Origin
Jackson, MO
Evening in Jackson on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jackson, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO
Drive Time
18m
Distance
10.3 mi
17 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 17m
★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 21m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 19m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 21m
8 PM
0h 17m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jackson, MO
Lena Khrupina
Cape Girardeau, MO
Craig Picariello
Trip Overview
The drive from Jackson, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 10.3 miles and takes about 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Jackson Boulevard, North Kingshighway, Broadway Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 4.2 miles on East Jackson Boulevard. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.56 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
5.2 miles from Jackson, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 18m drive with frequent turns across 10.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Jackson Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 4.2 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
538 ft
352 ft
Total Climb
115 ft
Total Descent
248 ft
Highest Point
538 ft
~4.3 mi in
Elevation Range
187 ft
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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 18m drive. You will face about 5 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: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; near the start (I 55 Bus; US 61 / South Hope Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.1 miles (I 55 Bus; US 61 / South Hope Street): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 55 Bus; US 61 / South Hope Street
Enter roundabout onto I 55 Bus; US 61 / South Hope Street toward I 55 Business, US 61 South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 Business, US 61 South
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 55 Bus; US 61 / South Hope Street
Slight right onto I 55 Bus; US 61 / South Hope Street toward I 55 Business, US 61 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 Business, US 61 South
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 55 Bus; US 61; MO 34 / East Jackson Boulevard
Turn left onto I 55 Bus; US 61; MO 34 / East Jackson Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
3
8.3 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
Broadway Street
Turn left onto Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Jackson Boulevard | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| North Kingshighway | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Broadway Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| South Hope Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East Jackson Boulevard
— 4.2 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, MO and Cape Girardeau, MO.
1
Start on East Main Street
28 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn sharp left
83 ft
·
2 sec
3
Enter roundabout onto I 55 Bus; US 61
203 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Hope Street
Toward I 55 Business, US 61 South
4
Continue on I 55 Bus; US 61
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Hope Street
Toward I 55 Business, US 61 South
5
Turn left onto I 55 Bus; US 61; MO 34
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
East Jackson Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on I 55 Bus; US 61; MO 34
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
North Kingshighway
7
Turn left onto Broadway Street
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Broadway Street
8
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 5.2 miles from Jackson, MO, or about 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.2 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 10.3 miles or 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 5.2 miles or 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 15m
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 Jackson, 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 Jackson, MO
This is one driving day of about 10.3 miles and 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Jackson, 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.
The longest stretch is on East Jackson Boulevard for about 4.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 5.2 mi from Jackson, MO · 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
5 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 5.2 miles from Jackson, 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
$1.56 one way
$3.13 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $1.72 | $3.45 |
| premium | $4.80 | $1.94 | $3.89 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.29 | $4.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.08 | $0.49 |
| Efficient EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.90 | $0.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.44 | $0.66 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Destination
Cape Girardeau, MO
Evening in Cape Girardeau on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
73°F
Campton, IL
5 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
14 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
18m 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 Jackson, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 10.3 miles and takes about 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Jackson Boulevard, North Kingshighway, Broadway Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.2 miles from Jackson, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.56 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 18m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; near the start (I 55 Bus; US 61 / South Hope Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.1 miles (I 55 Bus; US 61 / South Hope Street): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Jackson, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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