Origin
Rich Hill, MO
Late night in Rich Hill on Friday
Local time
3:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rich Hill, 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
3h 26m
Distance
179.9 mi
290 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 14m
★
6 AM
3h 27m
8 AM
3h 51m
10 AM
3h 35m
12 PM
3h 33m
3 PM
3h 36m
5 PM
3h 50m
8 PM
3h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rich Hill, MO
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Rich Hill to Columbia, Missouri, expect a straightforward journey spanning 179.9 miles. This Midwest drive typically takes about 3 hours and 26 minutes, making it a manageable excursion to complete in a single day. You will primarily navigate via the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and I-49. Budgeting approximately $27 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. Since the entire trip stays within the state of Missouri, you will experience a consistent regional atmosphere throughout your time on the road.
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
90 miles from Rich Hill, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 26m. Total distance: 179.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition across the state, with highway travel accounting for 37% of your total distance. You will encounter a variety of road types, moving between fast-paced interstate segments and more localized stretches. The longest uninterrupted portion of your trip occurs on the U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, covering 54.4 miles of your itinerary. This stretch requires steady focus, while the rest of the route provides a balance of different driving conditions. Overall, it serves as a functional connection between these two Missouri locations.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
985 ft
585 ft
Total Climb
648 ft
Total Descent
739 ft
Highest Point
985 ft
~51.4 mi in
Elevation Range
400 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 179.9 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 40.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
5
40.4 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 160
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
6
40.5 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
7
57.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
MO 291
Take the exit onto MO 291 toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
7
67.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 16B
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 54.3 mi | 58m |
| I 49 | 39.4 mi | 42m |
| MO 291 | 18.5 mi | 26m |
| MO 58 | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| North Providence Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 1.1 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 Rich Hill, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on Park Street
117 ft
·
10 sec
·
Park Street
2
Turn left onto 7th Street
390 ft
·
19 sec
·
7th Street
3
Turn right onto MO A
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Walnut Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 71 North: Kansas City
5
Merge onto I 49; US 71
39 mi
·
42 min
·
I 49; US 71
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 160
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
7
Keep slight right at fork
243 ft
·
6 sec
Toward MO 291 North: Lee's Summit
8
Merge onto MO 291
8.3 mi
·
12 min
·
MO 291
9
Turn slight left onto MO 58; MO 291
8.5 mi
·
11 min
·
MO 58; MO 291
10
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
MO 291
Toward US 50 East, MO 291 North: Sedalia
11
Take the exit onto MO 291
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
MO 291
Toward MO 291 North: Independence, Hamblen Road
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left
300 ft
·
7 sec
13
Continue on MO 291
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
MO 291
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 16B
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 70
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
16
Continue on I 70
53 mi
·
56 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
17
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi
·
34 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi
·
24 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
19
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
20
Continue on I 70; US 40
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 126
Toward MO 163: Downtown
22
Turn right onto MO 163
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Providence Road
23
Arrive at destination
MO 163
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 179.9-mile journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 3-hour and 26-minute duration. Since the route is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though aiming for off-peak hours can help ensure a smoother flow. Keep your $27 fuel budget in mind as you map out your refueling strategy along the corridor. Because the longest stretch is 54.4 miles, ensure your vehicle is ready for that initial period of sustained driving. Use that single planned break to stretch your legs before tackling the final leg of your trip into Columbia.
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 90 miles from Rich Hill, MO, or about 1h 47m 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 40 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90 miles or 1h 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 2h 49m
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 Rich Hill, 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 Rich Hill, MO
This is one driving day of about 179.9 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Rich Hill, 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.
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 90 mi from Rich Hill, MO · 1h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 90 miles from Rich Hill, 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
$28.13 one way
$56.25 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $30.88 | $61.76 |
| premium | $4.89 | $34.62 | $69.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.72 | $79.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54 | 0 | $18.89 | $8.64 |
| Efficient EV | 45 | 0 | $15.74 | $7.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72 | 0 | $25.19 | $11.51 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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
3:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Oak Grove, MO
90 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
2 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
3h 26m 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 Rich Hill, MO to Columbia, MO covers 179.9 miles and takes about 3h 26m 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, I 49. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 90 miles from Rich Hill, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.13 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 179.9 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 40.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Rich Hill, MO to Columbia, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 585 ft to 985 ft elevation with about 648 ft of total climbing.
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. Elevation is sampled from USGS 3DEP. 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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