Origin
Neosho, MO
Afternoon in Neosho on Sunday
Local time
3:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Neosho, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO
Drive Time
5h 30m
Distance
343.5 mi
553 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$52
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 17m
★
6 AM
5h 31m
8 AM
5h 57m
10 AM
5h 40m
12 PM
5h 37m
3 PM
5h 41m
5 PM
5h 56m
8 PM
5h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Neosho, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Cape Girardeau, MO
Craig Picariello
Trip Overview
The drive from Neosho, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 343.5 miles and takes about 5h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Washington Street, East Coler Street, North College Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $52.17 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
171.7 miles from Neosho, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 45m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 30m drive with frequent turns across 343.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Washington Street 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 30m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Neosho, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Washington Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Coler Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North College Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Elwood Junction Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 44 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Congressman Gene Taylor Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MO 360 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| James River Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South Washington Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Neosho, MO and Cape Girardeau, MO.
1
Start on East Main Street
217 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn left onto South Washington Street
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
South Washington Street
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Coler Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Coler Street
4
Turn right onto North College Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North College Street
5
Continue on Elwood Junction Road
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Elwood Junction Road
6
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
7
Turn straight
12 mi
·
17 min
8
Take the ramp slight right toward I 44 East: Springfield
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 44 East: Springfield
9
Merge slight left onto Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
50 mi
·
53 min
·
Congressman Gene Taylor Highway
10
Take the exit slight right toward MO 360 East
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
MO 360 East
11
Continue on James River Freeway
14 mi
·
16 min
·
James River Freeway
12
Continue straight
81 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
13
Keep slight left to continue on US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
90 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
·
US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
14
Keep slight right
4.8 mi
·
6 min
15
Turn straight onto North Westwood Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
North Westwood Boulevard
16
Turn slight left
276 ft
·
12 sec
17
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
18
Take the ramp right
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
19
Merge slight left
51 mi
·
58 min
20
Take the exit slight right toward I 55 North: Saint Louis
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 55 North: Saint Louis
21
Merge slight left
27 mi
·
29 min
22
Keep slight right to continue on US 61, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 61, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau
23
Turn right onto Shawnee Parkway
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Shawnee Parkway
24
Turn left onto South Sprigg Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Sprigg Street
25
Turn right onto Broadway Street
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Broadway Street
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 171.7 miles from Neosho, MO, or about 2h 45m 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 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 171.7 miles or 2h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 32m
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 Neosho, 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 Neosho, MO
This is one driving day of about 343.5 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Neosho, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 171.7 mi from Neosho, MO · 2h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
172 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 171.7 miles from Neosho, 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
$52.17 one way
$104.35 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
120 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $57.52 | $115.03 |
| premium | $4.80 | $64.85 | $129.69 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $76.31 | $152.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103.1 | 1 | $36.07 | $16.49 |
| Efficient EV | 85.9 | 0 | $30.06 | $13.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 137.4 | 1 | $48.09 | $21.98 |
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Afternoon in Cape Girardeau on Sunday
Local time
3:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
81°F
Bono, AR
172 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
17 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
5h 30m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Neosho, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 343.5 miles and takes about 5h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Washington Street, East Coler Street, North College Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 171.7 miles from Neosho, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $52.17 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 30m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Neosho, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Neosho, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Cape Girardeau, MO
More trips to Cape Girardeau, MO
Explore more options from Neosho, MO or browse trips ending in Cape Girardeau, MO.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MO road trips.
Explore maps for Neosho, MO or Cape Girardeau, MO on MapSof.net.