The drive from Caruthersville, MO to Columbia, MO covers 305.9 miles and takes about 5h 51m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 175.7 miles on I 55.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.82 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
153 miles from Caruthersville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 51m. Total distance: 305.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 51m highway drive covering 305.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 175.7 miles on I 55.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 175.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 182.3 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 14 significant decision points across 305.9 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 182.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 182.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 194.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
182.3 mi into trip|~3h 20m 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
182.5 mi into trip|~3h 20m 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
194.8 mi into trip|~3h 36m 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
195 mi into trip|~3h 36m 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
220.9 mi into trip|~4h 8m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Caruthersville, MO and Columbia, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.
Chicago
182.3 mi in|~3h 20m
Saint Louis
194.8 mi in|~3h 36m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
175.7 mi
3h 8m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi
1h 35m
Avenue of the Saints
25.4 mi
30m
I 270
11.5 mi
14m
West 3rd Street
2.9 mi
5m
MO 84
2 mi
3m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
Rosa Parks Highway
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 175.7 mi, about 3h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Caruthersville, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on this road
45 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
2.9 mi·5 min·West 3rd Street
3
Continue on MO 84
2.0 mi·3 min·MO 84
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Sikeston
5
Merge onto I 55; US 61
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 55; US 61
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
102 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 55
7
Continue on I 55
1.3 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 196Toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, ChicagoUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
388 ft·8 sec
Toward I 270 West: Kansas CityUse the slight left lane.
10
Continue on this road
0.7 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 196Toward I 270 West
11
Merge onto I 270
11 mi·14 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 12Toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint LouisUse the slight right lane.
13
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.
14
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·9 sec·this road
Exit 12Toward I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
15
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
25 mi·30 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight lane.
16
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.
17
Merge onto I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
18
Continue on I 70; US 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
19
Continue on I 70; US 40
0.5 mi·34 sec·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 126Toward MO 163: Downtown
21
Turn left onto MO 163
1.2 mi·2 min·North Providence Road
22
Arrive at destination
MO 163
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 153 miles from Caruthersville, MO, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 175.7 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 67 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 153 miles or 2h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 44m
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 Caruthersville, 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 Caruthersville, MO
This is one driving day of about 305.9 miles and 5h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Caruthersville, 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 I 55 for about 175.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 153 mi from Caruthersville, MO
· 2h 48m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the B...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 137.1
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
$19
near mile 189.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.82 one way
$95.65 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$52.51
$105.02
premium
$4.89
$58.87
$117.74
diesel
$5.61
$67.54
$135.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.8
1
$32.12
$14.68
Efficient EV
76.5
0
$26.77
$12.24
EV Truck/SUV
122.4
1
$42.83
$19.58
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Caruthersville, MO
Morning
in Caruthersville on Friday
Local time
6:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbia, MO
Morning
in Columbia on Friday
Local time
6:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
18 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 51m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Caruthersville, MO to Columbia, MO covers 305.9 miles and takes about 5h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, Avenue of the Saints. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 153 miles from Caruthersville, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.82 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 305.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 182.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 182.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 194.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Caruthersville, MO and Columbia, MO, road signs point toward Chicago and Saint Louis.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park and Gateway Arch National Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
