Origin
Cape Girardeau, MO
Night in Cape Girardeau on Saturday
Local time
9:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cape Girardeau, MO to Charleston, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
44.3 mi
71 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cape Girardeau, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Charleston, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 44.3-mile drive from Cape Girardeau, MO, to Charleston, MO, is easily manageable within a single day, taking about 52 minutes to complete. Primarily utilizing US 61 and I-57, with a brief mention of South Kingshighway, this trip focuses on efficient highway travel. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $7, it's an economical option for a short regional hop within the Midwest. Given its brevity and highway-focused profile, this route is best suited for a quick transit rather than an extended exploration, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 61 | 27.6 mi | 29m |
| I 57 | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| South Kingshighway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Shawnee Parkway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Sprigg Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Broadway Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| I 57 Business | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 61
— 27.6 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape Girardeau, MO and Charleston, MO.
1
Start on Broadway Street
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Broadway Street
2
Turn left onto MO 177
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Sprigg Street
3
Turn right onto MO 34; MO 74
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Shawnee Parkway
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto I 55 Bus; US 61
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South Kingshighway
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61
28 mi
·
29 min
·
US 61
Toward I 55 South, US 61 South: Sikeston
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 66A
Toward I 57 North, US 60 East: Chicago
7
Merge onto I 57; US 60
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 57; US 60
8
Take the exit onto I 57 Business
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 57 Business
Toward I 57 Business North, MO 105: Charleston, East Prairie
9
Turn left onto I 57 Business; MO 105
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
10
Turn left onto US 62; MO 77
168 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Marshall Street
11
Arrive at destination
US 62; MO 77
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.2 miles from Cape Girardeau, MO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 42.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MO 177 / North Sprigg Street
Turn left onto MO 177 / North Sprigg Street
Navigation decision point
6
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 55 Bus; US 61 / South Kingshighway
Turn left onto I 55 Bus; US 61 / South Kingshighway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
4.8 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 61
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61 toward I 55 South, US 61 South: Sikeston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 South, US 61 South: Sikeston
6
32.4 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward I 57 North, US 60 East: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 66A
Toward I 57 North, US 60 East: Chicago
5
42.9 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
I 57 Business
Take the exit onto I 57 Business toward I 57 Business North, MO 105: Charleston, East Prairie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 57 Business North, MO 105: Charleston,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.93 one way
$13.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.60 | $15.21 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.53 | $17.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.78 | $19.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.13 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.88 | $1.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.84 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Charleston, MO
Night in Charleston on Saturday
Local time
9:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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
52m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience for 90% of this 44.3-mile journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27.6 miles on US 61, offering a consistent pace. While the specific road changes are minor, the profile suggests a steady drive that prioritizes directness over varied terrain. This isn't a route for winding country lanes, but rather for making good time on established roadways.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.6 mi on US 61.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 61 and I 57. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near MO 177 / North Sprigg Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.5 miles (MO 177 / North Sprigg Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 55 Bus; US 61 / South Kingshighway): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles (US 61): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Cape Girardeau, MO
Full guide →Cape Girardeau is a city named after a French soldier/trader in southeastern Missouri. Watch out for murals and flood walls in this college town.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 44.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.6 miles on US 61. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (MO 177 / North Sprigg Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 55 Bus; US 61 / South Kingshighway): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles (US 61): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Charleston, MO before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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