Trip from Des Peres, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO

Drive Time

1h 51m

Distance

117.2 mi

189 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

1h 43m ★

6 AM

1h 51m

8 AM

2h 8m

10 AM

1h 57m

12 PM

1h 55m

3 PM

1h 58m

5 PM

2h 7m

8 PM

1h 46m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Des Peres, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 117.2 miles and takes about 1h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 270 South, I 55, I 55 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.80 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

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

58.6 miles from Des Peres, MO

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 51m drive with frequent turns across 117.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 270 South 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Des Peres, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO is easy. At 1h 51m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Des Peres, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 270 South	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 55	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 55 South	Unavailable	Refreshing
Rosa Parks Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Officer Thomas G	Unavailable	Refreshing
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 61	Unavailable	Refreshing
North Kingshighway	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: I 270 South — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Manchester Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Manchester Road

2

Take the ramp slight left toward I 270 South

0.4 mi · 1 min · I 270 South

3

Merge slight left

9.3 mi · 11 min

4

Take the exit slight right toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road

0.4 mi · 27 sec · I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road

5

Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Memphis

0.4 mi · 44 sec · I 55 South: Memphis

6

Merge slight left onto Rosa Parks Highway

1.5 mi · 1 min · Rosa Parks Highway

7

Continue on Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway

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

8

Continue on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway

93 mi · 1 hr 39 min · Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway

9

Take the exit slight right toward US 61, MO 34, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau, Jackson

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

10

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 Business, US 61 South, MO 34 East: Cape Girardeau

0.3 mi · 29 sec · I 55 Business, US 61 South, MO 34 East: Cape Girardeau

11

Continue on North Kingshighway

3.6 mi · 6 min · North Kingshighway

12

Turn left onto Broadway Street

2.0 mi · 3 min · Broadway Street

13

Arrive at your 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 58.6 miles from Des Peres, MO, or about 55m 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 80 miles or 1h 15m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 58.6 miles or 55m 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 31m

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 Des Peres, 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 Des Peres, MO

This is one driving day of about 117.2 miles and 1h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Des Peres, MO.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 58.6 mi from Des Peres, MO · 55m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cahokia, IL

59 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

Campton, 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 58.6 miles from Des Peres, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

$17.80 one way

$35.60 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$19.62	$39.25
premium	$4.80	$22.12	$44.25
diesel	$5.64	$26.04	$52.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 41 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	35.2	$12.31	$5.63
Efficient EV	29.3	$10.25	$4.69
EV Truck/SUV	46.9	$16.41	$7.50

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Des Peres, MO

Afternoon in Des Peres on Sunday

Local time

3:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cape Girardeau, MO

Afternoon in Cape Girardeau on Sunday

Local time

3:58 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

16 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 51m 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 Des Peres, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 117.2 miles and takes about 1h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 270 South, I 55, I 55 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 58.6 miles from Des Peres, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.80 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.

The drive from Des Peres, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO is easy. At 1h 51m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Des Peres, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Des Peres, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Cape Girardeau, MO to Des Peres, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

113.6 mi 2h 9m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.

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