Columbia, MO area guide

Things to Do Near University Hospital (MU Health Care)

Groceries, food, days-off ideas and shopping close to University Hospital (MU Health Care) in Columbia, Missouri. Made for travel nurses and RTs on contract.

5 groceries8 restaurants8 to do5 shopping

Photo: Me5000 at English Wikipedia / Public domain

Groceries

Closest grocery stores to stock the fridge on week one.

• Lee’s Oriental Market

  Local grocery store

  ~1.1 mi / ~4 minMap
• Schnucks

  Schnucks grocery store. Listed hours 7 AM to 9 PM daily

  ~1.2 mi / ~4 minMap
• Walmart Supercenter

  Walmart with groceries and household basics. Listed as open 24 hours

  ~2.3 mi / ~5 minMap
• ALDI

  Aldi budget grocery store. Listed hours 8:30 AM to 8 PM daily

  ~2.3 mi / ~6 minMap
• Hy-Vee

  Hy-Vee grocery store

  ~2.4 mi / ~6 minMap

Restaurants

Local spots with working websites. Places marked open late or early are handy around a night shift.

• Domino’sOpen late

  Pizza quick-service spot

  ~0.7 mi / ~2 minWebsite
• Taco BellOpen late

  Tex-Mex quick-service spot. Listed hours 8 AM to 3 AM daily

  ~0.9 mi / ~3 minWebsite
• Pizza TreeSit-down

  Pizza restaurant

  ~1.1 mi / ~4 minWebsite
• Harpo’s Bar & GrillSit-down

  Restaurant

  ~1.1 mi / ~4 minWebsite
• Glenn’s CafeSit-down

  Restaurant

  ~1.1 mi / ~4 minWebsite
• Twain: Missouri BBQ & TaproomSit-down

  Barbecue restaurant

  ~1.1 mi / ~4 minWebsite
• Cafe PolandQuick bite

  Polish and coffee cafe

  ~1.0 mi / ~3 minWebsite
• Bubblecup Tea ZoneQuick bite

  Bubble tea cafe

  ~1.1 mi / ~4 minWebsite

Things to do

Parks, water, breweries and more for your days off.

• Francis Quadrangle

  Park, good for a walk between shifts

  ~0.7 mi / ~2 minMap
• Grindstone Nature Area

  Local park with room to stretch your legs

  ~1.3 mi / ~4 minMap
• Cosmo Park

  Park, nice for some fresh air on a day off

  ~4.1 mi / ~10 minMap
• Lake Champetra

  Lake. If you fish, get a Missouri license first

  ~24 mi / ~32 minMap
• Trail Stop Brewery

  Local brewery

  ~5.6 mi / ~13 minWebsite
• The Tasting Room on The Blufftop at Rocheport

  Local winery

  ~15 mi / ~25 minWebsite
• Museum of Art & Archaeology

  Museum, good for a rainy day off

  ~0.6 mi / ~2 minWebsite
• Columbia Farmers Market

  Local spot

  ~3.2 mi / ~8 minWebsite

Shopping

Malls and big stores for anything you forgot to pack.

• Kohl’s

  Kohl’s department store

  ~2.5 mi / ~6 minMap
• Marshalls

  Marshalls, discount clothes and home goods

  ~3.9 mi / ~9 minMap
• Dillard’s

  Dillard’s department store

  ~3.9 mi / ~9 minMap
• Columbia Mall

  Shopping mall

  ~4.0 mi / ~10 minMap
• JCPenney

  JCPenney department store

  ~4.1 mi / ~10 minMap

Laundromats

Closest self-serve laundromats for scrubs and linens when your rental or RV park doesn’t have a washer.

• Columbia Laundry

  Self-serve laundromat

  ~2.4 mi / ~6 minMap
• The Wash House Laundry

  Laundromat

  ~2.7 mi / ~6 minMap

Coffee shops

Nearest coffee shops, local spots first. Places marked “Opens early” are handy after a night shift.

• Starbucks

  Starbucks coffee chain

  ~0.3 mi / ~2 minMap
• Cafe Poland

  Local coffee shop

  ~1.0 mi / ~3 minMap
• Hexagon Alley

  Local coffee shop

  ~1.1 mi / ~4 minMap

Gyms

Closest gyms to keep your routine on contract. Ask about short-term or month-to-month memberships.

• Crunch Fitness

  Crunch Fitness gym

  ~1.3 mi / ~4 minMap
• CrossFit

  CrossFit gym

  ~2.5 mi / ~6 minMap
• Planet Fitness

  Planet Fitness gym

  ~2.5 mi / ~6 minMap

Nearby RV parks

Monthly-stay parks near University Hospital (MU Health Care) from our RV parks list. Call to confirm the rate and a spot for your dates.

• Cottonwoods RV Park

  5170 N Oakland Gravel Rd, Columbia, MO 65202

  Starting at $725/mo; $50 non-refundable deposit; limited monthly sites (2026 rates, as listed)

  ~6 mi / ~12 minRates & phone
• Pine Grove Village

  3900 Clark Ln #90, Columbia, MO 65202

  $495/mo, 30 or 50 amp (per RoverPass listing; may be dated)

  ~5 mi / ~10 minRates & phone

Need a license for Missouri? See the state licensing boards, then run through the contract checklists and housing tips.

Looking for your next contract? See Missouri travel contracts posted by staffing agencies.

Sources: place data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), plus each place’s own website and Wikidata. Last checked Oct 2026.