Ozark, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO is 270 miles and takes about 5h 18m via US 60 and I 55, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Missouri, starting in the Midwest and ending in the same region. It's a straightforward trip that's mostly highway driving. Given the relatively short duration and manageable distance, it's well-suited for a single day's travel. Plan for a consistent experience as you make your way east.
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
135 miles from Ozark, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 60
228 mi
4h 27m
I 55
27.4 mi
29m
American Legion Memorial Highway
4.5 mi
5m
Schoolcraft Freeway
2.3 mi
2m
US 61
2 mi
2m
Shawnee Parkway
1.6 mi
2m
North 3rd Street
1.4 mi
2m
South Sprigg Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 60
— 228 mi, about 4h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ozark, MO and Cape Girardeau, MO.
1
Start on West Church Street
97 ft·6 sec·West Church Street
2
Turn right onto US 65 Bus; MO 14
1.4 mi·2 min·North 3rd Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 65 North: SpringfieldUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto US 65
4.5 mi·5 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
5
Continue on US 65
2.3 mi·2 min·Schoolcraft Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward US 60 East: Cabool
7
Merge onto US 60
82 mi·1 hr 35 min·US 60
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60
90 mi·1 hr 46 min·US 60
Toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 60
4.8 mi·6 min·US 60
10
Turn straight onto US 60 Business; US 67 Business
0.2 mi·14 sec·North Westwood Boulevard
11
Turn slight left
274 ft·12 sec
12
Turn left onto MO W
0.1 mi·16 sec·MO W
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
14
Merge onto US 60
51 mi·58 min·US 60
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 1BToward I 55 North: Saint Louis
16
Merge onto I 55
27 mi·29 min·I 55
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 61
2.0 mi·2 min·US 61
Exit 93BToward US 61, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau
18
Turn right onto MO 34; MO 74
1.6 mi·2 min·Shawnee Parkway
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto MO 177
0.8 mi·1 min·South Sprigg Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto Broadway Street
0.5 mi·50 sec·Broadway Street
21
Arrive at destination
Broadway Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving Ozark in the morning should give you ample time to reach Cape Girardeau before evening. You'll only have one recommended stop, so consider making it a convenient refueling point or a quick lunch break. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 228 miles on US 60, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before embarking on that section. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility to depart later if needed, but an earlier start ensures a relaxed pace.
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 135 miles from Ozark, MO, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 228 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 59 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135 miles or 2h 39m 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 21m
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 Ozark, 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 Ozark, MO
This is one driving day of about 270 miles and 5h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Ozark, 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 US 60 for about 228 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 268.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward US 65 North: Springfield
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 65 North: Springfield
6
90.6 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|US 60
Keep slight left at fork onto US 60 toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 60 East: Mountain View, Poplar Bluff
5
237.3 mi into trip|~4h 40m 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
265.1 mi into trip|~5h 10m 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
268.7 mi into trip|~5h 16m 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
$39.87 one way
$79.75 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$44.02
$88.04
premium
$4.72
$50.13
$100.26
diesel
$4.80
$50.98
$101.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81
0
$28.35
$12.96
Efficient EV
67.5
0
$23.63
$10.80
EV Truck/SUV
108
1
$37.80
$17.28
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Ozark, MO
Morning
in Ozark on Sunday
Local time
9:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:48PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Cape Girardeau, MO
Morning
in Cape Girardeau on Sunday
Local time
9:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 2 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:48PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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 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 18m 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.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
11 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 9.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 97% of the 270 miles on major roads. You'll encounter a substantial stretch of 228 miles on US 60 before transitioning to I 55. Expect a rural cruising feel for much of the way, with fewer exits compared to more urban corridors. The final segment will involve merging onto the interstate.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 228 mi on US 60.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 60 and I 55. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 270 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 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 90.6 miles (US 60): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 237.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,636 ft300 ft
Total Climb
741 ft
Total Descent
1,555 ft
Highest Point
1,636 ft
~38.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,336 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 Ozark, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO, road signs begin pointing toward Poplar Bluff along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 18m. Total distance: 270 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 228 miles on US 60. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 90.6 miles (US 60): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 237.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 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.
