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Trip from Columbia, MO to Odessa, MO

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

Drive Time

1h 41m

Distance

90.8 mi

146 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 34m ★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m

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

city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States

Odessa, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Columbia, MO to Odessa, MO covers 90.8 miles and takes about 1h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, North Providence Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.48 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

45.4 miles from Columbia, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 90.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 41m drive with frequent turns across 90.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 54.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Columbia, MO to Odessa, MO is easy. At 1h 41m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles (I 70; US 40 / Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 89.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

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

6
1.2 mi into trip | ~2m in

Turn left toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
3
1.4 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

5
89.4 mi into trip | ~1h 37m in

Take the exit toward MO 131 South: Odessa

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 38 Toward MO 131 South: Odessa
4
89.6 mi into trip | ~1h 38m in | North Johnson Drive

Turn left onto North Johnson Drive

Navigation decision point

3
90.2 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in | East Mason Street

Turn right onto East Mason Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway 54.4 mi 58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 32.8 mi 35m
North Providence Road 1.2 mi 2m
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway 0.8 mi 1m
North Johnson Drive 0.6 mi 1m
East Mason Street 0.6 mi 1m
West Mason Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway — 54.4 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on MO 163

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Providence Road
2

Turn left

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
3

Merge onto I 70; US 40

0.8 mi · 1 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
4

Continue on I 70; US 40

1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5

Continue on I 70; US 40

54 mi · 58 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
6

Continue on I 70; US 40

31 mi · 33 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 38 Toward MO 131 South: Odessa
8

Turn left onto North Johnson Drive

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Johnson Drive
9

Turn right onto East Mason Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Mason Street
10

Arrive at destination

West Mason 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 45.4 miles from Columbia, MO, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 20 miles or 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 45.4 miles or 50m 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 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Odessa, 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 90.8 miles and 1h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Columbia, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway for about 54.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 45.4 mi from Columbia, MO · 50m into the drive

Downtown Emma, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Emma, MO

45 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

Boonville, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sweet Springs, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 45.4 miles from Columbia, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Odessa, MO

The final approach into Odessa, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.48 one way

$26.96 round trip

$3.77/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $15.20 $30.41
premium $4.65 $16.64 $33.27
diesel $5.30 $18.96 $37.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 31.8 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.2 0 $9.53 $4.36
Efficient EV 22.7 0 $7.94 $3.63
EV Truck/SUV 36.3 0 $12.71 $5.81

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Columbia, MO

Afternoon in Columbia on Friday

Local time

4:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Odessa, MO

Afternoon in Odessa on Friday

Local time

4:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

72°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

2 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 41m 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 Odessa, MO covers 90.8 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, North Providence Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 45.4 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 $13.48 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.

The drive from Columbia, MO to Odessa, MO is easy. At 1h 41m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles (I 70; US 40 / Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 89.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

The route from Columbia, MO to Odessa, 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. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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