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Trip from Cape Girardeau, MO to Richmond, MO

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

6h 18m

Distance

327.6 mi

527 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$51

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
6h 6m ★
6 AM
6h 19m
8 AM
6h 44m
10 AM
6h 28m
12 PM
6h 25m
3 PM
6h 29m
5 PM
6h 43m
8 PM
6h 11m

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

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

Cape Girardeau, MO

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Ray County, Missouri, United States

Richmond, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Cape Girardeau, MO to Richmond, MO covers 327.6 miles and takes about 6h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Kingshighway, I 55 North, Rosa Parks Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.22 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

163.8 miles from Cape Girardeau, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 9m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 18m. Total distance: 327.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 18m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 6h 18m drive with frequent turns across 327.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Kingshighway 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.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 18m, 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 Richmond, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Kingshighway
I 55 North
Rosa Parks Highway
I 270 West
I 64
I 64 West
Avenue of the Saints
I 70 West

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: North Kingshighway — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Broadway Street

2.0 mi · 3 min · Broadway Street
2

Turn right onto North Kingshighway

3.6 mi · 5 min · North Kingshighway
3

Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North: Saint Louis

0.3 mi · 39 sec · I 55 North: Saint Louis
4

Merge slight left

95 mi · 1 hr 42 min
5

Continue on Rosa Parks Highway

1.3 mi · 1 min · Rosa Parks Highway
6

Take the exit slight right toward I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago

0.2 mi · 27 sec · I 270 West, I 255 East: Kansas City, Chicago
7

Keep slight left to continue on I 270 West: Kansas City

387 ft · 8 sec · I 270 West: Kansas City
8

Continue on I 270 West

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 270 West
9

Merge slight left

11 mi · 14 min
10

Take the exit slight right toward I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis

0.1 mi · 17 sec · I 64, US 40, US 61: Wentzville, Saint Louis
11

Keep slight left to continue on I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville

0.4 mi · 49 sec · I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
12

Continue on I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville

0.1 mi · 10 sec · I 64 West, US 40 West, US 61 North: Wentzville
13

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

25 mi · 30 min · Avenue of the Saints
14

Take the exit slight left toward I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 70 West, US 40 West: Kansas City
15

Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

81 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
16

Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

2.0 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
17

Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

1.6 mi · 1 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
18

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
19

Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

54 mi · 58 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
20

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

20 mi · 21 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
21

Take the exit slight right toward MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg

0.2 mi · 26 sec · MO 13: Higginsville, Warrensburg
22

Turn right

25 mi · 32 min
23

Turn left onto East Main Street

0.3 mi · 50 sec · East Main 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 163.8 miles from Cape Girardeau, MO, or about 3h 9m 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 72 miles or 1h 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 163.8 miles or 3h 9m 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 10m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, 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 327.6 miles and 6h 18m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 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 163.8 mi from Cape Girardeau, MO · 3h 9m into the drive

city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Chesterfield, MO

164 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 72 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Chesterfield, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 163.8 miles from Cape Girardeau, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Richmond, MO

The final approach into Richmond, 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 Richmond, 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

$51.22 one way

$102.43 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 115 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $56.23 $112.47
premium $4.89 $63.04 $126.09
diesel $5.61 $72.33 $144.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$51

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$76–$101

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 114.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 98.3 1 $34.40 $15.72
Efficient EV 81.9 0 $28.67 $13.10
EV Truck/SUV 131 1 $45.86 $20.97

Gas CO2

115 kg

EV CO2

38 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Cape Girardeau, MO

Afternoon in Cape Girardeau on Thursday

Local time

3:29 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Richmond, MO

Afternoon in Richmond on Thursday

Local time

3:29 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

57°F

Chesterfield, MO

164 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

Same local time

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

Temperature spread

23 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 18m 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 Richmond, MO covers 327.6 miles and takes about 6h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Kingshighway, I 55 North, Rosa Parks Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 163.8 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 $51.22 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 18m, 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 Richmond, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cape Girardeau, MO to Richmond, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Richmond, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

327.3 mi 6h 17m

Explore more options from Cape Girardeau, MO or browse trips ending in Richmond, MO.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.

Explore maps for Cape Girardeau, MO or Richmond, MO on MapSof.net.