How far is Columbia, MO from Appleton City, MO?

The driving distance from Columbia, MO to Appleton City, MO is about 139.1 miles (223.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 105.6 miles (170 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 10m 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
139.06 mi
03h 05m
Flight
105.6 mi
169.95 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
105.6 mi
Kilometers
169.95 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
139.06 mi
Kilometers
223.79 km
Drive Time
03h 05m

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 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Appleton City
Thu, Apr 16, 2:54 PM CDT
Return by in Columbia
Thu, Apr 16, 6:00 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbia
2026-04-16T11:49
Arrive Appleton City
Thu, Apr 16, 2:54 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:05 AM to 11:05 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
10:50 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
Sedalia
MO

City in Missouri

From Columbia
69.5 mi
01h 32m
To Appleton City
69.6 mi
01h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Thursday

Isolated Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 mph SW
Destination
81°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia and Appleton City.

  1. 1

    Start on North Providence Road

    1.2 mi · 3 min · North Providence Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City

    712 ft · 17 sec

  3. 3

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

    1.3 km · 1 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

  4. 4

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

    45.7 mi · 49 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 65 South: Sedalia

    1094 ft · 37 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    30.5 mi · 38 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit right toward MO 52 West: Windsor

    57 m · 5 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Whiteman Road

    30.4 mi · 45 min · Whiteman Road

  10. 10

    Take the ramp left

    9.2 mi · 12 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 52 West: Montrose

    1677 ft · 47 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right

    11.8 mi · 21 min

  13. 13

    Turn slight left

    6.9 mi · 12 min

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North Walnut Street

    4 m · 1 sec · North Walnut Street

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Walnut Street

Car Route Details

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

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
15 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
45.7 mi · 33%
Whiteman Road
39.6 mi · 28%
US 65 South
30.7 mi · 22%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.82 mi · 1%
North Providence Road
1.23 mi · 1%
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial High
0.83 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

45.7 mi · 00h 49m

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 05m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.5 mi
105.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sedalia
01h 32m from Columbia
Leave By
10:50 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Isolated Rain Showers leaving Columbia and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Appleton City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Columbia to Appleton City?

The road trip is about 139.1 miles (223.8 km) and usually takes 03h 05m 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?

Sedalia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 69.5 miles from Columbia and 69.6 miles from Appleton City.

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

The direct path is about 105.6 miles (170 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.5 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 10:50 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.52 one way or $37.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 43.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Isolated Rain Showers around Columbia and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Appleton City.

Stop Ideas Near Sedalia

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

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

RAIL

Sedalia

1 mi away
100 block of Main Street, through parking lot
RAIL

Warrensburg

45 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Jefferson City

93 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Lee's Summit

102 mi away
217 SW Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbia and Appleton City. Straight-line distance: 105.6 mi (169.95 km).

Columbia

#1 Columbia

The most populous city in the state of Missouri.

Population124,769
Coordinates38.9517100, -92.3340700
Altitude215
CountryUnited States
Appleton City

#2 Appleton City

City in St.

Population1,080
Coordinates38.1905800, -94.0293900
Altitude267
CountryUnited States
Start: Columbia (-92.33407, 38.95171)
End: Appleton City (-94.02939, 38.19058)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 224 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 44m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.91 gal
18.57 L · about $18.52
Round trip
$37.03
9.82 gal · 37.14 L
Estimated CO2
43.6 kg one way
Round trip: 87.3 kg / 192 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $18.52 $37.03
Mid-grade $4.25 $20.88 $41.76
Premium $4.65 $22.85 $45.70
Diesel $5.30 $26.04 $52.09

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Columbia and Appleton City. The current time is 11:49:31.

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.