The drive from Concord, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 105 miles and takes about 1h 59m 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 97 miles on I 55.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.42 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
52.5 miles from Concord, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 105 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 1h 59m highway drive covering 105 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and North Kingshighway. The longest continuous stretch is about 97 miles on I 55.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 97 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 US 50; US 61; US 67 / South Lindbergh Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 59m drive. You will face about 7 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 (US 50; US 61; US 67 / South Lindbergh Boulevard): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 50; US 61; US 67 / South Lindbergh Boulevard
Turn sharp left onto US 50; US 61; US 67 / South Lindbergh Boulevard
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 South, I 255 East, I 270 West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 55 South, I 255 East, I 270 West
8
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 55 South: Memphis
6
99 mi into trip|~1h 48m 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
99.1 mi into trip|~1h 49m 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 Concord, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
Jackson
99 mi in|~1h 48m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
97 mi
1h 44m
North Kingshighway
3.6 mi
6m
Broadway Street
2 mi
3m
South Lindbergh Boulevard
1.6 mi
3m
Concord Village Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 97 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, MO and Cape Girardeau, MO.
1
Start on Concord Village Avenue
87 ft·9 sec·Concord Village Avenue
2
Turn sharp left onto US 50; US 61; US 67
1.6 mi·3 min·South Lindbergh Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward I 55 South, I 255 East, I 270 WestUse the right lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·13 sec
Toward I 55 South: MemphisUse the slight left lane.
5
Merge onto I 55
97 mi·1 hr 44 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 99Toward US 61, MO 34, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau, Jackson
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 99Toward I 55 Business, US 61 South, MO 34 East: Cape Girardeau
8
Continue on I 55 Bus; US 61; MO 34
3.6 mi·6 min·North Kingshighway
9
Turn left onto Broadway Street
2.0 mi·3 min·Broadway Street
10
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.5 miles from Concord, MO, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97 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 23 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.5 miles or 58m 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 34m
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 Concord, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Concord, MO
This is one driving day of about 105 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Concord, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 97 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.5 mi from Concord, MO
· 58m into the drive
The midpoint is around 52.5 miles from Concord, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97 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.
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 50.7
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.42 one way
$32.83 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.02
$36.05
premium
$4.89
$20.21
$40.41
diesel
$5.61
$23.18
$46.37
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: 36.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.5
0
$11.02
$5.04
Efficient EV
26.3
0
$9.19
$4.20
EV Truck/SUV
42
0
$14.70
$6.72
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Concord, MO
Late night
in Concord on Friday
Local time
2:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cape Girardeau, MO
Late night
in Cape Girardeau on Friday
Local time
2:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Imperial, MO
53 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
24 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 59m 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 Concord, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 105 miles and takes about 1h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, North Kingshighway, Broadway Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.5 miles from Concord, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.42 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 1h 59m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 50; US 61; US 67 / South Lindbergh Boulevard): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Concord, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park and Gateway Arch National Park.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not 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.
Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the
methodology page.
