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

The driving distance from Willow Springs, MO to Columbia, MO is about 170.4 miles (274.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 136.8 miles (220.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 02m 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
170.45 mi
03h 01m
Flight
136.83 mi
220.2 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Willow Springs.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
136.83 mi
Kilometers
220.2 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
170.45 mi
Kilometers
274.31 km
Drive Time
03h 01m

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 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbia
Sun, Apr 19, 8:30 AM CDT
Return by in Willow Springs
Sun, Apr 19, 11:31 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Willow Springs
2026-04-19T05:29
Arrive Columbia
Sun, Apr 19, 8:30 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:01 AM to 11:01 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
10:58 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Willow Springs
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
Doolittle
MO

City in Phelps County, Missouri, United States

From Willow Springs
84 mi
01h 30m
To Columbia
86.4 mi
01h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph NW
Destination
62°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Main Street

    2 mi · 3 min · East Main Street

  2. 2

    Take the ramp right

    1522 ft · 37 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left

    8.4 mi · 10 min

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward US 63 North, US 60 Business: Houston, Rolla

    65.8 mi · 1 hr 23 min

  5. 5

    Continue on North Bishop Avenue

    87 m · 5 sec · North Bishop Avenue

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on North Bishop Avenue

    56 m · 3 sec · North Bishop Avenue

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Tim Bradley Way

    2000 ft · 48 sec · Tim Bradley Way

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    55 m · 3 sec

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout

    7.5 mi · 11 min

  10. 10

    Turn right

    7.5 mi · 10 min

  11. 11

    Turn left

    44.6 mi · 58 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 54 East, US 63 North: Fulton, Columbia

    1591 ft · 41 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    1.4 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 63 North: Columbia

    26.1 mi · 29 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 740

    1273 ft · 33 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto East Stadium Boulevard

    2.3 mi · 4 min · East Stadium Boulevard

  17. 17

    Turn right onto South Providence Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · South Providence Road

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Providence Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Willow Springs 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
18 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
2 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 63 North
91.9 mi · 54%
East Main Street
10.6 mi · 6%
Tim Bradley Way
7.9 mi · 5%
East Stadium Boulevard
2.32 mi · 1%
US 54 East
1.74 mi · 1%
South Providence Road
0.99 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 63 North

Take the exit slight right toward US 63 North, US 60 Business: Houston, Rolla

65.8 mi · 01h 23m

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 01m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.6 mi
136.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Doolittle
01h 30m from Willow Springs
Leave By
10:58 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Willow Springs and Sunny near Columbia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 170.4 miles (274.3 km) and usually takes 03h 01m 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?

Doolittle is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84 miles from Willow Springs and 86.4 miles from Columbia.

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

The direct path is about 136.8 miles (220.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.6 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 10:58 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.70 one way or $45.40 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Doolittle

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

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

RAIL

Jefferson City

75 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Hermann

94 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.
RAIL

Washington

103 mi away
301 West Front St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Willow Springs and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 136.83 mi (220.2 km).

Willow Springs

#1 Willow Springs

City in Howell County, Missouri, United States

Population2,098
Coordinates36.9922800, -91.9698700
Altitude387
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 (-91.969849, 36.992299)
End: North Providence Road (-92.33414, 38.951711)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 274 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 07m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.02 gal
22.77 L · about $22.70
Round trip
$45.40
12.04 gal · 45.54 L
Estimated CO2
53.5 kg one way
Round trip: 107 kg / 236 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.70 $45.40
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.60 $51.21
Premium $4.65 $28.02 $56.03
Diesel $5.30 $31.93 $63.86

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Willow Springs and Columbia. The current time is 05:29:29.

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.