The drive from Ferguson, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 127.7 miles and takes about 2h 29m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, Ozark Expressway, I 70 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93.1 miles on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.96 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
63.8 miles from Ferguson, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 127.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 29m drive with frequent turns across 127.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 93.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO N / South Florissant Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 127.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO N / South Florissant Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (I 44 / Third Street Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MO N / South Florissant Road
Turn right onto MO N / South Florissant Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
7
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
9
10.6 mi into trip|~15m in|I 44 / Third Street Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 44 / Third Street Expressway toward I 44 West: Tulsa, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 249A
Toward I 44 West: Tulsa, Memphis
6
121.6 mi into trip|~2h 18m 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
121.8 mi into trip|~2h 18m 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 Ferguson, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Memphis
10.6 mi in|~15m|via I 44
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
93.1 mi
1h 39m
Ozark Expressway
14.1 mi
17m
I 70
6.8 mi
9m
North Kingshighway
3.6 mi
6m
Broadway Street
2 mi
3m
Third Street Expressway
2 mi
2m
Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
South Florissant Road
1.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
— 93.1 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ferguson, MO and Cape Girardeau, MO.
1
Start on Carson Road
119 ft·8 sec·Carson Road
2
Turn right onto MO N
1.7 mi·3 min·South Florissant Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·33 sec
Toward I 70 East
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·12 sec
Toward I 70 East: Saint LouisUse the slight left lane.
5
Merge onto I 70
6.8 mi·9 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 70
1.5 mi·2 min·Andy Gammon Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 44
2.0 mi·2 min·Third Street Expressway
Exit 249AToward I 44 West: Tulsa, MemphisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 44; I 55
0.9 mi·1 min·Ozark Expressway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
13 mi·16 min·Ozark Expressway
Exit 290B
10
Continue on I 55
1.8 mi·2 min·Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 55
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 99Toward US 61, MO 34, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau, Jackson
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 99Toward I 55 Business, US 61 South, MO 34 East: Cape Girardeau
14
Continue on I 55 Bus; US 61; MO 34
3.6 mi·6 min·North Kingshighway
15
Turn left onto Broadway Street
2.0 mi·3 min·Broadway Street
16
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 63.8 miles from Ferguson, MO, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.1 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 28 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.8 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h
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 Ferguson, 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 Ferguson, MO
This is one driving day of about 127.7 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Ferguson, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway for about 93.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 63.8 mi from Ferguson, MO
· 1h 16m into the drive
The midpoint is around 63.8 miles from Ferguson, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.1 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.
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
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...
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
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 74.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.96 one way
$39.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.92
$43.84
premium
$4.89
$24.57
$49.15
diesel
$5.61
$28.19
$56.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.3
0
$13.41
$6.13
Efficient EV
31.9
0
$11.17
$5.11
EV Truck/SUV
51.1
0
$17.88
$8.17
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Ferguson, MO
Afternoon
in Ferguson on Friday
Local time
4:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cape Girardeau, MO
Afternoon
in Cape Girardeau on Friday
Local time
4:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Arnold, MO
64 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
2h 29m 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 Ferguson, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 127.7 miles and takes about 2h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, Ozark Expressway, I 70. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 63.8 miles from Ferguson, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.96 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 demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 127.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO N / South Florissant Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (I 44 / Third Street Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Ferguson, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Gateway Arch National Park and Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
