Marshall, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO is 284.4 miles and takes about 5h 31m via Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within Missouri, traversing the Midwest region from start to finish. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads, offering a more connected feel to the towns you pass through. With only one recommended stop and a duration under six hours, it’s a manageable trip for a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
142.2 miles from Marshall, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
93.1 mi
1h 39m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
82.8 mi
1h 37m
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
45.7 mi
48m
Avenue of the Saints
25.1 mi
30m
I 270
11.5 mi
14m
US 65
8.2 mi
9m
North Kingshighway
3.6 mi
6m
North Odell Avenue
3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
— 93.1 mi, about 1h 39m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,340 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,883
Quietest
1 AM
~235 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marshall, MO and Cape Girardeau, MO.
1
Start on US 65 Bus
0.1 mi·22 sec·East Eastwood Street
2
Turn right onto US 65 Bus
3.0 mi·7 min·North Odell Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 65 South
4
Merge onto US 65
8.2 mi·9 min·US 65
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
6
Merge onto I 70; US 40
23 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi·24 min·U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi·2 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 70; US 40
81 mi·1 hr 35 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
12
Take the exit onto US 40
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 40
Exit 210AToward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
13
Merge onto I 64; US 40; US 61
25 mi·30 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 25Toward I 270: Chicago, MemphisUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward I 270 South: MemphisUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 270
11 mi·14 min·I 270
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 1AToward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward I 55 South: Memphis
19
Merge onto I 55
1.5 mi·1 min·Rosa Parks Highway
20
Continue on I 55
1.8 mi·2 min·Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway
21
Continue on I 55
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 99Toward US 61, MO 34, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau, Jackson
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 99Toward I 55 Business, US 61 South, MO 34 East: Cape Girardeau
24
Continue on I 55 Bus; US 61; MO 34
3.6 mi·6 min·North Kingshighway
25
Turn left onto Broadway Street
2.0 mi·3 min·Broadway Street
26
Arrive at destination
Broadway Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 31m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning should allow you to reach Cape Girardeau with plenty of daylight. Since this is a single-day trip with only one suggested stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 93.1-mile segment on the Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent on surface roads. The $44 fuel cost is an estimate, so be prepared for slight variations.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 142.2 miles from Marshall, MO, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.1 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 63 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.2 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 32m
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 Marshall, 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 Marshall, MO
This is one driving day of about 284.4 miles and 5h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Marshall, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway for about 93.1 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 143.7 and 278.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
143.7 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|US 40
Take the exit onto US 40 toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 210A
Toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Ches...
8
169 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 25
Toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis
7
169.4 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 270 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 270 South: Memphis
8
181.2 mi into trip|~3h 35m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis...
8
278.5 mi into trip|~5h 21m 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
$42.00 one way
$84.00 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$46.37
$92.73
premium
$4.72
$52.80
$105.61
diesel
$4.80
$53.70
$107.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.3
1
$29.86
$13.65
Efficient EV
71.1
0
$24.89
$11.38
EV Truck/SUV
113.8
1
$39.82
$18.20
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Marshall, MO
Late night
in Marshall on Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
SW 6 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:32PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Cape Girardeau, MO
Late night
in Cape Girardeau on Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 2 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:32PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:01AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
91°F
Chesterfield, MO
142 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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 31m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
7 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 225.6
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...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
$19
near mile 176.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive involves 7% highway travel, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 93.1 miles along the Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway. After this, expect a shift to more local roads. This profile suggests you'll encounter frequent intersections and varying speed limits as you navigate through communities.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.1 mi on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 143.7 miles in near US 40.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 284.4 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 143.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
893 ft352 ft
Total Climb
590 ft
Total Descent
1,009 ft
Highest Point
893 ft
~121.9 mi in
Elevation Range
541 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 Marshall, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 31m. Total distance: 284.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.1 miles on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cape Girardeau, MO before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 143.7 miles (US 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cape Girardeau, MO before the return drive.
