How far is Carterville, MO from Columbia, MO?

The driving distance from Carterville, MO to Columbia, MO is about 236.5 miles (380.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 169.3 miles (272.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 38m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
236.51 mi
03h 49m
Flight
169.33 mi
272.51 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Carterville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
169.33 mi
Kilometers
272.51 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
236.51 mi
Kilometers
380.63 km
Drive Time
03h 49m

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 03h 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbia
Sat, Apr 18, 2:52 AM CDT
Return by in Carterville
Sat, Apr 18, 6:41 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Carterville
2026-04-17T23:03
Arrive Columbia
Sat, Apr 18, 2:52 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:49 AM to 11:49 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:22 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Carterville
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Lebanon
MO

City in Laclede County, Missouri, United States

From Carterville
115.6 mi
01h 54m
To Columbia
121 mi
01h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Friday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 to 20 mph S
Destination
85°F
Friday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Carterville and Columbia.

  1. 1

    Start on West Main Street

    1 km · 1 min · West Main Street

  2. 2

    Continue straight

    885 ft · 18 sec

  3. 3

    Take the ramp left toward I 49 Business, MO 171 South: Carthage

    1215 ft · 15 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway

    5.9 mi · 6 min · Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on West Central Avenue

    1.7 mi · 4 min · West Central Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn slight left

    9.4 mi · 12 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    1.5 km · 1 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    26.7 mi · 31 min

  9. 9

    Take the ramp straight toward I 44 East: Springfield

    3171 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    70.6 mi · 1 hr 17 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 64, MO 5, MO 32: Hartville

    894 ft · 26 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto South Jefferson Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · South Jefferson Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    23.7 mi · 29 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 54: Camdenton, Nevada, Osage Beach, Jefferson City

    1082 ft · 23 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right

    31.2 mi · 36 min

  16. 16

    Turn straight

    28 mi · 32 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 63 North: Columbia

    26.1 mi · 29 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 740

    1273 ft · 33 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left onto East Stadium Boulevard

    2.3 mi · 4 min · East Stadium Boulevard

  20. 20

    Turn right onto South Providence Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · South Providence Road

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Providence Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Carterville 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
21 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 44 East
71.2 mi · 30%
West Central Avenue
29.3 mi · 12%
US 63 North
26.1 mi · 11%
South Jefferson Avenue
25.3 mi · 11%
Edward F. Dixon III Memorial Highway
5.88 mi · 2%
East Stadium Boulevard
2.32 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 44 East

Merge slight left

70.6 mi · 01h 17m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 49m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+67.2 mi
169.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lebanon
01h 54m from Carterville
Leave By
9:22 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Carterville and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Columbia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Carterville to Columbia?

The road trip is about 236.5 miles (380.6 km) and usually takes 03h 49m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lebanon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 115.6 miles from Carterville and 121 miles from Columbia.

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

The direct path is about 169.3 miles (272.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 67.2 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:22 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.49 one way or $62.98 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 74.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Carterville and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Columbia.

Stop Ideas Near Lebanon

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lebanon, 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 Lebanon.

RAIL

Jefferson City

109 mi away
101 Jefferson Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Carterville and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 169.33 mi (272.51 km).

Carterville

#1 Carterville

City in Jasper County, Missouri, United States of America

Population1,965
Coordinates37.1492300, -94.4430000
Altitude300
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 (-94.443001, 37.149198)
End: North Providence Road (-92.33414, 38.951711)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 381 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 56m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.35 gal
31.59 L · about $31.49
Round trip
$62.98
16.7 gal · 63.18 L
Estimated CO2
74.2 kg one way
Round trip: 148.4 kg / 327 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.49 $62.98
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.51 $71.03
Premium $4.65 $38.86 $77.72
Diesel $5.30 $44.29 $88.58

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 · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Carterville and Columbia. The current time is 23:03:29.

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.