Drive Time
3h 3m
Distance
156.8 mi
252 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
Photo: Craig Picariello
The drive from Troy, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO covers 156.8 miles and takes about 3h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, Avenue of the Saints, I 270 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93.1 miles on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.82 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
78.4 miles from Troy, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 3m drive with frequent turns across 156.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
732 ft
Total Descent
920 ft
Highest Point
627 ft
~100.1 mi in
Elevation Range
275 ft
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East Cherry Street.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 156.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East Cherry Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 41.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Enter roundabout onto East Cherry Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Take the exit toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 270 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
On the drive from Troy, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Memphis
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway | 93.1 mi | 1h 39m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 40.1 mi | 49m |
| I 270 | 11.5 mi | 14m |
| North Kingshighway | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Broadway Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Rosa Parks Highway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| East Cherry Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Troy, MO and Cape Girardeau, MO.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn left onto 2nd Street
Turn right onto East Cherry Street
Enter roundabout onto East Cherry Street
Continue on East Cherry Street
Turn left onto North Lincoln Drive
Turn slight right
Turn slight right onto MO 47
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 61
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 270
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 55
Continue on I 55
Continue on I 55
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 55 Bus; US 61; MO 34
Turn left onto Broadway Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.4 miles or 1h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cape Girardeau, MO than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Troy, 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 Troy, MO
This is one driving day of about 156.8 miles and 3h 3m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 78.4 mi from Troy, MO · 1h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 78.4 miles from Troy, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.1 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$23.82 one way
$47.63 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $26.25 | $52.51 |
| premium | $4.80 | $29.60 | $59.20 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $34.84 | $69.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47 | 0 | $16.46 | $7.53 |
| Efficient EV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.72 | $6.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.7 | 0 | $21.95 | $10.04 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Troy on Saturday
Local time
4:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Cape Girardeau on Saturday
Local time
4:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Cahokia, IL
78 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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