Origin
Cape Girardeau, MO
Night in Cape Girardeau on Saturday
Local time
11:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cape Girardeau, MO to Dexter, MO
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
57.5 mi
93 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cape Girardeau, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Dexter, MO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Cape Girardeau to Dexter, Missouri, expect a straightforward journey covering 57.5 miles. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 9 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will navigate primarily via North Sprigg Street, Shawnee Parkway, and South Kingshighway to reach your destination. With an estimated fuel cost of only $9, this is an incredibly budget-friendly way to cross through the Missouri Midwest. Given the short duration, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay, allowing you to easily complete the trip in one go.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 61 | 27.2 mi | 29m |
| US 60 | 22.6 mi | 26m |
| US 60 Business | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| South Kingshighway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Shawnee Parkway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| North Sprigg Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Broadway Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Walnut Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 61
— 27.2 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape Girardeau, MO and Dexter, 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
27 mi
·
29 min
·
US 61
Toward I 55 South, US 61 South: Sikeston
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 66B
Toward US 60 West: Dexter, Poplar Bluff
7
Merge onto US 60
23 mi
·
26 min
·
US 60
8
Take the exit onto US 60 Business
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 60 Business
Toward MO 25, US 60 Business: Dexter, Bloomfield
9
Turn left onto US 60 Business; MO 25
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
US 60 Business; MO 25
10
Turn right onto US 60 Business
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
US 60 Business
11
Turn left onto North Walnut Street
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
North Walnut Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Walnut Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.7 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 55.1 — 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
31.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward US 60 West: Dexter, Poplar Bluff
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 66B
Toward US 60 West: Dexter, Poplar Bluff
5
55.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
US 60 Business
Take the exit onto US 60 Business toward MO 25, US 60 Business: Dexter, Bloomfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MO 25, US 60 Business: Dexter, Bloomfiel...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.99 one way
$17.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.87 | $19.74 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.07 | $22.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.70 | $25.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.04 | $2.76 |
| Efficient EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.03 | $2.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23 | 0 | $8.05 | $3.68 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Dexter, MO
Night in Dexter on Saturday
Local time
11:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Benton, MO
29 mi in
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
26 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
1h 9m 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?
This route offers a turn-heavy local driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a steady pace through local corridors rather than high-speed highway stretches. The road requires your full attention as you transition between the specified arterial streets. Because the entire 57.5-mile distance is comprised of local roads, the drive maintains a consistent, ground-level feel from start to finish. Expect a hands-on experience behind the wheel that reflects the regional character of the Missouri landscape.
93% 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: 27.2 mi on US 61.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 61 and US 60. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near MO 177 / North Sprigg Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 9m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Cape Girardeau, MO to Dexter, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Poplar Bluff along the way.
Poplar Bluff
31.9 mi in
|
~37m
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 1h 9m. Total distance: 57.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.2 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 Dexter, 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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