1 0 $12.97 $5.93
Efficient EV 30.9 0 $10.81 $4.94
EV Truck/SUV 49.4 0 $17.29 $7.90

Gas CO2

43 kg

EV CO2

14 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

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Affton, MO

Afternoon in Affton on Saturday

Local time

1:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Forecast unavailable right now

CDT Live mapsof forecast

Destination

Columbia, MO

Afternoon in Columbia on Saturday

Local time

1:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Forecast unavailable right now

CDT Live mapsof forecast

Along the Route

57°F

Alton, IL

62 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

6 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

2h 1m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Affton, MO to Columbia, MO covers 123.5 miles and takes about 2h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Gravois Road, I 270 North, I 64. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61.8 miles from Affton, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.34 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Affton, MO to Columbia, MO is easy. At 2h 1m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Affton, MO to Columbia, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Affton, MO to Columbia, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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