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Trip from Black Jack, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

2h 33m

Distance

128.6 mi

207 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 23m ★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 54m
10 AM
2h 40m
12 PM
2h 38m
3 PM
2h 41m
5 PM
2h 52m
8 PM
2h 27m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States

Black Jack, MO

Wikimedia Commons

city in Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri

Cape Girardeau, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Black Jack, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 128.6 miles and takes about 2h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, Ozark Expressway, Halls Ferry Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93.1 miles on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.11 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

64.3 miles from Black Jack, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 2h 33m drive with frequent turns across 128.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 93.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in near Halls Ferry Road.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 128.6 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (Halls Ferry Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 11.5 miles (I 44 / Third Street Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.4 miles (I 55 / Ozark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
5.3 mi into trip | ~8m in | Halls Ferry Road

Enter roundabout onto Halls Ferry Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

9
11.5 mi into trip | ~19m in | I 44 / Third Street Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 44 / Third Street Expressway toward I 44 West: Tulsa, Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 249A Toward I 44 West: Tulsa, Memphis
5
14.4 mi into trip | ~23m in | I 55 / Ozark Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 / Ozark Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 290B
6
122.5 mi into trip | ~2h 22m in

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

Exit 99 Toward US 61, MO 34, I 55 Business: Cape Girard...
8
122.7 mi into trip | ~2h 22m in

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

Exit 99 Toward I 55 Business, US 61 South, MO 34 East:...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Black Jack, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.

Memphis

11.5 mi in | ~19m | via I 44

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway 93.1 mi 1h 39m
Ozark Expressway 14.1 mi 17m
Halls Ferry Road 4 mi 6m
North Kingshighway 3.6 mi 6m
Old Halls Ferry Road 2.1 mi 4m
Broadway Street 2 mi 3m
North Broadway 2 mi 4m
Third Street Expressway 2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway — 93.1 mi, about 1h 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Black Jack, MO and Cape Girardeau, MO.

1

Start on Parker Road

392 ft · 9 sec · Parker Road
2

Continue on Old Halls Ferry Road

2.1 mi · 4 min · Old Halls Ferry Road
3

Turn slight left onto MO AC

3.1 mi · 4 min · Halls Ferry Road
4

Enter roundabout onto Halls Ferry Road

466 ft · 10 sec · Halls Ferry Road
5

Continue on Halls Ferry Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Halls Ferry Road
6

Turn slight right onto North Broadway

2.0 mi · 4 min · North Broadway
7

Turn right onto Carrie Avenue

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Carrie Avenue
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 15 sec
Toward I 70 East
9

Merge onto I 70

1.4 mi · 1 min · Mark Twain Expressway
10

Continue on I 70

1.5 mi · 2 min · Andy Gammon Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 44

2.0 mi · 2 min · Third Street Expressway
Exit 249A Toward I 44 West: Tulsa, Memphis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on I 44; I 55

0.9 mi · 1 min · Ozark Expressway
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55

13 mi · 16 min · Ozark Expressway
Exit 290B
14

Continue on I 55

1.8 mi · 2 min · Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
15

Continue on I 55

93 mi · 1 hr 39 min · Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 17 sec
Exit 99 Toward US 61, MO 34, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau, Jackson
17

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 28 sec
Exit 99 Toward I 55 Business, US 61 South, MO 34 East: Cape Girardeau
18

Continue on I 55 Bus; US 61; MO 34

3.6 mi · 6 min · North Kingshighway
19

Turn left onto Broadway Street

2.0 mi · 3 min · Broadway Street
20

Arrive at destination

Broadway Street

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.3 miles from Black Jack, MO, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.1 miles.

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 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 64.3 miles or 1h 19m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cape Girardeau, MO than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Black Jack, 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 Black Jack, MO

This is one driving day of about 128.6 miles and 2h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Black Jack, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway for about 93.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 64.3 mi from Black Jack, MO · 1h 19m into the drive

archaeological site near East St. Louis, Illinois, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cahokia, IL

64 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Cahokia, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cahokia, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 64.3 miles from Black Jack, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.1 miles.

Arriving in Cape Girardeau, MO

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.11 one way

$40.21 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $22.07 $44.15
premium $4.89 $24.75 $49.50
diesel $5.61 $28.39 $56.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 45 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38.6 0 $13.50 $6.17
Efficient EV 32.2 0 $11.25 $5.14
EV Truck/SUV 51.4 0 $18.00 $8.23

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 4 days ago

Origin

Black Jack, MO

Afternoon in Black Jack on Tuesday

Local time

2:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cape Girardeau, MO

Afternoon in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday

Local time

2:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

5 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 33m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Black Jack, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 128.6 miles and takes about 2h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, Ozark Expressway, Halls Ferry Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.3 miles from Black Jack, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.11 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 128.6 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (Halls Ferry Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 11.5 miles (I 44 / Third Street Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.4 miles (I 55 / Ozark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Black Jack, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.

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