Trip from Columbia, MO to La Plata, MO

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 34m

Distance

78.5 mi

126 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min

4 AM

1h 27m ★

6 AM

1h 35m

8 AM

1h 49m

10 AM

1h 40m

12 PM

1h 38m

3 PM

1h 40m

5 PM

1h 48m

8 PM

1h 30m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Columbia, MO to La Plata, MO covers 78.5 miles and takes about 1h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 63, Range Line Street, North Providence Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 71.7 miles on US 63. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.27 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.

Midpoint

39.2 miles from Columbia, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 78.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 34m highway drive covering 78.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 63 and Range Line Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 71.7 miles on US 63.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 63 is the longest continuous segment at about 71.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 63 and Range Line Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 34m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles (I 70; US 40 / Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 1.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 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

4

1.3 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 70; US 40 / Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

Merge onto I 70; US 40 / Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining

6

1.5 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward MO 763

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 127 Toward MO 763

5

5 mi into trip | ~9m in | MO 763

Enter roundabout onto MO 763 toward MO 763 North: Moberly

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Toward MO 763 North: Moberly

5

78.5 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in | East Moore Street

Turn right onto East Moore Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 63	71.7 mi	1h 21m
Range Line Street	3.3 mi	5m
North Providence Road	1.2 mi	2m
East Clark Street	0.7 mi	1m
MO 763	0.4 mi	<1m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway	0.2 mi	<1m
South Gex Street	0.2 mi	<1m
East Moore Street	<0.1 mi	—

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: US 63 — 71.7 mi, about 1h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MO and La Plata, 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

0.2 mi · 13 sec · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

4

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Exit 127 Toward MO 763

5

Turn left onto MO 763

3.3 mi · 5 min · Range Line Street

6

Enter roundabout onto MO 763

169 ft · 3 sec · MO 763

Toward MO 763 North: Moberly

7

Continue on MO 763

0.4 mi · 36 sec · MO 763

Toward MO 763 North: Moberly

8

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward US 63 North: Moberly

9

Merge onto US 63

72 mi · 1 hr 21 min · US 63

10

Take the exit

100 ft · 4 sec

11

Turn left onto MO 156

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Clark Street

12

Turn right onto South Gex Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · South Gex Street

13

Turn right onto East Moore Street

20 ft · 0 sec · East Moore Street

14

Arrive at destination

East Moore Street

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 39.2 miles from Columbia, MO, or about 49m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.7 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 17 miles or 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39.2 miles or 49m 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 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Plata, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Columbia, MO

This is one driving day of about 78.5 miles and 1h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Columbia, MO.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on US 63 for about 71.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39.2 mi from Columbia, MO · 49m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Moberly, MO

39 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

Hallsville, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Moberly, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.2 miles from Columbia, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 63 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.7 miles.

Arriving in La Plata, MO

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Columbia, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Columbia, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Columbia, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.2 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Columbia, Missouri

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.27 one way

$24.55 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$13.47	$26.95
premium	$4.89	$15.11	$30.21
diesel	$5.61	$17.33	$34.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	23.6	$8.24	$3.77
Efficient EV	19.6	$6.87	$3.14
EV Truck/SUV	31.4	$10.99	$5.02

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Columbia, MO

Morning in Columbia on Friday

Local time

11:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Sunny

S 6 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 5:09PM CDT until April 16 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 5:06PM CDT until April 16 at 5:45PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO

Destination

La Plata, MO

Morning in La Plata on Friday

Local time

11:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

69°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

13 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

1h 34m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 La Plata, MO covers 78.5 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 63, Range Line Street, North Providence Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 39.2 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 $12.27 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 is a straightforward 1h 34m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles (I 70; US 40 / Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 1.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

The route from Columbia, MO to La Plata, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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

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Trip from Columbia, MO to La Plata, MO

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in La Plata, MO

Nearby Places

Cajun Crab House Seafood Restaurant

Cajun Crab House Seafood Restaurant

Blink Charging Station

Moberly Motors Electric Era EV Fast Charging Station

Rivian Adventure Network

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

Blink Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Columbia, MO

La Plata, MO

Same local time

13 degrees cooler at arrival

1h 34m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Columbia, MO to La Plata, MO?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How hard is the drive from Columbia, MO to La Plata, MO?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Columbia, MO to La Plata, MO?

How this page is built

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