Origin
Kennett, MO
Morning in Kennett on Monday
Local time
7:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kennett, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
98.9 mi
159 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 44m
★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 9m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kennett, MO
Alexander RAW
Cape Girardeau, MO
Craig Picariello
Trip Overview
The drive from Kennett, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 98.9 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, 1st Street, US 61 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.02 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
49.5 miles from Kennett, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 52m highway drive covering 98.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and 1st Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 76 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 9 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 76 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and 1st Street. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 84 / 1st Street.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Kennett, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO is easy. At 1h 52m with 80% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 84 / 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.1 miles (US 61): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MO 84 / 1st Street
Turn right onto MO 84 / 1st Street
Navigation decision point
6
17.8 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1B
Toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Saint Louis
7
94.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
|
US 61
Keep slight right at fork onto US 61 toward US 61, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 93B
Toward US 61, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau
5
96 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
MO 34; MO 74 / Shawnee Parkway
Turn right onto MO 34; MO 74 / Shawnee Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
97.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
|
MO 177 / South Sprigg Street
Turn left onto MO 177 / South Sprigg Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 76 mi | 1h 21m |
| 1st Street | 17.7 mi | 21m |
| US 61 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Shawnee Parkway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| South Sprigg Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Broadway Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Kennett Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 76 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kennett, MO and Cape Girardeau, MO.
1
Start on Kennett Street
134 ft
·
7 sec
·
Kennett Street
2
Turn right onto MO 84
18 mi
·
21 min
·
1st Street
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 1B
Toward I 55 North, US 61 North: Saint Louis
4
Merge onto I 55; US 61
76 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
I 55; US 61
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 61
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 61
Exit 93B
Toward US 61, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau
6
Turn right onto MO 34; MO 74
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Shawnee Parkway
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto MO 177
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sprigg Street
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto Broadway Street
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Broadway Street
9
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 49.5 miles from Kennett, MO, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.5 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 29m
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 Kennett, 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 Kennett, MO
This is one driving day of about 98.9 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kennett, 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 I 55 for about 76 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49.5 mi from Kennett, MO · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49.5 miles from Kennett, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.02 one way
$30.04 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $16.56 | $33.12 |
| premium | $4.80 | $18.67 | $37.34 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $21.97 | $43.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.7 | 0 | $10.38 | $4.75 |
| Efficient EV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.65 | $3.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.6 | 0 | $13.85 | $6.33 |
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.
Destination
Cape Girardeau, MO
Morning in Cape Girardeau on Monday
Local time
7:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Partly Sunny
SSW 13 to 17 mph
12% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:46PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:46PM CDT until April 20 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Along the Route
58°F
Mount Pleasant, IL
49 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
18 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 52m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Kennett, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 98.9 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, 1st Street, US 61. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.5 miles from Kennett, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.02 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 Kennett, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO is easy. At 1h 52m with 80% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 84 / 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.1 miles (US 61): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Kennett, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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