Origin
Carthage, MO
Afternoon in Carthage on Monday
Local time
1:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carthage, MO to Columbia, MO
Drive Time
3h 41m
Distance
234 mi
377 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 29m
★
6 AM
3h 42m
8 AM
4h 7m
10 AM
3h 51m
12 PM
3h 48m
3 PM
3h 52m
5 PM
4h 6m
8 PM
3h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Carthage, MO to Columbia, MO covers 234 miles and takes about 3h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Central Avenue, I 44 East, MO 64 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.54 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
117 miles from Carthage, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 41m drive with frequent turns across 234 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Central Avenue 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 41m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carthage, MO to Columbia, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Central Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 44 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MO 64 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Jefferson Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 54 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 63 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MO 740 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Stadium Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Central Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carthage, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on South Grant Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
South Grant Street
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Central Avenue
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
East Central Avenue
3
Turn slight left
9.4 mi
·
11 min
4
Continue straight
0.9 mi
·
1 min
5
Continue straight
27 mi
·
30 min
6
Take the ramp straight toward I 44 East: Springfield
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 44 East: Springfield
7
Merge slight left
71 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward MO 64, MO 5, MO 32: Hartville
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
MO 64, MO 5, MO 32: Hartville
9
Turn left onto South Jefferson Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Jefferson Avenue
10
Continue straight
24 mi
·
29 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward US 54: Camdenton, Nevada, Osage Beach, Jefferson City
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
US 54: Camdenton, Nevada, Osage Beach, Jefferson City
12
Turn right
31 mi
·
35 min
13
Turn straight
28 mi
·
32 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward US 63 North: Columbia
26 mi
·
28 min
·
US 63 North: Columbia
15
Take the exit slight right toward MO 740
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
MO 740
16
Turn left onto East Stadium Boulevard
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
East Stadium Boulevard
17
Turn right onto South Providence Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Providence Road
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 117 miles from Carthage, MO, or about 1h 50m 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 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117 miles or 1h 50m 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 1m
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 Carthage, 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 Carthage, MO
This is one driving day of about 234 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Carthage, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 117 mi from Carthage, MO · 1h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
117 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 117 miles from Carthage, 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
$35.54 one way
$71.08 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
82 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $39.18 | $78.36 |
| premium | $4.80 | $44.17 | $88.35 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $51.99 | $103.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.2 | 0 | $24.57 | $11.23 |
| Efficient EV | 58.5 | 0 | $20.47 | $9.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.6 | 1 | $32.76 | $14.98 |
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Afternoon in Columbia on Monday
Local time
1:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3h 41m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Carthage, MO to Columbia, MO covers 234 miles and takes about 3h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Central Avenue, I 44 East, MO 64. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 117 miles from Carthage, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.54 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 41m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carthage, MO to Columbia, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Carthage, MO to Columbia, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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