How far is Columbia, MO from Advance, MO?

The driving distance from Columbia, MO to Advance, MO is about 249.4 miles (401.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 183.6 miles (295.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 47m 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
249.4 mi
04h 53m
Flight
183.57 mi
295.42 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
183.57 mi
Kilometers
295.42 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
249.4 mi
Kilometers
401.37 km
Drive Time
04h 53m

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 04h 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Advance
Wed, Apr 15, 2:50 PM CDT
Return by in Columbia
Wed, Apr 15, 7:44 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbia
2026-04-15T09:56
Arrive Advance
Wed, Apr 15, 2:50 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:54 AM to 12:54 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:12 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
Mehlville
MO

Census designated place

From Columbia
124.6 mi
02h 26m
To Advance
124.8 mi
02h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Overnight

Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 mph SW
Destination
84°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 16 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Providence Road

    1.2 mi · 3 min · North Providence Road

  2. 2

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Saint Louis

    879 ft · 22 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left onto Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

    2467 ft · 35 sec · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

  4. 4

    Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

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

  5. 5

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    81 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield

    1567 ft · 33 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    25.1 mi · 31 min · Avenue of the Saints

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis

    1829 ft · 39 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 270 South: Memphis

    1691 ft · 31 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    11.5 mi · 14 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road

    1911 ft · 27 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Memphis

    2031 ft · 44 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Rosa Parks Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Rosa Parks Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway

    101 mi · 1 hr 48 min · Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward MO AB: Cape Girardeau Regional Airport

    954 ft · 20 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on MO AB: Cape Girardeau Regional Airport

    49 m · 4 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Nash Road

    5.6 mi · 8 min · Nash Road

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward MO 25 South: Delta

    58 m · 4 sec

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto MO 25 South: Delta

    15.8 mi · 24 min

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    1753 ft · 35 sec

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Oak Street

    65 m · 4 sec · Oak Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Oak Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
23 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
4 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
101 mi · 41%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
81 mi · 32%
Avenue of the Saints
25.1 mi · 10%
MO 25 South
16.2 mi · 7%
I 270 South
11.8 mi · 5%
Nash Road
5.58 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway

Continue on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway

101 mi · 01h 48m

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
04h 53m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+65.8 mi
183.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mehlville
02h 26m from Columbia
Leave By
7:12 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Columbia and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Advance.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 249.4 miles (401.4 km) and usually takes 04h 53m 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?

Mehlville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 124.6 miles from Columbia and 124.8 miles from Advance.

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

The direct path is about 183.6 miles (295.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 65.8 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 7:12 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.18 one way or $66.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 78.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms around Columbia and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Advance.

Stop Ideas Near Mehlville

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Mehlville and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Coffee break 13.5 mi away

Marco's City Hall Cafe

St. Louis , MO
1200 Market St, St. Louis, MO 63103
Rating 3.4/5 5 reviews Cafe
City Hall Lot
Scenic stop 13.4 mi away

City Hall Lot

St. Louis , MO
189 Tucker Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103
Rating 3.3/5 7 reviews Parking lot
St. Louis City Hall
Meeting point 13.5 mi away

St. Louis City Hall

St. Louis , MO
1200 Market St, St. Louis, MO 63103
Rating 3.5/5 115 reviews City Hall,Business center
St Louis License Office
Nearby stop 13.5 mi away

St Louis License Office

St. Louis , MO
1200 Market St, St. Louis, MO 63103
Rating 3.4/5 154 reviews Driver's license office

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Kirkwood

11 mi away
110 West Argonne Dr.
RAIL

Gateway Transportation Center

16 mi away
551 South 16th St.
RAIL

Alton

47 mi away
3400 College Ave.
RAIL

Washington

60 mi away
301 West Front St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbia and Advance. Straight-line distance: 183.57 mi (295.42 km).

Columbia

#1 Columbia

The most populous city in the state of Missouri.

Population124,769
Coordinates38.9517100, -92.3340700
Altitude215
CountryUnited States
Advance

#2 Advance

City in Stoddard County, Missouri, United States

Population1,331
Coordinates37.1045500, -89.9095300
Altitude110
CountryUnited States
Start: Columbia (-92.33407, 38.95171)
End: Advance (-89.90953, 37.10455)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 401 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 09m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.8 gal
33.31 L · about $33.18
Round trip
$66.37
17.6 gal · 66.62 L
Estimated CO2
78.2 kg one way
Round trip: 156.4 kg / 345 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $33.18 $66.37
Mid-grade $4.25 $37.43 $74.85
Premium $4.65 $40.96 $81.91
Diesel $5.30 $46.68 $93.35

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Columbia and Advance. The current time is 09:56:32.

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.