Drive Time
3h 25m
Distance
218.4 mi
351 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
Photo: Lena Khrupina
The drive from Mound City, MO to Columbia, MO covers 218.4 miles and takes about 3h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Street, I 29 South, I 435 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.42 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
109.2 miles from Mound City, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 25m drive with frequent turns across 218.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 25m 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 Mound City, MO to Columbia, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 29 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 435 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 70 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 70 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| George Brett Super Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Clifton J | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Mound City, MO and Columbia, MO.
Start on the route
Turn right onto State Street
Turn left
Take the ramp left toward I 29 South: Saint Joseph
Merge slight left
Merge slight right
Keep slight right to continue on I 435 East: Saint Louis
Keep slight right to continue on I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex
Keep slight left to continue on I 70 East: Saint Louis
Keep slight left to continue on I 70 East: Saint Louis
Merge slight left onto George Brett Super Highway
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Continue on Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right toward MO 163: Downtown
Turn right onto North Providence Road
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.2 miles or 1h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, MO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Mound City, 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 Mound City, MO
This is one driving day of about 218.4 miles and 3h 25m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 109.2 mi from Mound City, MO · 1h 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
109 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 109.2 miles from Mound City, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$32.42 one way
$64.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $36.57 | $73.14 |
| premium | $4.65 | $40.02 | $80.03 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $45.61 | $91.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.5 | 0 | $22.93 | $10.48 |
| Efficient EV | 54.6 | 0 | $19.11 | $8.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87.4 | 1 | $30.58 | $13.98 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Mound City on Saturday
Local time
1:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
1:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
49°F
Kansas City, MO
109 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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