Origin
Odessa, MO
Morning in Odessa on Friday
Local time
9:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Odessa, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 44m
Distance
317 mi
510 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 31m
★
6 AM
4h 44m
8 AM
5h 11m
10 AM
4h 54m
12 PM
4h 51m
3 PM
4h 55m
5 PM
5h 10m
8 PM
4h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Odessa, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Cape Girardeau, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Odessa, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 317 miles and takes about 4h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South 2nd Street, U.S. 40, I 70 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.56 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
158.5 miles from Odessa, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 44m. Total distance: 317 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 44m drive with frequent turns across 317 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 2nd 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.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 44m 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 Odessa, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 2nd Street | — | — |
| U.S. 40 | — | — |
| I 70 East | — | — |
| Dwight D | — | — |
| U | — | — |
| Highway Patrol Sgt | — | — |
| Sheriff Roger I | — | — |
| I 64 East | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South 2nd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Odessa, MO and Cape Girardeau, MO.
1
Start on West Mason Street
30 ft
·
5 sec
·
West Mason Street
2
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 2nd Street
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Old U.S. 40
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Old U.S. 40
4
Take the ramp straight toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 70 East, US 40 East: Columbia
5
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
31 mi
·
33 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6
Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
32 mi
·
34 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
7
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
22 mi
·
24 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
8
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
10
Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
11
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
81 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
13
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
25 mi
·
30 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 270: Chicago, Memphis
15
Keep slight right to continue on I 270 South: Memphis
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
I 270 South: Memphis
16
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
14 min
17
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
18
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Memphis
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 55 South: Memphis
19
Merge slight left onto Rosa Parks Highway
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Rosa Parks Highway
20
Continue on Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
21
Continue on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
93 mi
·
1 hr 39 min
·
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
22
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
23
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
24
Continue on North Kingshighway
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
North Kingshighway
25
Turn left onto Broadway Street
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
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 158.5 miles from Odessa, MO, or about 2h 22m 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 70 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.5 miles or 2h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 53m
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 Odessa, 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 Odessa, MO
This is one driving day of about 317 miles and 4h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Odessa, 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 158.5 mi from Odessa, MO · 2h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
159 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 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 158.5 miles from Odessa, 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
$49.56 one way
$99.12 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
111 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $54.41 | $108.83 |
| premium | $4.89 | $61.00 | $122.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $69.99 | $139.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 95.1 | 1 | $33.29 | $15.22 |
| Efficient EV | 79.3 | 0 | $27.74 | $12.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 126.8 | 1 | $44.38 | $20.29 |
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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
Morning in Cape Girardeau on Friday
Local time
9:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Chesterfield, MO
159 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
9 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
4h 44m 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 Odessa, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 317 miles and takes about 4h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South 2nd Street, U.S. 40, I 70 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 158.5 miles from Odessa, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.56 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 4h 44m 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 Odessa, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Odessa, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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