How far is Lawson, MO from Columbia, MO?

The driving distance from Lawson, MO to Columbia, MO is about 125.1 miles (201.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 105.6 miles (170 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 14m 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
125.17 mi
02h 07m
Flight
105.63 mi
169.99 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lawson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
105.63 mi
Kilometers
169.99 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
125.17 mi
Kilometers
201.44 km
Drive Time
02h 07m

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 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbia
Sun, May 31, 8:15 AM CDT
Return by in Lawson
Sun, May 31, 10:23 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lawson
2026-05-31T06:08
Arrive Columbia
Sun, May 31, 8:15 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:07 AM to 12:07 PM CDT

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

Leave by
2:16 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lawson
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
Emma
MO

City in Lafayette and Saline counties in the U.

From Lawson
64.1 mi
01h 03m
To Columbia
61.1 mi
01h 03m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph SE
Destination
86°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East 4th Street

    14 m · 7 sec · East 4th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Pennsylvania Avenue

    1492 ft · 43 sec · North Pennsylvania Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto West Moss Street

    1851 ft · 56 sec · West Moss Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Salem Road

    1.2 km · 2 min · Salem Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Northeast 184th Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Northeast 184th Street

  6. 6

    Turn left

    4.4 mi · 6 min

  7. 7

    Turn left onto North Jesse James Road

    1.3 km · 2 min · North Jesse James Road

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Miller Avenue

    981 ft · 27 sec · Miller Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on Dunbar Avenue

    2366 ft · 1 min · Dunbar Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Beverly Street

    90 m · 8 sec · Beverly Street

  11. 11

    Turn slight right onto Cliff Drive

    77 m · 7 sec · Cliff Drive

  12. 12

    Continue on North Kansas City Avenue

    1334 ft · 43 sec · North Kansas City Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto West Broadway Street

    2186 ft · 1 min · West Broadway Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Saratoga Street

    773 ft · 22 sec · Saratoga Street

  15. 15

    Merge slight right onto Isley Boulevard

    13.5 mi · 19 min · Isley Boulevard

  16. 16

    Turn left

    2.6 mi · 3 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 13: Polo, Henrietta

    1769 ft · 38 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on MO 13 South: Henrietta

    48 m · 4 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto South Spartan Drive

    24.5 mi · 31 min · South Spartan Drive

  20. 20

    Take the exit left toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia

    954 ft · 23 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    19.9 mi · 21 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  22. 22

    Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

    32 mi · 34 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

    22.4 mi · 24 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  25. 25

    Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

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

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 163: Downtown

    672 ft · 16 sec

  27. 27

    Turn right onto North Providence Road

    1.2 mi · 3 min · North Providence Road

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Providence Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lawson 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
28 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi · 43%
South Spartan Drive
24.5 mi · 20%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
21.6 mi · 17%
Isley Boulevard
13.5 mi · 11%
North Providence Road
1.18 mi · 1%
North Jesse James Road
0.82 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

32 mi · 00h 34m

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 07m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.5 mi
105.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Emma
01h 03m from Lawson
Leave By
2:16 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lawson and 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 Lawson to Columbia?

The road trip is about 125.1 miles (201.4 km) and usually takes 02h 07m 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?

Emma is a useful midpoint, sitting about 64.1 miles from Lawson and 61.1 miles from Columbia.

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 19.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:16 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.67 one way or $33.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 39.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lawson and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Columbia.

Stop Ideas Near Emma

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

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

RAIL

Warrensburg

31 mi away
100 South Holden St.
RAIL

Sedalia

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

Lee's Summit

77 mi away
217 SW Main St.
RAIL

Independence

82 mi away
600 South Grand Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lawson and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 105.63 mi (169.99 km).

Lawson

#1 Lawson

City in Ray County, Missouri, United States

Population2,402
Coordinates39.4383400, -94.2041100
Altitude325
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 4th Street (-94.204111, 39.438259)
End: North Providence Road (-92.33414, 38.951711)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 201 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.42 gal
16.72 L · about $16.67
Round trip
$33.34
8.84 gal · 33.44 L
Estimated CO2
39.3 kg one way
Round trip: 78.6 kg / 173 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $16.67 $33.34
Mid-grade $4.25 $18.80 $37.60
Premium $4.65 $20.57 $41.14
Diesel $5.30 $23.44 $46.89

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Lawson and Columbia. The current time is 06:08:36.

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.