The drive from Cape Girardeau, MO to Washington County, MO covers 99.9 miles and takes about 2h 27m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MO 72, US 67, Marty Drive for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.7 miles on MO 72.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.62 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.
Midpoint
50 miles from Cape Girardeau, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 99.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 2h 27m highway drive covering 99.9 miles, with most of the trip on MO 72 and US 67. The longest continuous stretch is about 38.7 miles on MO 72.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MO 72 is the longest continuous segment at about 38.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MO 72 and US 67. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 32.8 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 27m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 32.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 32.8 miles (MO 72): Navigation decision point; at 52.2 miles (US 67 Business; MO 72): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
32.8 mi into trip|~49m in
At end of road, turn straight
Navigation decision point
4
32.8 mi into trip|~49m in|MO 72
At end of road, turn slight left onto MO 72
Navigation decision point
5
52.2 mi into trip|~1h 16m in|US 67 Business; MO 72
Enter roundabout onto US 67 Business; MO 72
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
74.4 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|MO 32
Take the exit onto MO 32 toward MO 32 West, US 67 Business: Leadington, Park Hills
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 32 West, US 67 Business: Leadington,...
5
74.5 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|US 67 Bus; MO 32
Turn left onto US 67 Bus; MO 32
Navigation decision point
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 Cape Girardeau, MO to Washington County, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Park Hills along the way.
Park Hills
74.4 mi in|~1h 42m|via MO 32
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MO 72
38.7 mi
53m
US 67
21.6 mi
24m
Marty Drive
16.2 mi
24m
East Jackson Boulevard
7.6 mi
12m
North Kingshighway
3.9 mi
6m
MO AA
3.8 mi
9m
Broadway Street
2 mi
3m
MO 185
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
MO 72
— 38.7 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape Girardeau, MO and Washington County, MO.
1
Start on Broadway Street
2.0 mi·3 min·Broadway Street
2
Turn right onto I 55 Bus; US 61; MO 34
3.9 mi·6 min·North Kingshighway
3
Continue on I 55 Bus; US 61; MO 34
7.6 mi·12 min·East Jackson Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on MO 72
19 mi·26 min·MO 72
5
At end of road, turn straight
94 ft·3 sec
6
At end of road, turn slight left onto MO 72
17 mi·24 min·MO 72
7
Turn left onto MO 72
2.0 mi·2 min·MO 72
8
Enter roundabout onto US 67 Business; MO 72
88 ft·1 sec·US 67 Business; MO 72
9
Continue on US 67 Business; MO 72
0.3 mi·38 sec·US 67 Business; MO 72
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 67 North: Farmington
11
Merge onto US 67
22 mi·24 min·US 67
12
Take the exit onto MO 32
0.1 mi·26 sec·MO 32
Toward MO 32 West, US 67 Business: Leadington, Park Hills
13
Turn left onto US 67 Bus; MO 32
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 67 Bus; MO 32
14
Turn right onto US 67 Business
0.3 mi·36 sec·Woodlawn Drive
15
Continue on US 67 Business
0.1 mi·15 sec·South St Joe Drive
16
Turn slight left onto US 67 Business
0.1 mi·11 sec·Strauss Drive
17
Continue on US 67 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·East Main Street
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 67 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·West Main Street
19
Continue on MO Z
0.4 mi·45 sec·MO Z
20
Turn left onto MO 8
16 mi·24 min·Marty Drive
21
Turn straight onto MO 185
1.4 mi·2 min·MO 185
22
Turn left onto MO AA
3.8 mi·9 min·MO AA
23
Turn left
0.5 mi·2 min
24
Arrive at destination
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50 miles from Cape Girardeau, MO, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.7 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 22 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50 miles or 1h 13m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington County, 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 99.9 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Cape Girardeau, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on MO 72 for about 38.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50 mi from Cape Girardeau, MO
· 1h 13m into the drive
The midpoint is around 50 miles from Cape Girardeau, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Washington County, MO
The final approach into Washington County, 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 Washington County, MO.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the B...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 72.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.62 one way
$31.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.15
$34.30
premium
$4.89
$19.22
$38.45
diesel
$5.61
$22.06
$44.11
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: 35 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30
0
$10.49
$4.80
Efficient EV
25
0
$8.74
$4.00
EV Truck/SUV
40
0
$13.99
$6.39
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Cape Girardeau, MO
Late night
in Cape Girardeau on Friday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Washington County, MO
Late night
in Washington County on Friday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°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
1 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 27m 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 Cape Girardeau, MO to Washington County, MO covers 99.9 miles and takes about 2h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MO 72, US 67, Marty Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50 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 $15.62 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.
This is a straightforward 2h 27m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 32.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 32.8 miles (MO 72): Navigation decision point; at 52.2 miles (US 67 Business; MO 72): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
On the drive from Cape Girardeau, MO to Washington County, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Park Hills along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
