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Trip from Dexter, MO to Cape Girardeau, 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

57.8 mi

93 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
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.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Stoddard County, Missouri, United States

Dexter, MO

Wikimedia Commons

city in Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri

Cape Girardeau, MO

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Dexter to Cape Girardeau, you are looking at a straightforward 57.8-mile drive that typically takes about 1 hour and 9 minutes. This route is well-suited for a single day, as it is a quick transition through the Missouri Midwest. You should budget approximately $9 for fuel, making it an affordable excursion. Because the distance is relatively short, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. It is a highly practical connection between these two locations, perfect for those who prioritize efficiency over a long-haul journey.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 27.4 mi 29m
US 60 7.1 mi 8m
US 61 2 mi 2m
US 60 Business 1.7 mi 2m
Shawnee Parkway 1.6 mi 2m
South Sprigg Street 0.8 mi 1m
Broadway Street 0.5 mi <1m
North Walnut Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 27.4 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dexter, MO and Cape Girardeau, MO.

1

Start on North Walnut Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · North Walnut Street
2

At end of road, turn right onto US 60 Business

0.4 mi · 49 sec · US 60 Business
3

At end of road, turn left onto US 60 Business; MO 25

1.3 mi · 1 min · US 60 Business; MO 25
4

Take the ramp

16 mi · 18 min
5

Continue on US 60

7.1 mi · 8 min · US 60
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Exit 1B Toward I 55 North: Saint Louis
7

Merge onto I 55

27 mi · 29 min · I 55
8

Keep slight right at fork onto US 61

2.0 mi · 2 min · US 61
Exit 93B Toward US 61, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau
9

Turn right onto MO 34; MO 74

1.6 mi · 2 min · Shawnee Parkway
Use the left lane.
10

Turn left onto MO 177

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Sprigg Street
Use the left lane.
11

Turn right onto Broadway Street

0.5 mi · 50 sec · Broadway Street
12

Arrive at destination

Broadway Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Sargent, MO, MO

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sargent, MO

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

Morehouse, MO

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sargent, MO

Meal break

The midpoint is around 28.9 miles from Dexter, 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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 56.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 60 Business

At end of road, turn right onto US 60 Business

Navigation decision point

5
0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 60 Business; MO 25

At end of road, turn left onto US 60 Business; MO 25

Navigation decision point

5
25.2 mi into trip | ~30m in

Take the exit toward I 55 North: Saint Louis

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 1B Toward I 55 North: Saint Louis
7
53 mi into trip | ~1h in | US 61

Keep slight right at fork onto US 61 toward US 61, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 93B Toward US 61, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau
6
56.6 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | MO 177 / South Sprigg Street

Turn left onto MO 177 / South Sprigg Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.04 one way

$18.07 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 20 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $9.92 $19.84
premium $4.89 $11.12 $22.25
diesel $5.61 $12.76 $25.52

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.2 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 $6.07 $2.77
Efficient EV 14.5 0 $5.06 $2.31
EV Truck/SUV 23.1 0 $8.09 $3.70

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.

Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026

Origin

Dexter, MO

Late night in Dexter on Sunday

Local time

1:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 13 to 18 mph 16% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:46PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:46PM CDT until April 20 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Destination

Cape Girardeau, MO

Late night in Cape Girardeau on Sunday

Local time

1:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Partly Sunny

SSW 13 to 17 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:46PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:46PM CDT until April 20 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 9m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 69% of this trip is spent on major roads. Your route utilizes a combination of I-55, US 60, and US 61 to move you efficiently across the region. The longest stretch you will face is a 27.4-mile segment on I-55, which allows for consistent speeds. While the drive is functional rather than technical, the mix of interstate and highway segments keeps the pace moving steadily. You will find that the transitions between these roads are designed to get you to your destination with minimal fuss.

69% 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: 27.4 mi on I 55.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 60. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 60 Business.

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 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 60 Business): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (US 60 Business; MO 25): Navigation decision point; at 25.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

399 ft 300 ft

Total Climb

109 ft

Total Descent

130 ft

Highest Point

399 ft

~45.4 mi in

Elevation Range

99 ft

About the Cities

Arriving 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: 57.8 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 (69%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 27.4 miles on I 55. 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 0.3 miles (US 60 Business): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (US 60 Business; MO 25): Navigation decision point; at 25.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cape Girardeau, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Cape Girardeau, MO to Dexter, MO

Plan the drive back the other way.

57.5 mi 1h 9m

Continue From Cape Girardeau, MO

Battlefield, MO 271.5 mi · 5h 21m Troy, MO 157.1 mi · 3h 4m Bridgeton, MO 125.2 mi · 2h 27m St. Louis, MO 115.2 mi · 2h 12m

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Castle Point, MO 181 mi · 2h 49m

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