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Trip from Columbia, MO to Richmond, MO

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 59m

Distance

104.1 mi

168 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 51m ★
6 AM
2h 0m
8 AM
2h 17m
10 AM
2h 6m
12 PM
2h 4m
3 PM
2h 7m
5 PM
2h 16m
8 PM
1h 55m

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

city in and county seat of Ray County, Missouri, United States

Richmond, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Columbia, MO to Richmond, MO covers 104.1 miles and takes about 1h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 70 West, Highway Patrol Sgt, Dwight D for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.27 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

52.1 miles from Columbia, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 104.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 59m 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 59m drive with frequent turns across 104.1 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.
I 70 West is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

843 ft 635 ft

Total Climb

446 ft

Total Descent

328 ft

Highest Point

843 ft

~81.8 mi in

Elevation Range

208 ft

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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Columbia, MO to Richmond, MO is easy. At 1h 59m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbia, MO to Richmond, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 70 West
Highway Patrol Sgt
Dwight D
U
MO 13
East Main Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Providence Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Providence Road
2

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

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

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

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

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

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

Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

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

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

20 mi · 21 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7

Take the exit slight right toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg

0.2 mi · 26 sec · MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg
8

Turn right

25 mi · 32 min
9

Turn left onto East Main Street

0.3 mi · 50 sec · East Main Street
10

Arrive at your destination

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 52.1 miles from Columbia, MO, or about 59m 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 23 miles or 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 52.1 miles or 59m 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 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, 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 104.1 miles and 1h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Columbia, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 52.1 mi from Columbia, MO · 59m into the drive

Downtown Higginsville, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Higginsville, MO

52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Higginsville, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 52.1 miles from Columbia, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Richmond, MO

The final approach into Richmond, 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

$16.27 one way

$32.55 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $17.87 $35.74
premium $4.89 $20.03 $40.07
diesel $5.61 $22.98 $45.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 36.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 31.2 0 $10.93 $5.00
Efficient EV 26 0 $9.11 $4.16
EV Truck/SUV 41.6 0 $14.57 $6.66

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 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 15, 2026

Origin

Columbia, MO

Afternoon in Columbia on Thursday

Local time

12:13 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Richmond, MO

Afternoon in Richmond on Thursday

Local time

12:13 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°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

21 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 59m 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 Richmond, MO covers 104.1 miles and takes about 1h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70 West, Highway Patrol Sgt, Dwight D. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.1 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 $16.27 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.
The drive from Columbia, MO to Richmond, MO is easy. At 1h 59m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbia, MO to Richmond, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Columbia, MO to Richmond, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 635 ft to 843 ft elevation with about 446 ft of total climbing.

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