Drive Time
5h 55m
Distance
297.5 mi
479 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
The drive from Columbia, MO to Bethany, MO covers 297.5 miles and takes about 5h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 70 East, Highway Patrol Sgt, Sheriff Roger I for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.17 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
148.8 miles from Columbia, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 57m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 55m drive with frequent turns across 297.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy — mostly straight driving
Navigation is easy, but the length (5h 55m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbia, MO to Bethany, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway Patrol Sgt | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sheriff Roger I | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dwight D | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 64 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Avenue of the Saints | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 270 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 270 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MO and Bethany, MO.
Start on North Providence Road
Take the ramp slight right toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
Merge slight left onto Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
Take the exit slight right toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
Keep slight right to continue on I 270 South: Memphis
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Memphis
Merge slight left onto Rosa Parks Highway
Continue on Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
Continue on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right toward US 60 West: Dexter, Poplar Bluff
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward MO 25, US 60 Business: Dexter, Bloomfield
Turn left
Turn right onto West Main Avenue
Turn left
Turn left onto County Road 102
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.8 miles or 2h 57m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethany, MO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Columbia, 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 Columbia, MO
This is one driving day of about 297.5 miles and 5h 55m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 148.8 mi from Columbia, MO · 2h 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
149 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 148.8 miles from Columbia, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Bethany, 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 Bethany, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$44.17 one way
$88.34 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $49.81 | $99.63 |
| premium | $4.65 | $54.51 | $109.02 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $62.12 | $124.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89.3 | 1 | $31.24 | $14.28 |
| Efficient EV | 74.4 | 0 | $26.03 | $11.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 119 | 1 | $41.65 | $19.04 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
12:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Bethany on Saturday
Local time
12:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Cahokia, IL
149 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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