Jefferson City to Ottumwa: Road Trip Guide & Distance

How far is Jefferson City from Ottumwa?

The distance from Jefferson City to Ottumwa is 169.3 miles (272.4 km) as the crow flies. Ottumwa is located N of Jefferson City. By car, the driving distance is approximately 211.6 miles, taking about 4h 15min. A direct flight would take roughly 50min. Both are located in United States — Jefferson City in Missouri and Ottumwa in Iowa.

For a drive of this length, it's recommended to plan at least one quick rest stop to stretch your legs and grab a coffee. Given the short distance, driving or taking a train is often faster and more convenient than dealing with airport security and flight boarding times.

Coordinates come from public place data for Jefferson City and Ottumwa. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.