How far is Columbia, KY from Meads, KY?

The driving distance from Columbia, KY to Meads, KY is about 209.8 miles (337.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 168.3 miles (270.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 54m 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
209.86 mi
03h 27m
Flight
168.27 mi
270.81 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Columbia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
168.27 mi
Kilometers
270.81 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
209.86 mi
Kilometers
337.73 km
Drive Time
03h 27m

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 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Meads
Sun, May 31, 5:29 AM EDT
Return by in Columbia
Sun, May 31, 7:57 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbia
2026-05-31T01:02
Arrive Meads
Sun, May 31, 4:29 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:27 AM to 12:27 PM EDT

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

Leave by
10:06 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Columbia
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
Arlington
KY

Arlington is a city in Madison County, Kentucky

From Columbia
103.8 mi
01h 43m
To Meads
106.1 mi
01h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph SE
Destination
79°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Public Square

    41 m · 2 sec · Public Square

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary onto Jamestown Road

    25 m · 1 sec · Jamestown Road

  3. 3

    Turn slight right onto Jamestown Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Jamestown Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left toward KY 55: Columbia

    1627 ft · 39 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Cumberland Parkway

    36.7 mi · 39 min · Cumberland Parkway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 914: Somerset, Burnside

    1523 ft · 32 sec

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    2045 ft · 34 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left

    10.7 mi · 14 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight left

    1.1 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Turn straight

    17.6 mi · 20 min

  11. 11

    Continue on Richmond Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · Richmond Street

  12. 12

    Take the exit left

    1289 ft · 31 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    32.2 mi · 34 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward KY 627: Boonesborough, Winchester

    1484 ft · 39 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Boonesborough Road

    12.3 mi · 15 min · Boonesborough Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Boone Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Boone Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Maple Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Maple Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Paris Road

    783 ft · 17 sec · Paris Road

  19. 19

    Take the ramp slight right

    1791 ft · 44 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left

    1.5 km · 60 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight left

    83.6 mi · 1 hr 30 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60

    2188 ft · 54 sec

  23. 23

    Turn left

    4 mi · 6 min

  24. 24

    Turn left onto US Route 60

    2 mi · 3 min · US Route 60

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Marsh Hill Drive

    34 m · 9 sec · Marsh Hill Drive

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Midland Trail Road

    125 m · 20 sec · Midland Trail Road

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
27 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
3 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Paris Road
85 mi · 40%
Cumberland Parkway
36.7 mi · 18%
Richmond Street
33.2 mi · 16%
Boonesborough Road
12.3 mi · 6%
US Route 60
2.04 mi · 1%
KY 914
1.38 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Paris Road

Keep slight left

83.6 mi · 01h 30m

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 27m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.5 mi
168.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Arlington
01h 43m from Columbia
Leave By
10:06 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Columbia and Mostly Sunny near Meads.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 209.8 miles (337.7 km) and usually takes 03h 27m 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?

Arlington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 103.8 miles from Columbia and 106.1 miles from Meads.

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

The direct path is about 168.3 miles (270.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.5 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 10:06 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.91 one way or $55.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.8 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Columbia and Meads, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Arlington

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

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

RAIL

Maysville

110 mi away
West Front St & Rosemary Clooney St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbia and Meads. Straight-line distance: 168.27 mi (270.81 km).

Columbia

#1 Columbia

City in Adair County, Kentucky, United States

Population4,902
Coordinates37.1028400, -85.3063500
Altitude228
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Meads

A census-designated place located in Meade County, Kentucky.

Population288,649
Coordinates38.4125800, -82.7090500
Altitude185
CountryUnited States
Start: KY 55 Business (-85.306312, 37.102844)
End: (-82.708783, 38.41275)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 338 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.4 gal
28.03 L · about $27.91
Round trip
$55.81
14.8 gal · 56.06 L
Estimated CO2
65.8 kg one way
Round trip: 131.5 kg / 290 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.91 $55.81
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.47 $62.94
Premium $4.65 $34.44 $68.88
Diesel $5.30 $39.25 $78.50

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 Kentucky · May 31, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Columbia, KY and Meads, KY. The current time in Columbia is 01:02:20, although it is 02:02:20 in Meads.

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.