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Trip from Piedmont, MO to Columbia, MO

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

Drive Time

4h

Distance

208.3 mi

335 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 47m ★
6 AM
4h 0m
8 AM
4h 26m
10 AM
4h 9m
12 PM
4h 7m
3 PM
4h 11m
5 PM
4h 25m
8 PM
3h 53m

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

Downtown Piedmont, MO, MO

Piedmont, MO

Valeria Boltneva

Trip Overview

The drive from Piedmont, MO to Columbia, MO covers 208.3 miles and takes about 4h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Main Street, I 55 North, Rosa Parks Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.57 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

104.2 miles from Piedmont, MO

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

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 208.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 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 4h drive with frequent turns across 208.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Main 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 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 Piedmont, MO to Columbia, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Main Street
I 55 North
Rosa Parks Highway
I 270 West
I 64
I 64 West
Avenue of the Saints
I 70 West

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: North Main Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East Fir Street

66 ft · 4 sec · East Fir Street
2

Turn right onto North Main Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
3

Turn right

14 mi · 20 min
4

Turn left

0.5 mi · 1 min
5

Continue straight

0.1 mi · 15 sec
6

Merge slight left

81 mi · 1 hr 32 min
7

Keep slight right

0.3 mi · 27 sec
8

Take the exit straight toward I 55 North: Saint Louis

0.3 mi · 49 sec · I 55 North: Saint Louis
9

Merge slight left

21 mi · 22 min
10

Continue on Rosa Parks Highway

1.3 mi · 1 min · Rosa Parks Highway
11

Take the exit slight right toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago

0.2 mi · 27 sec · I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago
12

Keep slight left to continue on I 270 West: Kansas City

387 ft · 8 sec · I 270 West: Kansas City
13

Continue on I 270 West

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 270 West
14

Merge slight left

11 mi · 14 min
15

Take the exit slight right toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis

0.1 mi · 17 sec · I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis
16

Keep slight left to continue on I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville

0.4 mi · 49 sec · I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
17

Continue on I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville

0.1 mi · 10 sec · I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
18

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

25 mi · 30 min · Avenue of the Saints
19

Take the exit slight left toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
20

Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

81 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
21

Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

2.0 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
22

Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

0.5 mi · 34 sec · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
23

Take the exit slight right toward MO 163: Downtown

0.1 mi · 16 sec · MO 163: Downtown
24

Turn left onto North Providence Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Providence Road
25

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 104.2 miles from Piedmont, MO, or about 2h 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 46 miles or 53m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 104.2 miles or 2h in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 17m

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 Piedmont, 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 Piedmont, MO

This is one driving day of about 208.3 miles and 4h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Piedmont, 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 104.2 mi from Piedmont, MO · 2h into the drive

archaeological site near East St. Louis, Illinois, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cahokia, IL

104 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

Farmington, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cahokia, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 104.2 miles from Piedmont, 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

$32.57 one way

$65.13 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 73 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $35.76 $71.51
premium $4.89 $40.09 $80.17
diesel $5.61 $45.99 $91.98

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 72.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 62.5 0 $21.87 $10.00
Efficient EV 52.1 0 $18.23 $8.33
EV Truck/SUV 83.3 1 $29.16 $13.33

Gas CO2

73 kg

EV CO2

24 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

Piedmont, MO

Late night in Piedmont on Friday

Local time

3:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Columbia, MO

Late night in Columbia on Friday

Local time

3:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°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

22 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

4h 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 Piedmont, MO to Columbia, MO covers 208.3 miles and takes about 4h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Main Street, I 55 North, Rosa Parks Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 104.2 miles from Piedmont, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.57 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 4h 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 Piedmont, MO to Columbia, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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