Skip to main content

Trip from Columbia, MO to Glendale, MO

Data updated 4 hours ago

Drive Time

2h 25m

Distance

118.3 mi

190 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 16m ★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 46m
10 AM
2h 33m
12 PM
2h 31m
3 PM
2h 34m
5 PM
2h 45m
8 PM
2h 20m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Glendale, MO, MO

Glendale, MO

Valeria Boltneva

Trip Overview

The drive from Columbia, MO to Glendale, MO covers 118.3 miles and takes about 2h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Avenue of the Saints, Daniel Boone Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 81 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.49 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

59.2 miles from Columbia, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 25m drive with frequent turns across 118.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 81 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 118.3 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
1.2 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
6
84.7 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in | US 40

Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 210A Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Ches...
5
85 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in | I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints

Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
115.3 mi into trip | ~2h 18m in

Take the exit toward McKnight Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 30 Toward McKnight Road
4
117.7 mi into trip | ~2h 24m in | North Berry Road

Turn left onto North Berry Road

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 81 mi 1h 35m
Avenue of the Saints 27.7 mi 33m
Daniel Boone Expressway 2.6 mi 3m
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway 1.9 mi 2m
South McKnight Road 1.4 mi 2m
North Providence Road 1.2 mi 2m
Manchester Road 0.8 mi 2m
North Berry Road 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 81 mi, about 1h 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on MO 163

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Providence Road
2

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis
3

Merge onto I 70; US 40

0.5 mi · 35 sec · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
4

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.9 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
5

Continue on I 70; US 40

81 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6

Take the exit onto US 40

0.3 mi · 33 sec · US 40
Exit 210A Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
7

Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61

28 mi · 33 min · Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8

Continue on I 64; US 40

2.6 mi · 3 min · Daniel Boone Expressway
Use the straight lane.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 30 Toward McKnight Road Use the slight right lane.
10

Turn right onto South McKnight Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · South McKnight Road
11

Turn right onto MO 100

0.8 mi · 2 min · Manchester Road
12

Turn left onto North Berry Road

0.1 mi · 16 sec · North Berry Road
13

Keep slight right at fork onto North Berry Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Berry Road
14

Arrive at destination

North Berry Road

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 59.2 miles from Columbia, MO, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 59.2 miles or 1h 11m 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 56m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glendale, MO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

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 118.3 miles and 2h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Columbia, 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.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 81 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 59.2 mi from Columbia, MO · 1h 11m into the drive

city in Madison County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Alton, IL

59 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

East Saint Louis, 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 59.2 miles from Columbia, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Glendale, MO

The final approach into Glendale, 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 Glendale, MO.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Gateway Arch National Park

Gateway Arch National Park

National Park

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...

10 mi from route ~26 min detour $19 near mile 118.3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.49 one way

$36.99 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $20.31 $40.61
premium $4.89 $22.77 $45.53
diesel $5.61 $26.12 $52.24

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: 41.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 35.5 0 $12.42 $5.68
Efficient EV 29.6 0 $10.35 $4.73
EV Truck/SUV 47.3 0 $16.56 $7.57

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Columbia, MO

Night in Columbia on Tuesday

Local time

10:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Glendale, MO

Night in Glendale on Tuesday

Local time

10:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°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

5 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 25m 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 Columbia, MO to Glendale, MO covers 118.3 miles and takes about 2h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Avenue of the Saints, Daniel Boone Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.2 miles from Columbia, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.49 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 118.3 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85 miles (I 64; US 40; US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Columbia, MO to Glendale, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Columbia, MO or browse trips ending in Glendale, MO.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.

Explore maps for Columbia, MO or Glendale, MO on MapSof.net.