How far is Columbia, MO from Bethany, MO?

The driving distance from Columbia, MO to Bethany, MO is about 187.2 miles (301.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 41m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 128.1 miles (206.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 23m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CST.
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
187.15 mi
03h 41m
Flight
128.09 mi
206.14 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
128.09 mi
Kilometers
206.14 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
187.15 mi
Kilometers
301.19 km
Drive Time
03h 41m

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 41m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bethany
Sun, Nov 8, 9:48 AM CST
Return by in Columbia
Sun, Nov 8, 1:30 PM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbia
2026-11-08T06:06
Arrive Bethany
Sun, Nov 8, 9:48 AM CST
Route Timing
03h 41m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CST
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:42 AM to 11:42 AM CST

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

Leave by
9:36 AM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Columbia
9:00 PM CST
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Lexington
MO

City in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States

From Columbia
93.5 mi
01h 50m
To Bethany
93.6 mi
01h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Nov 8 6:00 AM CST
Wind
3 to 8 mph W
Destination
61°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Nov 8 6:00 AM CST
Wind
5 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    54.4 mi · 58 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    19.8 mi · 21 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg

    1012 ft · 26 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right

    45.1 mi · 1 hr 2 min

  9. 9

    Turn left onto West Elm Street

    10.5 mi · 14 min · West Elm Street

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Northeast Highway 69

    7 m · 1 sec · Northeast Highway 69

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto Northeast Highway 69

    8 mi · 10 min · Northeast Highway 69

  12. 12

    Take the ramp right

    1287 ft · 31 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    43.6 mi · 47 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right

    1036 ft · 32 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Miller Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Miller Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto South 25th Street

    1262 ft · 28 sec · South 25th Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Main Street

    43 m · 11 sec · Main Street

  18. 18

    Turn sharp left

    10 m · 1 sec

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi · 29%
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
43.8 mi · 23%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
21.7 mi · 12%
West Elm Street
10.5 mi · 6%
Northeast Highway 69
8.22 mi · 4%
North Providence Road
1.23 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

54.4 mi · 00h 58m

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 41m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+59.1 mi
128.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lexington
01h 50m from Columbia
Leave By
9:36 AM CST
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Columbia and Sunny near Bethany.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 187.2 miles (301.2 km) and usually takes 03h 41m 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?

Lexington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 93.5 miles from Columbia and 93.6 miles from Bethany.

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

The direct path is about 128.1 miles (206.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 59.1 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 CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:36 AM CST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.70 one way or $49.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 58.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Columbia and Sunny near Bethany.

Stop Ideas Near Lexington

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

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

RAIL

Warrensburg

48 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Independence

49 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.
RAIL

Lee's Summit

53 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Union Station

62 mi away
30 West Pershing Rd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbia and Bethany. Straight-line distance: 128.09 mi (206.14 km).

Columbia

#1 Columbia

The most populous city in the state of Missouri.

Population124,769
Coordinates38.9517100, -92.3340700
Altitude215
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Bethany

Bethany is a place in Missouri, United States.

Population0
Coordinates40.2683300, -94.0282900
Altitude272
CountryUnited States
Start: Columbia (-92.33407, 38.95171)
End: Bethany (-94.02829, 40.26833)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 301 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.6 gal
25 L · about $24.70
Round trip
$49.41
13.2 gal · 50 L
Estimated CO2
58.7 kg one way
Round trip: 117.3 kg / 259 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.74 $24.70 $49.41
Mid-grade $4.13 $27.24 $54.48
Premium $4.50 $29.67 $59.35
Diesel $5.97 $39.41 $78.82

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 · Nov 07, 2026

There is no time difference between Columbia and Bethany. The current time is 06:06:59.

Distance to Other Cities

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