The drive from Taos, MO to Columbia, MO covers 170.4 miles and takes about 3h 13m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, I 435 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.4 miles on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.64 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
85.2 miles from Taos, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 13m. Total distance: 170.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 13m drive with frequent turns across 170.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 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. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.9 miles in near I 29; I 435; US 71.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 170.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.9 miles (I 29; I 435; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles (I 435): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.1 miles (US 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
19.9 mi into trip|~27m in|I 29; I 435; US 71
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
22.2 mi into trip|~29m in|I 435
Keep slight right at fork onto I 435 toward I 435 East: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 14
Toward I 435 East: Saint Louis
7
50.1 mi into trip|~1h in|US 24
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24 toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 63
Toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Ka...
7
50.4 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
7
51.6 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Taos, MO and Columbia, MO, road signs point toward Kansas City and Sports Complex.
Kansas City
50.1 mi in|~1h|via US 24
Sports Complex
50.1 mi in|~1h|via US 24
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi
58m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54.3 mi
58m
I 435
28 mi
30m
I 29
15.2 mi
16m
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
5.6 mi
6m
MO 371
3.1 mi
5m
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Southeast 116 Highway
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
— 54.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Taos, MO and Columbia, MO.
1
Start on Southeast Taos Road
18 ft·5 sec·Southeast Taos Road
2
Turn left onto MO CC
1.5 mi·3 min·MO CC
3
Turn left onto MO 116
1.5 mi·2 min·Southeast 116 Highway
4
Turn right onto MO 371
3.1 mi·5 min·MO 371
5
Turn left onto MO H
0.7 mi·1 min·MO H
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City
7
Merge onto I 29; US 71
13 mi·13 min·I 29; US 71
8
Merge onto I 29; I 435; US 71
2.2 mi·2 min·I 29; I 435; US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 435
28 mi·30 min·I 435
Exit 14Toward I 435 East: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 24
0.3 mi·23 sec·US 24
Exit 63Toward I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·1 min
Toward I 70 East: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
469 ft·11 sec
Toward I 70 East: Saint LouisUse the slight left / straight lanes.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.64 one way
$53.28 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.25
$58.50
premium
$4.89
$32.79
$65.58
diesel
$5.61
$37.62
$75.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.1
0
$17.89
$8.18
Efficient EV
42.6
0
$14.91
$6.82
EV Truck/SUV
68.2
0
$23.86
$10.91
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 16, 2026
Origin
Taos, MO
Morning
in Taos on Friday
Local time
10:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbia, MO
Morning
in Columbia on Friday
Local time
10:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
S 6 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 5:09PM CDT until April 16 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 5:06PM CDT until April 16 at 5:45PM CDT by NWS Springfield MO
55°F
Oak Grove, MO
85 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
34 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
3h 13m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Taos, MO to Columbia, MO covers 170.4 miles and takes about 3h 13m 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 435. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85.2 miles from Taos, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.64 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 is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 170.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.9 miles (I 29; I 435; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles (I 435): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.1 miles (US 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Taos, MO and Columbia, MO, road signs point toward Kansas City and Sports Complex.
