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Trip from Riverside, MO to Columbia, MO

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 8m

Distance

133.1 mi

214 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
2h 0m ★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 27m
10 AM
2h 15m
12 PM
2h 13m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 3m

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

Downtown Riverside, MO, MO

Riverside, MO

Mikhail Nilov

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Riverside to Columbia, Missouri, expect a journey covering 133.1 miles that typically takes about 2 hours and 8 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting around $20 for fuel should be sufficient to cover your transit between these two Midwestern locales. Navigating this path requires you to stick to local roads like Northwest Gateway Avenue, US 69 North, and Northwest Vivion Road rather than relying on major interstates. It is a straightforward, manageable drive that connects the outskirts of the Kansas City area to the heart of mid-Missouri without unnecessary complications.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

66.5 miles from Riverside, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 133.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, keeping you off the high-speed corridors and on more localized pavement. Because the drive is entirely composed of local roads, you will experience a constant change in scenery and steering input as you navigate the turns. The road maintains a consistent pace, allowing you to settle into the flow of the local traffic as you traverse the 133.1-mile distance. Expect a hands-on experience where the character of the road shifts frequently rather than offering long, uninterrupted stretches of cruising.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Northwest Gateway Avenue 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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Riverside, MO to Columbia, MO is easy. At 2h 8m 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 Riverside, MO to Columbia, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Northwest Gateway Avenue
US 69 North
Northwest Vivion Road
Northwest Platte Road
Northwest Briarcliff Parkway
MO 9 South
US 169 South
Broadway Boulevard

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Northwest Gateway Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on the route

154 ft · 13 sec · the route
2

At the end of the road, turn uturn onto Northwest Gateway Avenue

115 ft · 9 sec · Northwest Gateway Avenue
3

Turn straight onto US 69 North

312 ft · 13 sec · US 69 North
4

Turn sharp left onto Northwest Vivion Road

157 ft · 7 sec · Northwest Vivion Road
5

Turn left onto Northwest Gateway Avenue

0.4 mi · 49 sec · Northwest Gateway Avenue
6

Continue on Northwest Platte Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Northwest Platte Road
7

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Northwest Briarcliff Parkway

59 ft · 1 sec · Northwest Briarcliff Parkway
8

Exit the roundabout onto Northwest Briarcliff Parkway

397 ft · 9 sec · Northwest Briarcliff Parkway
9

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward MO 9 South: North Kansas City

479 ft · 9 sec · MO 9 South: North Kansas City
10

Exit the roundabout onto MO 9 South: North Kansas City

0.2 mi · 27 sec · MO 9 South: North Kansas City
11

Merge slight left

0.3 mi · 25 sec
12

Take the exit slight right toward US 169 South: Kansas City

0.3 mi · 39 sec · US 169 South: Kansas City
13

Merge slight left

3.5 mi · 5 min
14

Keep slight left to continue on Broadway Boulevard

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Broadway Boulevard
15

Turn left onto West 6th Street

0.3 mi · 26 sec · West 6th Street
16

Take the ramp slight left toward I 35 North, I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East

0.1 mi · 16 sec · I 35 North, I 70 East, US 24 East, US 40 East
17

Continue on George Brett Super Highway

0.4 mi · 39 sec · George Brett Super Highway
18

Keep slight right to continue on George Brett Super Highway

0.5 mi · 58 sec · George Brett Super Highway
19

Keep slight left to continue on George Brett Super Highway

7.1 mi · 9 min · George Brett Super Highway
20

Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

2.9 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
21

Continue on Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

1.8 mi · 2 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
22

Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

2.6 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
23

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

53 mi · 56 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
24

Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

32 mi · 34 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
25

Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

22 mi · 24 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
26

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27

Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

0.8 mi · 1 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
28

Take the exit slight right toward MO 163: Downtown

0.1 mi · 16 sec · MO 163: Downtown
29

Turn right onto North Providence Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Providence Road
30

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time to avoid local congestion. Because there are no scheduled stops in the current plan, you should pack your own snacks and water before heading out to ensure you stay comfortable during the 2-hour and 8-minute journey. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before you leave Riverside, as local roads may offer fewer refueling options compared to major highway corridors. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersection signage throughout the 133.1-mile trek. By managing your own pace and staying observant, you can easily complete this drive in one smooth, efficient push.

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 66.5 miles from Riverside, MO, or about 1h 4m 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 29 miles or 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 66.5 miles or 1h 4m 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 45m

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 Riverside, 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 Riverside, MO

This is one driving day of about 133.1 miles and 2h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Riverside, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 66.5 mi from Riverside, MO · 1h 4m into the drive

Downtown Oak Grove, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Oak Grove, MO

67 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

Kansas City, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Oak Grove, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 66.5 miles from Riverside, 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

$20.81 one way

$41.62 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $22.85 $45.69
premium $4.89 $25.61 $51.23
diesel $5.61 $29.39 $58.77

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 46.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 39.9 0 $13.98 $6.39
Efficient EV 33.3 0 $11.65 $5.32
EV Truck/SUV 53.2 0 $18.63 $8.52

Gas CO2

47 kg

EV CO2

16 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Riverside, MO

Evening in Riverside on Thursday

Local time

6:22 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Columbia, MO

Evening in Columbia on Thursday

Local time

6:22 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

55°F

Oak Grove, MO

67 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

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 8m 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 Riverside, MO to Columbia, MO covers 133.1 miles and takes about 2h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northwest Gateway Avenue, US 69 North, Northwest Vivion Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.5 miles from Riverside, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.81 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 Riverside, MO to Columbia, MO is easy. At 2h 8m 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 Riverside, MO to Columbia, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Riverside, MO to Columbia, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Columbia, MO to Riverside, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

132 mi 2h 32m

Explore more options from Riverside, MO or browse trips ending in Columbia, MO.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.

Explore maps for Riverside, MO or Columbia, MO on MapSof.net.