Origin
Polk, MO
Evening in Polk on Tuesday
Local time
7:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Polk, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO
Data updated 3 hours ago
Drive Time
5h 42m
Distance
282.4 mi
455 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 29m
★
6 AM
5h 42m
8 AM
6h 9m
10 AM
5h 52m
12 PM
5h 49m
3 PM
5h 53m
5 PM
6h 7m
8 PM
5h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Polk, MO
Valeria Boltneva
Cape Girardeau, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Polk, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 282.4 miles and takes about 5h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 44, Jeff McBride Memorial Highway, MO 64 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 109.4 miles on I 44. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.15 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
141.2 miles from Polk, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 51m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Polk, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 282.4 miles and takes about 5h 42m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 44 is the longest continuous segment at about 109.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 42.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 282.4 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 42.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 152.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
42.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 44 East: Rolla
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 44 East: Rolla
6
152.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 3m in
Take the exit toward MO WW, MO AB, MO 30: Saint Clair
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 239
Toward MO WW, MO AB, MO 30: Saint Clair
6
152.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward MO 30, MO 47
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 30, MO 47
6
191.4 mi into trip
|
~4h in
Enter roundabout toward I 55 South: Cape Girardeau
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward I 55 South: Cape Girardeau
8
276.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 31m 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:...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 44 | 109.4 mi | 1h 58m |
| Jeff McBride Memorial Highway | 84.8 mi | 1h 30m |
| MO 64 | 40.3 mi | 59m |
| East Gravois Avenue | 27 mi | 38m |
| MO MM | 11.6 mi | 17m |
| North Kingshighway | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| MO D | 2.1 mi | 5m |
| Broadway Street | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 109.4 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Polk, MO and Cape Girardeau, MO.
1
Start on MO D
2.1 mi
·
5 min
·
MO D
2
Turn right onto MO 64
40 mi
·
59 min
·
MO 64
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 44 East: Rolla
4
Merge onto I 44
109 mi
·
1 hr 58 min
·
I 44
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 239
Toward MO WW, MO AB, MO 30: Saint Clair
6
Turn right onto US Historic 66; MO 30
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
US Historic 66; MO 30
7
Continue on US Historic 66; MO 30
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Gravois Avenue
8
Take the exit
190 ft
·
4 sec
Toward MO 30, MO 47
9
Merge onto MO 30; MO 47
27 mi
·
38 min
·
East Gravois Avenue
10
Turn right onto MO MM
12 mi
·
17 min
·
MO MM
11
Take the exit
181 ft
·
5 sec
Use the right lane.
12
Turn right onto Metropolitan Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Metropolitan Boulevard
13
Enter roundabout
216 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 55 South: Cape Girardeau
14
Continue
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
Toward I 55 South: Cape Girardeau
15
Merge onto I 55
85 mi
·
1 hr 30 min
·
Jeff McBride Memorial Highway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 99
Toward US 61, MO 34, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau, Jackson
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 99
Toward I 55 Business, US 61 South, MO 34 East: Cape Girardeau
18
Continue on I 55 Bus; US 61; MO 34
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
North Kingshighway
19
Turn left onto Broadway Street
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Broadway Street
20
Arrive at destination
Broadway Street
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 141.2 miles from Polk, MO, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.4 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 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.2 miles or 2h 51m 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 43m
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 Polk, 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 Polk, MO
This is one driving day of about 282.4 miles and 5h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Polk, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 44 for about 109.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 141.2 mi from Polk, MO · 2h 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
141 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 141.2 miles from Polk, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 44 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109.4 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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.15 one way
$88.30 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
99 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $48.47 | $96.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $54.35 | $108.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $62.35 | $124.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.7 | 1 | $29.65 | $13.56 |
| Efficient EV | 70.6 | 0 | $24.71 | $11.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 113 | 1 | $39.54 | $18.07 |
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 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
Evening in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday
Local time
7:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 42m 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 Polk, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 282.4 miles and takes about 5h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 44, Jeff McBride Memorial Highway, MO 64. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 141.2 miles from Polk, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.15 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 282.4 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 42.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 152.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Polk, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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