How far is Bowling Green, MO from Columbia, MO?

The driving distance from Bowling Green, MO to Columbia, MO is about 85.3 miles (137.2 km), with a travel time of about 01h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 66.7 miles (107.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 06m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
85.23 mi
01h 33m
Flight
66.72 mi
107.38 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bowling Green.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
66.72 mi
Kilometers
107.38 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
85.23 mi
Kilometers
137.16 km
Drive Time
01h 33m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbia
Tue, May 12, 10:10 PM CDT
Return by in Bowling Green
Tue, May 12, 11:43 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bowling Green
2026-05-12T20:37
Arrive Columbia
Tue, May 12, 10:10 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:33 AM to 11:33 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:24 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bowling Green
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Vandiver
MO

Human settlement in Audrain County, Missouri, United States of America

From Bowling Green
42.6 mi
00h 46m
To Columbia
42.7 mi
00h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Tuesday

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 16 mph SW
Destination
84°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bowling Green and Columbia.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bowling Green and Columbia.

  1. 1

    Start on West Main Street

    2173 ft · 1 min · West Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North 9th Street

    3011 ft · 57 sec · North 9th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left

    1.5 mi · 3 min

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left

    9.6 mi · 13 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight left

    13.8 mi · 19 min

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route

    74 m · 3 sec

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout

    8.1 mi · 11 min

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Scott's Corner

    19 m · 1 sec

  9. 9

    Exit the rotary

    10.4 mi · 14 min

  10. 10

    Turn left onto US 54 West: Jefferson City

    18.1 mi · 20 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Columbia

    1253 ft · 15 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    18.6 mi · 24 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

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

  14. 14

    Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

    2421 ft · 34 sec · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 163: Downtown

    747 ft · 16 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto North Providence Road

    1.2 mi · 3 min · North Providence Road

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Providence Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bowling Green and Columbia.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
17 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North 9th Street
22.5 mi · 26%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
18.6 mi · 22%
US 54 West
18.1 mi · 21%
Scott's Corner
10.4 mi · 12%
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.96 mi · 2%
North Providence Road
1.23 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

18.6 mi · 00h 24m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 33m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.6 mi
66.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vandiver
00h 46m from Bowling Green
Leave By
3:24 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Bowling Green and Sunny near Columbia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bowling Green to Columbia?

The road trip is about 85.3 miles (137.2 km) and usually takes 01h 33m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Vandiver is a useful midpoint, sitting about 42.6 miles from Bowling Green and 42.7 miles from Columbia.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 66.7 miles (107.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:24 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.35 one way or $22.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 26.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Bowling Green and Sunny near Columbia.

Stop Ideas Near Vandiver

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Vandiver, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Vandiver.

RAIL

Hermann

62 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.
RAIL

Jefferson City

71 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Quincy

97 mi away
North 30th St. and Wisman Lane
RAIL

Washington

98 mi away
301 West Front St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bowling Green and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 66.72 mi (107.38 km).

Bowling Green

#1 Bowling Green

City in Missouri

Population4,759
Coordinates39.3419900, -91.1951400
Altitude272
CountryUnited States
Columbia

#2 Columbia

The most populous city in the state of Missouri.

Population124,769
Coordinates38.9517100, -92.3340700
Altitude215
CountryUnited States
Start: West Main Street (-91.19514, 39.341984)
End: North Providence Road (-92.33414, 38.951711)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 137 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 50m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.01 gal
11.38 L · about $11.35
Round trip
$22.70
6.02 gal · 22.76 L
Estimated CO2
26.7 kg one way
Round trip: 53.5 kg / 118 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $11.35 $22.70
Mid-grade $4.25 $12.80 $25.60
Premium $4.65 $14.01 $28.02
Diesel $5.30 $15.97 $31.93

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Missouri · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Bowling Green and Columbia. The current time is 20:37:14.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.