Drive Time
2h 3m
Distance
107.7 mi
173 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
The drive from Affton, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 107.7 miles and takes about 2h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, North Kingshighway, Broadway Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.2 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.36 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
53.8 miles from Affton, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
This is a 2h 3m highway drive covering 107.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and North Kingshighway. The longest continuous stretch is about 99.2 miles on I 55.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and North Kingshighway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 21 / Tesson Ferry Road.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 3m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 21 / Tesson Ferry Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Reavis Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto MO 21 / Tesson Ferry Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Reavis Road
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 61, MO 34, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau, Jackson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 Business, US 61 South, MO 34 East: Cape Girardeau
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
On the drive from Affton, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
Jackson
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 99.2 mi | 1h 47m |
| North Kingshighway | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Broadway Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| Reavis Barracks Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Reavis Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Mackenzie Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Tesson Ferry Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Affton, MO and Cape Girardeau, MO.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.8 miles or 1h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cape Girardeau, MO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Affton, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Affton, MO
This is one driving day of about 107.7 miles and 2h 3m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.8 mi from Affton, MO · 1h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 53.8 miles from Affton, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.2 miles.
The final approach into Cape Girardeau, MO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Cape Girardeau, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$16.36 one way
$32.72 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $18.03 | $36.07 |
| premium | $4.80 | $20.33 | $40.66 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $23.93 | $47.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.31 | $5.17 |
| Efficient EV | 26.9 | 0 | $9.42 | $4.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.1 | 0 | $15.08 | $6.89 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Affton on Saturday
Local time
2:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Cape Girardeau on Saturday
Local time
2:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Cahokia, IL
54 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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