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

The driving distance from Kirksville, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO is about 310.1 miles (499 km), with a travel time of about 04h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 259 miles (416.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 59m 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
310.06 mi
04h 59m
Flight
259.04 mi
416.88 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Kirksville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
259.04 mi
Kilometers
416.88 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
310.06 mi
Kilometers
499 km
Drive Time
04h 59m

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 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cape Girardeau
Wed, Jun 3, 3:43 AM CDT
Return by in Kirksville
Wed, Jun 3, 8:42 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Kirksville
2026-06-02T22:43
Arrive Cape Girardeau
Wed, Jun 3, 3:43 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:00 AM to 1:00 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
7:00 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Kirksville
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
Troy
MO

City in Lincoln County, Montana, USA

From Kirksville
154.7 mi
02h 29m
To Cape Girardeau
155.3 mi
02h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph E
Destination
65°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 4:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NNE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Franklin Street

    898 ft · 42 sec · North Franklin Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Illinois Street

    3125 ft · 1 min · East Illinois Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Baltimore Street

    4 mi · 6 min · North Baltimore Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight toward US 63 South: Macon

    766 ft · 21 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    28.6 mi · 32 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit left toward US 36 East, MO 110 East: Hannibal

    929 ft · 12 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    52.9 mi · 1 hr 1 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  8. 8

    Continue on V.F.W. Memorial Highway

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

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward Veterans Road

    1167 ft · 30 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Veterans Road

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Veterans Road

  11. 11

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

    85 m · 7 sec · County Road 422

  12. 12

    Continue on Paris Gravel Road

    2539 ft · 1 min · Paris Gravel Road

  13. 13

    Take the ramp right

    37 m · 3 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

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

  15. 15

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

    1829 ft · 39 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on I 270 South: Memphis

    1691 ft · 31 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    11.5 mi · 14 min

  18. 18

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

    1911 ft · 27 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Memphis

    2031 ft · 44 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Rosa Parks Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Rosa Parks Highway

  21. 21

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

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

  22. 22

    Continue on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway

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

  23. 23

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

    814 ft · 17 sec

  24. 24

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

    1354 ft · 29 sec

  25. 25

    Continue on North Kingshighway

    3.6 mi · 6 min · North Kingshighway

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Broadway Street

    2 mi · 4 min · Broadway Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Broadway Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Kirksville 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
27 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
5 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Avenue of the Saints
98.7 mi · 32%
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
93.1 mi · 30%
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
52.9 mi · 17%
US 63 South
28.8 mi · 9%
I 270 South
11.8 mi · 4%
V.F.W. Memorial Highway
5.85 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Avenue of the Saints

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

98.7 mi · 01h 58m

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 59m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+51.1 mi
259 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Troy
02h 29m from Kirksville
Leave By
7:00 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Kirksville and Mostly Clear near Cape Girardeau.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 310.1 miles (499 km) and usually takes 04h 59m 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?

Troy is a useful midpoint, sitting about 154.7 miles from Kirksville and 155.3 miles from Cape Girardeau.

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

The direct path is about 259 miles (416.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 51.1 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 7:00 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.25 one way or $82.51 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Kirksville and Mostly Clear near Cape Girardeau.

Stop Ideas Near Troy

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

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

RAIL

Washington

47 mi away
301 West Front St.
RAIL

Hermann

49 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.
RAIL

Kirkwood

67 mi away
110 West Argonne Dr.
RAIL

Alton

74 mi away
3400 College Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Kirksville and Cape Girardeau. Straight-line distance: 259.04 mi (416.88 km).

Kirksville

#1 Kirksville

City in Adair County, Missouri, United States

Population17,653
Coordinates40.1947500, -92.5832500
Altitude299
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: East Washington Street (-92.583214, 40.194721)
End: Broadway Street (-89.518146, 37.305904)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 499 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.94 gal
41.42 L · about $41.25
Round trip
$82.51
21.88 gal · 82.84 L
Estimated CO2
97.2 kg one way
Round trip: 194.4 kg / 429 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $41.25 $82.51
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.53 $93.06
Premium $4.65 $50.91 $101.83
Diesel $5.30 $58.03 $116.05

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 · Jun 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Kirksville and Cape Girardeau. The current time is 22:43:31.

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.