How far is Jackson, MO from Columbia, MO?

The driving distance from Jackson, MO to Columbia, MO is about 218.2 miles (351.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 181 miles (291.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 48m 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
218.23 mi
03h 24m
Flight
180.99 mi
291.27 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jackson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
180.99 mi
Kilometers
291.27 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
218.23 mi
Kilometers
351.21 km
Drive Time
03h 24m

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 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbia
Fri, Apr 24, 2:52 AM CDT
Return by in Jackson
Fri, Apr 24, 6:16 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jackson
2026-04-23T23:28
Arrive Columbia
Fri, Apr 24, 2:52 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:24 AM to 11:24 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
10:12 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jackson
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
Country Life Acres
MO

Human settlement in St.

From Jackson
109 mi
01h 42m
To Columbia
109.2 mi
01h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 17 mph S
Destination
81°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 17 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Main Street

    9 m · 8 sec · East Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn sharp left

    25 m · 3 sec

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward North Hope Street

    11 m · 1 sec · North Hope Street

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto North Hope Street

    90 m · 12 sec · North Hope Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto East Washington Street

    105 m · 10 sec · East Washington Street

  6. 6

    Continue on North High Street

    3.7 mi · 6 min · North High Street

  7. 7

    Take the ramp left toward I 55 North: Perryville, Saint Louis

    903 ft · 22 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    89.2 mi · 1 hr 36 min

  9. 9

    Continue on Rosa Parks Highway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Rosa Parks Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago

    1279 ft · 27 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 270 West: Kansas City

    118 m · 8 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on I 270 West

    1.2 km · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    11.5 mi · 14 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis

    705 ft · 17 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville

    2009 ft · 49 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville

    674 ft · 10 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    25.4 mi · 31 min · Avenue of the Saints

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight left toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City

    3047 ft · 1 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

    80.7 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

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

  21. 21

    Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

    2421 ft · 34 sec · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 163: Downtown

    747 ft · 16 sec

  23. 23

    Turn left onto North Providence Road

    1.2 mi · 3 min · North Providence Road

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Providence Road

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
4 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
89.3 mi · 41%
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
80.7 mi · 37%
Avenue of the Saints
25.4 mi · 12%
I 270 West
12.5 mi · 6%
North High Street
3.68 mi · 2%
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.96 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Merge slight left

89.2 mi · 01h 36m

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 24m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.2 mi
181 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Country Life Acres
01h 42m from Jackson
Leave By
10:12 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Jackson and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Columbia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 218.2 miles (351.2 km) and usually takes 03h 24m 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?

Country Life Acres is a useful midpoint, sitting about 109 miles from Jackson and 109.2 miles from Columbia.

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

The direct path is about 181 miles (291.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.2 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 10:12 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.04 one way or $58.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Jackson and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Columbia.

Stop Ideas Near Country Life Acres

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Country Life Acres, 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 Country Life Acres.

RAIL

Kirkwood

6 mi away
110 West Argonne Dr.
RAIL

Gateway Transportation Center

22 mi away
551 South 16th St.
RAIL

Alton

42 mi away
3400 College Ave.
RAIL

Washington

49 mi away
301 West Front St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jackson and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 180.99 mi (291.27 km).

Jackson

#1 Jackson

City in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States

Population14,699
Coordinates37.3822700, -89.6662100
Altitude141
CountryUnited States
Columbia

#2 Columbia

The most populous city in the state of Missouri.

Population124,769
Coordinates38.9517100, -92.3340700
Altitude215
CountryUnited States
Start: East Main Street (-89.666212, 37.382354)
End: North Providence Road (-92.33414, 38.951711)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 351 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.7 gal
29.15 L · about $29.04
Round trip
$58.07
15.4 gal · 58.3 L
Estimated CO2
68.4 kg one way
Round trip: 136.9 kg / 302 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $29.04 $58.07
Mid-grade $4.25 $32.75 $65.50
Premium $4.65 $35.84 $71.67
Diesel $5.30 $40.84 $81.68

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 24, 2026

There is no time difference between Jackson and Columbia. The current time is 23:28:01.

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.