How far is Cape Girardeau, MO from Liberty, MO?

The driving distance from Cape Girardeau, MO to Liberty, MO is about 196.3 miles (315.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 163.7 miles (263.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 50m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
196.27 mi
04h 25m
Flight
163.71 mi
263.46 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cape Girardeau.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
163.71 mi
Kilometers
263.46 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
196.27 mi
Kilometers
315.86 km
Drive Time
04h 25m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Liberty
Sat, May 30, 11:15 PM CDT
Return by in Cape Girardeau
Sun, May 31, 3:41 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cape Girardeau
2026-05-30T18:50
Arrive Liberty
Sat, May 30, 11:15 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:25 AM to 12:25 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:10 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cape Girardeau
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Scotsdale
MO

Human settlement in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States of America

From Cape Girardeau
98.1 mi
02h 12m
To Liberty
98.2 mi
02h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
This Afternoon

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 30 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
6 mph ENE
Destination
81°F
This Afternoon

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 30 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cape Girardeau and Liberty.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cape Girardeau and Liberty.

  1. 1

    Start on Broadway Street

    2 mi · 4 min · Broadway Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Kingshighway

    3.6 mi · 6 min · North Kingshighway

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North: Saint Louis

    1606 ft · 39 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    84.9 mi · 1 hr 31 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward MO M: Antonia, Barnhart

    1759 ft · 44 sec

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn left

    11.8 mi · 18 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    6.3 mi · 10 min

  8. 8

    Turn right

    2.2 mi · 4 min

  9. 9

    Take the ramp left toward I 44 West, US 50 West: Rolla

    1391 ft · 34 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor

    12.3 mi · 14 min · Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 100 West: Washington

    2260 ft · 48 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right

    669 ft · 13 sec

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    4.3 mi · 6 min

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    4.9 mi · 7 min

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    2326 ft · 46 sec

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    28.5 mi · 41 min

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Market Street

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Market Street

  18. 18

    Turn left

    15.2 mi · 27 min

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn left

    11.9 mi · 21 min

  20. 20

    Turn right

    4.8 mi · 12 min

  21. 21

    Turn left onto County Road 440

    648 ft · 28 sec · County Road 440

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · County Road 440

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cape Girardeau and Liberty.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
22 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 North
85.2 mi · 43%
MO 100 West
38.6 mi · 20%
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
12.3 mi · 6%
MO M
6.61 mi · 3%
North Kingshighway
3.63 mi · 2%
Broadway Street
2 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 55 North

Merge slight left

84.9 mi · 01h 31m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 25m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.6 mi
163.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Scotsdale
02h 12m from Cape Girardeau
Leave By
8:10 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Cape Girardeau and Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms near Liberty.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cape Girardeau to Liberty?

The road trip is about 196.3 miles (315.9 km) and usually takes 04h 25m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Scotsdale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 98.1 miles from Cape Girardeau and 98.2 miles from Liberty.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 163.7 miles (263.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:10 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.13 one way or $52.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Cape Girardeau and Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms near Liberty.

Stop Ideas Near Scotsdale

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Scotsdale, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Scotsdale.

RAIL

Kirkwood

26 mi away
110 West Argonne Dr.
RAIL

Washington

41 mi away
301 West Front St.
RAIL

Gateway Transportation Center

42 mi away
551 South 16th St.
RAIL

Alton

69 mi away
3400 College Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cape Girardeau and Liberty. Straight-line distance: 163.71 mi (263.46 km).

Cape Girardeau

#1 Cape Girardeau

The second-largest city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.

Population41,588
Coordinates37.3058800, -89.5181500
Altitude108
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Liberty

City in Missouri, United States

Population32,418
Coordinates38.6892100, -91.9593500
Altitude197
CountryUnited States
Start: Cape Girardeau (-89.51815, 37.30588)
End: Liberty (-91.95935, 38.68921)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 316 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.93 gal
26.22 L · about $26.13
Round trip
$52.27
13.86 gal · 52.44 L
Estimated CO2
61.6 kg one way
Round trip: 123.2 kg / 272 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $26.13 $52.27
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.47 $58.95
Premium $4.65 $32.25 $64.50
Diesel $5.30 $36.76 $73.51

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Missouri · May 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Cape Girardeau and Liberty. The current time is 18:50:36.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.