If you are planning a quick getaway from the suburbs of Affton to the riverside city of Cape Girardeau, you are looking at a manageable 107.7-mile journey. Expect to spend approximately 2 hours and 3 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of roughly $16, the drive is both efficient and budget-friendly. You will stay within the Midwest for the entire duration, transitioning between Missouri communities via major arterial roads. Whether you are heading out for business or a weekend visit, the route is straightforward enough that you won't need to worry about overnight logistics unless you have a packed itinerary at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.8 miles from Affton, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
99.2 mi
1h 47m
North Kingshighway
3.6 mi
6m
Broadway Street
2 mi
3m
Reavis Barracks Road
0.7 mi
1m
Reavis Road
0.5 mi
1m
Mackenzie Road
0.5 mi
1m
Tesson Ferry Road
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 99.2 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Affton, MO and Cape Girardeau, MO.
1
Start on this road
119 ft·16 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto MO 21
0.5 mi·1 min·Tesson Ferry Road
3
Turn left onto Reavis Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Reavis Road
4
Turn right onto Mackenzie Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Mackenzie Road
5
Turn straight onto Reavis Barracks Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Reavis Barracks Road
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 55 South
7
Merge onto I 55
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 99Toward US 61, MO 34, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau, Jackson
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 99Toward I 55 Business, US 61 South, MO 34 East: Cape Girardeau
10
Continue on I 55 Bus; US 61; MO 34
3.6 mi·6 min·North Kingshighway
11
Turn left onto Broadway Street
2.0 mi·3 min·Broadway Street
12
Arrive at destination
Broadway Street
Trip Plan
Because this route is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. Since there are no designated stops required by the length of the trip, you can easily complete the 107.7 miles in one go. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will hover around $16, so checking your tank before leaving Affton is a good way to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted run. Given that the longest stretch of 99.2 miles is entirely on I-55, make sure you are comfortable with sustained highway speeds. If you find yourself needing a break, plan to stretch your legs once you transition off the interstate and onto the local roads leading into Cape Girardeau.
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 53.8 miles from Affton, MO, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.2 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 24 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.8 miles or 1h 1m 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 38m
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 Affton, 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 Affton, MO
This is one driving day of about 107.7 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Affton, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 99.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 101.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MO 21 / Tesson Ferry Road
Turn left onto MO 21 / Tesson Ferry Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|Reavis Road
Turn left onto Reavis Road
Navigation decision point
5
2.3 mi into trip|~5m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
101.6 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward US 61, MO 34, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau, Jackson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 99
Toward US 61, MO 34, I 55 Business: Cape Girard...
8
101.7 mi into trip|~1h 53m 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:...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.84 one way
$33.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.49
$36.97
premium
$4.89
$20.73
$41.45
diesel
$5.61
$23.78
$47.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.3
0
$11.31
$5.17
Efficient EV
26.9
0
$9.42
$4.31
EV Truck/SUV
43.1
0
$15.08
$6.89
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Affton, MO
Late night
in Affton on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Partly Cloudy
S 7 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:21AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:46PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Cape Girardeau, MO
Late night
in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Cloudy
S 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:21AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:46PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
73°F
Imperial, MO
54 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
2 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
2h 3m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the B...
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its efficiency, with 92% of your travel taking place on high-speed highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time—specifically 99.2 miles—cruising along I-55, which provides a consistent, high-capacity road surface. While the interstate dominates the experience, the final leg of the journey transitions into local transit via North Kingshighway and Broadway Street. This shift from a fast-paced interstate grind to local city streets signals your arrival in Cape Girardeau. It is a functional, highway-focused drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads, keeping your time behind the wheel predictable and steady.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.2 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and North Kingshighway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MO 21 / Tesson Ferry Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 3m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 21 / Tesson Ferry Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Reavis Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
618 ft416 ft
Total Climb
431 ft
Total Descent
309 ft
Highest Point
618 ft
~71.8 mi in
Elevation Range
202 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Affton, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
The longest stretch is about 99.2 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MO 21 / Tesson Ferry Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Reavis Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park and Gateway Arch National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cape Girardeau, MO before heading back.
