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

The driving distance from Chillicothe, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO is about 337.2 miles (542.6 km), with a travel time of about 05h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 277.6 miles (446.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 48m 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
337.17 mi
05h 24m
Flight
277.63 mi
446.8 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chillicothe.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
277.63 mi
Kilometers
446.8 km
Flight Time
00h 33m

Driving Distance

Road route
337.17 mi
Kilometers
542.62 km
Drive Time
05h 24m

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 05h 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cape Girardeau
Tue, May 5, 5:56 AM CDT
Return by in Chillicothe
Tue, May 5, 11:21 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chillicothe
2026-05-05T00:32
Arrive Cape Girardeau
Tue, May 5, 5:56 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:24 AM to 1:24 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
6:12 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chillicothe
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
Whiteside
MO

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

From Chillicothe
168 mi
02h 42m
To Cape Girardeau
169.3 mi
02h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph NNE
Destination
68°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Locust Street

    16 m · 4 sec · Locust Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Calhoun Street

    98 m · 18 sec · West Calhoun Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Washington Street

    1.6 mi · 4 min · North Washington Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left toward US 36 East, MO 110 East: Brookfield

    975 ft · 13 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    111.4 mi · 2 hr 9 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  6. 6

    Continue on V.F.W. Memorial Highway

    5.8 mi · 7 min · V.F.W. Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward Veterans Road

    1167 ft · 30 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Veterans Road

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Veterans Road

  9. 9

    At the end of the road, turn left onto County Road 422

    85 m · 7 sec · County Road 422

  10. 10

    Continue on Paris Gravel Road

    2539 ft · 1 min · Paris Gravel Road

  11. 11

    Take the ramp right

    37 m · 3 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    98.7 mi · 1 hr 58 min · Avenue of the Saints

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 270: Chicago, Memphis

    1829 ft · 39 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 270 South: Memphis

    1691 ft · 31 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    11.5 mi · 14 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55, US 61, US 67: Saint Louis, Memphis, Lemay Ferry Road

    1911 ft · 27 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Memphis

    2031 ft · 44 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Rosa Parks Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Rosa Parks Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Officer Thomas G. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway

    93.1 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward US 61, MO 34, I 55 Business: Cape Girardeau, Jackson

    814 ft · 17 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 Business, US 61 South, MO 34 East: Cape Girardeau

    1354 ft · 29 sec

  23. 23

    Continue on North Kingshighway

    3.6 mi · 6 min · North Kingshighway

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Broadway Street

    2 mi · 4 min · Broadway Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Broadway Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
25 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
111 mi · 33%
Avenue of the Saints
98.7 mi · 29%
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
93.1 mi · 28%
I 270 South
11.8 mi · 4%
V.F.W. Memorial Highway
5.85 mi · 2%
North Kingshighway
3.63 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

Merge slight left onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

111 mi · 02h 09m

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
05h 24m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+59.6 mi
277.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Whiteside
02h 42m from Chillicothe
Leave By
6:12 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Chillicothe and Showers And Thunderstorms near Cape Girardeau.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 337.2 miles (542.6 km) and usually takes 05h 24m 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?

Whiteside is a useful midpoint, sitting about 168 miles from Chillicothe and 169.3 miles from Cape Girardeau.

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

The direct path is about 277.6 miles (446.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 59.6 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 6:12 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.87 one way or $89.75 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 105.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Chillicothe and Showers And Thunderstorms near Cape Girardeau.

Stop Ideas Near Whiteside

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Whiteside, 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 Whiteside.

RAIL

Hermann

64 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.
RAIL

Washington

69 mi away
301 West Front St.
RAIL

Alton

82 mi away
3400 College Ave.
RAIL

Kirkwood

85 mi away
110 West Argonne Dr.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chillicothe and Cape Girardeau. Straight-line distance: 277.63 mi (446.8 km).

Chillicothe

#1 Chillicothe

City in Missouri

Population8,915
Coordinates39.7952900, -93.5524400
Altitude243
CountryUnited States
Cape Girardeau

#2 Cape Girardeau

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

Population41,588
Coordinates37.3058800, -89.5181500
Altitude108
CountryUnited States
Start: Locust Street (-93.552531, 39.79529)
End: Broadway Street (-89.518146, 37.305904)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 543 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.9 gal
45.04 L · about $44.87
Round trip
$89.75
23.8 gal · 90.08 L
Estimated CO2
105.8 kg one way
Round trip: 211.5 kg / 466 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $44.87 $89.75
Mid-grade $4.25 $50.61 $101.22
Premium $4.65 $55.38 $110.77
Diesel $5.30 $63.12 $126.24

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 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Chillicothe and Cape Girardeau. The current time is 00:32:36.

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.