Origin
Kirksville, MO
Evening in Kirksville on Sunday
Local time
5:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kirksville, MO to Columbia, MO
Drive Time
1h 35m
Distance
91.5 mi
147 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 28m
★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
Connecting the heart of Missouri, this 91.5-mile journey between Kirksville and Columbia is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes. You will spend your time navigating local streets before connecting to US 63 South for the bulk of your travel. Because the total duration is quite short, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $14 in fuel for the one-way trek. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this route is efficient and predictable for those moving through the Midwest.
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
45.8 miles from Kirksville, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate out of Kirksville using East Illinois Street and North Baltimore Street. While the route relies heavily on US 63 South, it maintains a 0% highway share, meaning you should prepare for a more traditional driving experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. The road demands your attention as it transitions from local infrastructure to the primary southward corridor. Because the path is composed entirely of non-highway roads, your pace will likely remain consistent rather than fluctuating with heavy interstate traffic.
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.
East Illinois Street 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Kirksville, MO to Columbia, MO is easy. At 1h 35m 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 Kirksville, MO to Columbia, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Illinois Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Baltimore Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 63 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MO 763 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 70 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway Patrol Sgt | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MO 163 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Providence Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Illinois Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirksville, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on North Franklin Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
North Franklin Street
2
Turn right onto East Illinois Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Illinois Street
3
Turn right onto North Baltimore Street
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
North Baltimore Street
4
Take the ramp straight toward US 63 South: Macon
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
US 63 South: Macon
5
Merge slight left
81 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward MO 763 South: Columbia
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
MO 763 South: Columbia
7
Turn straight
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward MO 763 South: Columbia
197 ft
·
4 sec
·
MO 763 South: Columbia
9
Exit the roundabout onto MO 763 South: Columbia
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
MO 763 South: Columbia
10
Take the ramp slight right toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
11
Merge slight left onto Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
12
Take the exit slight right toward MO 163: Downtown
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
MO 163: Downtown
13
Turn left onto North Providence Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Providence Road
14
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this 91.5-mile trek is relatively quick, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak local congestion. With no mandatory stops required for a drive under two hours, you can comfortably make the trip in one go. Keep your $14 fuel budget in mind when planning your departure, as local fuel prices can fluctuate. A helpful tip for this specific route is to double-check your navigation before leaving the Kirksville city limits, as the initial turn-heavy local streets require careful attention before you settle onto US 63 South.
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 45.8 miles from Kirksville, MO, or about 47m 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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.8 miles or 47m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kirksville, 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 Kirksville, MO
This is one driving day of about 91.5 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kirksville, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45.8 mi from Kirksville, MO · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 45.8 miles from Kirksville, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Columbia, MO
The final approach into Columbia, 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 Columbia, 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
$13.90 one way
$27.80 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $15.32 | $30.64 |
| premium | $4.80 | $17.27 | $34.55 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $20.33 | $40.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.5 | 0 | $9.61 | $4.39 |
| Efficient EV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.01 | $3.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.6 | 0 | $12.81 | $5.86 |
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.
Destination
Columbia, MO
Evening in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
5:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
55°F
Quincy, IL
46 mi in
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
4 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
1h 35m 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 Kirksville, MO to Columbia, MO covers 91.5 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Illinois Street, North Baltimore Street, US 63 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.8 miles from Kirksville, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.90 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 Kirksville, MO to Columbia, MO is easy. At 1h 35m 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 Kirksville, MO to Columbia, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Kirksville, MO to Columbia, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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