How far is Columbia, MO from Excelsior Springs, MO?

The driving distance from Columbia, MO to Excelsior Springs, MO is about 119.9 miles (192.9 km), with a travel time of about 02h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 104.8 miles (168.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 44m 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
119.88 mi
02h 22m
Flight
104.86 mi
168.75 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
104.86 mi
Kilometers
168.75 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
119.88 mi
Kilometers
192.93 km
Drive Time
02h 22m

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 02h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Excelsior Springs
Sat, Apr 25, 6:14 PM CDT
Return by in Columbia
Sat, Apr 25, 8:36 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbia
2026-04-25T15:52
Arrive Excelsior Springs
Sat, Apr 25, 6:14 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:22 AM to 12:22 PM CDT

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

Leave by
1:46 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
Sweet Springs
MO

City in Saline County, Missouri, United States

From Columbia
59.8 mi
01h 11m
To Excelsior Springs
60 mi
01h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph E
Destination
73°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia and Excelsior Springs.

  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

    24.6 mi · 31 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit left toward MO 10 West: Excelsior Springs

    1495 ft · 41 sec

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    2.6 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on MO 10 West: Excelsior Springs

    13.9 mi · 20 min

  12. 12

    Turn right onto South Thompson Avenue

    32 m · 5 sec · South Thompson Avenue

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Thompson Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
13 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi · 45%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
21.7 mi · 18%
MO 10 West
16.9 mi · 14%
North Providence Road
1.23 mi · 1%
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial High
0.83 mi · 1%
MO 13
0.19 mi
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 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
02h 22m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15.1 mi
104.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sweet Springs
01h 11m from Columbia
Leave By
1:46 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Columbia and Mostly Sunny near Excelsior Springs.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Columbia to Excelsior Springs?

The road trip is about 119.9 miles (192.9 km) and usually takes 02h 22m 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?

Sweet Springs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 59.8 miles from Columbia and 60 miles from Excelsior Springs.

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

The direct path is about 104.8 miles (168.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:46 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $15.95 one way or $31.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 37.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Columbia and Mostly Sunny near Excelsior Springs.

Stop Ideas Near Sweet Springs

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

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

RAIL

Sedalia

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

Warrensburg

36 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Lee's Summit

83 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Independence

89 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbia and Excelsior Springs. Straight-line distance: 104.86 mi (168.75 km).

Columbia

#1 Columbia

The most populous city in the state of Missouri.

Population124,769
Coordinates38.9517100, -92.3340700
Altitude215
CountryUnited States
Excelsior Springs

#2 Excelsior Springs

City in Clay County, Missouri, United States

Population11,833
Coordinates39.3391700, -94.2260600
Altitude239
CountryUnited States
Start: Columbia (-92.33407, 38.95171)
End: Excelsior Springs (-94.22606, 39.33917)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 193 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 42m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.23 gal
16.01 L · about $15.95
Round trip
$31.90
8.46 gal · 32.02 L
Estimated CO2
37.6 kg one way
Round trip: 75.2 kg / 166 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $15.95 $31.90
Mid-grade $4.25 $17.99 $35.98
Premium $4.65 $19.69 $39.37
Diesel $5.30 $22.44 $44.87

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 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Columbia and Excelsior Springs. The current time is 15:52:28.

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.