Origin
Cape Girardeau, MO
Evening in Cape Girardeau on Wednesday
Local time
5:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cape Girardeau, MO to Carl Junction, MO
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
6h 43m
Distance
345.4 mi
556 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$54
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 32m
★
6 AM
6h 44m
8 AM
7h 8m
10 AM
6h 52m
12 PM
6h 50m
3 PM
6h 53m
5 PM
7h 6m
8 PM
6h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cape Girardeau, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Carl Junction, MO
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Cape Girardeau, MO to Carl Junction, MO covers 345.4 miles and takes about 6h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Sprigg Street, Shawnee Parkway, South Kingshighway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $54.00 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
172.7 miles from Cape Girardeau, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 21m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 43m drive with frequent turns across 345.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Sprigg Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 43m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cape Girardeau, MO to Carl Junction, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Sprigg Street | — | — |
| Shawnee Parkway | — | — |
| South Kingshighway | — | — |
| I 55 South | — | — |
| US 60 West | — | — |
| I 44 West | — | — |
| Captain Aaron J Eidem Memorial Highway | — | — |
| I 49 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Sprigg Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape Girardeau, MO and Carl Junction, MO.
1
Start on Broadway Street
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Broadway Street
2
Turn left onto North Sprigg Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Sprigg Street
3
Turn right onto Shawnee Parkway
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Shawnee Parkway
4
Turn left onto South Kingshighway
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South Kingshighway
5
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South, US 61 South: Sikeston
27 mi
·
29 min
·
I 55 South, US 61 South: Sikeston
6
Take the exit slight right toward US 60 West: Dexter, Poplar Bluff
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 60 West: Dexter, Poplar Bluff
7
Merge slight left
45 mi
·
52 min
8
Keep slight left
5.5 mi
·
6 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward US 60 West, US 67 North: Springfield, Saint Louis
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
US 60 West, US 67 North: Springfield, Saint Louis
10
Take the exit slight right
186 mi
·
3 hr 38 min
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 44 West: Joplin
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 44 West: Joplin
12
Merge slight left onto Captain Aaron J Eidem Memorial Highway
56 mi
·
1 hr
·
Captain Aaron J Eidem Memorial Highway
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 49 South, US 71 South, MO 249 North: Neosho, Fort Smith
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 49 South, US 71 South, MO 249 North: Neosho, Fort Smith
14
Keep slight right to continue on MO 249 North
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
MO 249 North
15
Merge slight left onto Governor Warren E Hearnes Memorial Highway
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Governor Warren E Hearnes Memorial Highway
16
Take the exit slight left toward I 49 Business, MO 171 North: Webb City
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 49 Business, MO 171 North: Webb City
17
Merge slight right onto I 49 Business, MO 171 North: Webb City
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 49 Business, MO 171 North: Webb City
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East MacArthur Drive
236 ft
·
3 sec
·
East MacArthur Drive
19
Exit the roundabout onto East MacArthur Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East MacArthur Drive
20
Continue on West Macarthur Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
West Macarthur Drive
21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Demott Drive
131 ft
·
3 sec
·
Demott Drive
22
Exit the roundabout onto Demott Drive
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Demott Drive
23
Turn left onto East Pennell Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Pennell Street
24
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 172.7 miles from Cape Girardeau, MO, or about 3h 21m into the drive.
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 76 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.7 miles or 3h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carl Junction, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cape Girardeau, 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 Cape Girardeau, MO
This is one driving day of about 345.4 miles and 6h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Cape Girardeau, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 172.7 mi from Cape Girardeau, MO · 3h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
173 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 172.7 miles from Cape Girardeau, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Carl Junction, MO
The final approach into Carl Junction, 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 Carl Junction, 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
$54.00 one way
$108.00 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
121 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $59.29 | $118.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $66.47 | $132.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $76.26 | $152.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103.6 | 1 | $36.27 | $16.58 |
| Efficient EV | 86.4 | 0 | $30.22 | $13.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 138.2 | 1 | $48.36 | $22.11 |
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Destination
Carl Junction, MO
Evening in Carl Junction on Wednesday
Local time
5:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
19 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
6h 43m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cape Girardeau, MO to Carl Junction, MO covers 345.4 miles and takes about 6h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Sprigg Street, Shawnee Parkway, South Kingshighway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 172.7 miles from Cape Girardeau, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $54.00 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 43m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cape Girardeau, MO to Carl Junction, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cape Girardeau, MO to Carl Junction, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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