How far is Columbia, MO from Bowling Green, MO?

The driving distance from Columbia, MO to Bowling Green, MO is about 85.1 miles (136.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 66.7 miles (107.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 42m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
85.06 mi
01h 51m
Flight
66.72 mi
107.38 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Columbia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
66.72 mi
Kilometers
107.38 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
85.06 mi
Kilometers
136.89 km
Drive Time
01h 51m

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 01h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bowling Green
Sun, Apr 12, 7:09 AM CDT
Return by in Columbia
Sun, Apr 12, 9:00 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbia
2026-04-12T05:18
Arrive Bowling Green
Sun, Apr 12, 7:09 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:51 AM to 11:51 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:48 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Columbia
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Vandiver
MO

Human settlement in Audrain County, Missouri, United States of America

From Columbia
42.5 mi
00h 55m
To Bowling Green
42.6 mi
00h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 17 mph S
Destination
75°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 17 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia and Bowling Green.

  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

    18.6 mi · 24 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 54: Auxvasse, Mexico, Fulton

    1188 ft · 28 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left

    18.1 mi · 20 min

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East Liberty Street

    10.3 mi · 13 min · East Liberty Street

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Scott's Corner

    68 m · 3 sec

  10. 10

    Exit the rotary

    8.1 mi · 11 min

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    15 m · 1 sec

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout

    23.4 mi · 32 min

  13. 13

    Turn right

    1.5 mi · 3 min

  14. 14

    Turn right

    3011 ft · 56 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    2173 ft · 60 sec · West Main Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
16 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Scott's Corner
31.6 mi · 37%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
18.6 mi · 22%
East Liberty Street
10.3 mi · 12%
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.94 mi · 2%
North Providence Road
1.16 mi · 1%
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial High
0.47 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Scott's Corner

Exit the roundabout

23.4 mi · 00h 32m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.4 mi
66.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vandiver
00h 55m from Columbia
Leave By
2:48 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Columbia and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Bowling Green.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Columbia to Bowling Green?

The road trip is about 85.1 miles (136.9 km) and usually takes 01h 51m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Vandiver is a useful midpoint, sitting about 42.5 miles from Columbia and 42.6 miles from Bowling Green.

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

The direct path is about 66.7 miles (107.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:48 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.31 one way or $22.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 26.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Columbia and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Bowling Green.

Stop Ideas Near Vandiver

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

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

RAIL

Hermann

62 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.
RAIL

Jefferson City

71 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Quincy

97 mi away
North 30th St. and Wisman Lane
RAIL

Washington

98 mi away
301 West Front St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbia and Bowling Green. Straight-line distance: 66.72 mi (107.38 km).

Columbia

#1 Columbia

The most populous city in the state of Missouri.

Population124,769
Coordinates38.9517100, -92.3340700
Altitude215
CountryUnited States
Bowling Green

#2 Bowling Green

City in Missouri

Population4,759
Coordinates39.3419900, -91.1951400
Altitude272
CountryUnited States
Start: Columbia (-92.33407, 38.95171)
End: Bowling Green (-91.19514, 39.34199)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 137 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 50m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3 gal
11.36 L · about $11.31
Round trip
$22.63
6 gal · 22.72 L
Estimated CO2
26.7 kg one way
Round trip: 53.3 kg / 118 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $11.31 $22.63
Mid-grade $4.25 $12.76 $25.52
Premium $4.65 $13.96 $27.92
Diesel $5.30 $15.91 $31.82

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 · Apr 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Columbia and Bowling Green. The current time is 05:18:04.

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.