Origin
Raytown, MO
Late night in Raytown on Friday
Local time
4:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Raytown, 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
2h 16m
Distance
121.6 mi
196 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 7m
★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 24m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Raytown, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 121.6-mile trip from Raytown, Missouri, to Columbia, Missouri, is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, taking approximately 2 hours and 16 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a small portion also designated the Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. With an estimated fuel cost of $19, this drive through the Midwest region is a straightforward local journey. Consider this route for a convenient and efficient trip between these two Missouri cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.8 miles from Raytown, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 16m. Total distance: 121.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 16m 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 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 121.6-mile route, as indicated by the 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.4 miles along the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway. This suggests a journey that likely involves more frequent turns and potentially slower speeds through local areas rather than long, high-speed highway segments. The character of the road will likely shift as you move between different local road systems within Missouri.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 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 0.1 miles in near Raytown Trafficway.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Raytown, MO to Columbia, MO is easy. At 2h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Raytown Trafficway): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (Blue Ridge Cutoff): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Raytown Trafficway
Turn right onto Raytown Trafficway
Navigation decision point
3
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Blue Ridge Cutoff
Turn right onto Blue Ridge Cutoff
Navigation decision point
4
3.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Navigation decision point
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
4
95.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
|
I 70 / U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 / U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
120.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward MO 163: Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 126
Toward MO 163: Downtown
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 54.3 mi | 58m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Raytown Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| North Providence Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Blue Ridge Cutoff | 1 mi | 1m |
| Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Raytown, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on East 63rd Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East 63rd Street
2
Turn right onto Raytown Trafficway
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Raytown Trafficway
3
Continue on Raytown Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Raytown Road
4
Turn right onto Blue Ridge Cutoff
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Blue Ridge Cutoff
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
6
Continue on I 70
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
7
Continue on I 70
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 70
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
9
Continue on I 70
53 mi
·
56 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi
·
34 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi
·
24 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 126
Toward MO 163: Downtown
15
Turn right onto MO 163
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Providence Road
16
Arrive at destination
MO 163
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 16-minute duration, this trip is ideal for a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. You can easily complete this 121.6-mile journey without needing to split it into multiple days. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $19, and plan for any necessary stops along the way. A specific tip for this route: since it's not a high-speed highway, pay close attention to local speed limits and road signs, especially during the 54.4-mile stretch on the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, to ensure a smooth and legal drive.
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 60.8 miles from Raytown, MO, or about 1h 8m 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 27 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.8 miles or 1h 8m 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 50m
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 Raytown, 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 Raytown, MO
This is one driving day of about 121.6 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Raytown, 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 60.8 mi from Raytown, MO · 1h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.8 miles from Raytown, 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
$19.01 one way
$38.02 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.87 | $41.75 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.40 | $46.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.85 | $53.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.5 | 0 | $12.77 | $5.84 |
| Efficient EV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.64 | $4.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.6 | 0 | $17.02 | $7.78 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Columbia, MO
Late night in Columbia on Friday
Local time
4:02 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
17 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
2h 16m 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 Raytown, MO to Columbia, MO covers 121.6 miles and takes about 2h 16m 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, Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.8 miles from Raytown, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.01 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 Raytown, MO to Columbia, MO is easy. At 2h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Raytown Trafficway): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (Blue Ridge Cutoff): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Raytown, 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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