Trip from Columbia, MO to New Madrid, MO

Drive Time

5h 14m

Distance

273.8 mi

441 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

5h 1m ★

6 AM

5h 15m

8 AM

5h 42m

10 AM

5h 24m

12 PM

5h 21m

3 PM

5h 26m

5 PM

5h 40m

8 PM

5h 7m

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 New Madrid, MO covers 273.8 miles and takes about 5h 14m 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 $41.59 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

136.9 miles from Columbia, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 37m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 14m drive with frequent turns across 273.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 70 East 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 5h 14m 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 Columbia, MO to New Madrid, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

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.

Longest stretch: I 70 East — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on North Providence Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Providence Road

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

0.2 mi · 22 sec · I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis

Merge slight left onto Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

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

Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

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

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

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

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

0.3 mi · 33 sec · I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

25 mi · 30 min · Avenue of the Saints

Take the exit slight right toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis

0.3 mi · 39 sec · I 270: Chicago, Memphis

Keep slight right to continue on I 270 South: Memphis

0.3 mi · 31 sec · I 270 South: Memphis

Merge slight left

11 mi · 14 min

Take the exit slight right toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road

0.4 mi · 27 sec · I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road

Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Memphis

0.4 mi · 44 sec · I 55 South: Memphis

Merge slight left onto Rosa Parks Highway

1.5 mi · 1 min · Rosa Parks Highway

Continue on Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway

1.8 mi · 2 min · Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway

Continue on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway

143 mi · 2 hr 33 min · Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway

Take the exit slight right toward US 61, US 62, I 55 Business: New Madrid

0.2 mi · 24 sec · US 61, US 62, I 55 Business: New Madrid

Turn left

2.7 mi · 4 min

Turn left onto Dawson Road

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Dawson Road

Turn right onto Kings Highway

0.8 mi · 2 min · Kings Highway

Turn left onto Mill Street

0.3 mi · 47 sec · Mill Street

Turn left

92 ft · 7 sec

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 136.9 miles from Columbia, MO, or about 2h 37m 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 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 136.9 miles or 2h 37m 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 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Madrid, 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 273.8 miles and 5h 14m.

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.

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 136.9 mi from Columbia, MO · 2h 37m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

East Saint Louis, IL

137 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

Alton, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

East Saint Louis, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 136.9 miles from Columbia, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in New Madrid, MO

The final approach into New Madrid, 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 New Madrid, 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

$41.59 one way

$83.17 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 96 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$45.85	$91.69
premium	$4.80	$51.69	$103.38
diesel	$5.64	$60.83	$121.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 95.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	82.1	1	$28.75	$13.14
Efficient EV	68.5	0	$23.96	$10.95
EV Truck/SUV	109.5	1	$38.33	$17.52

Gas CO2

96 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (67% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Columbia, MO

Morning in Columbia on Monday

Local time

6:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New Madrid, MO

Morning in New Madrid on Monday

Local time

6:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

80°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

30 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 14m 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 Columbia, MO to New Madrid, MO covers 273.8 miles and takes about 5h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 70 East, Highway Patrol Sgt, Sheriff Roger I. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 136.9 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 $41.59 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 straightforward 5h 14m 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 Columbia, MO to New Madrid, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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

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