How far is Saint Joseph, MO from Cape Girardeau, MO?

The driving distance from Saint Joseph, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO is about 410.2 miles (660.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 334.4 miles (538.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
410.2 mi
06h 09m
Flight
334.4 mi
538.17 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Saint Joseph.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
334.4 mi
Kilometers
538.17 km
Flight Time
00h 40m

Driving Distance

Road route
410.2 mi
Kilometers
660.16 km
Drive Time
06h 09m

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 06h 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cape Girardeau
Thu, Apr 23, 3:23 AM CDT
Return by in Saint Joseph
Thu, Apr 23, 9:32 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Saint Joseph
2026-04-22T21:13
Arrive Cape Girardeau
Thu, Apr 23, 3:23 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:10 PM to 1:40 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:40 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Saint Joseph
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Kingdom City
MO

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

From Saint Joseph
203.1 mi
03h 04m
To Cape Girardeau
207.1 mi
03h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 16 mph S
Destination
78°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Joseph and Cape Girardeau.

  1. 1

    Start on Walter Welsh Avenue

    127 m · 9 sec · Walter Welsh Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North 12th Street

    91 m · 10 sec · North 12th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Francis Street

    1130 ft · 38 sec · Francis Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto North 9th Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North 9th Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right

    741 ft · 16 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    929 ft · 20 sec

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight left toward I 229 South, US 59 South: Kansas City

    992 ft · 21 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    4.5 mi · 5 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 29 South, US 71 South: Kansas City

    1705 ft · 29 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    26.1 mi · 28 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight right

    2.2 mi · 2 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 435 East: Saint Louis

    28 mi · 31 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 70, US 24 West, US 40: Saint Louis, Kansas City, Sports Complex

    1500 ft · 23 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 70 East: Saint Louis

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 70 East: Saint Louis

    143 m · 12 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto George Brett Super Highway

    2213 ft · 29 sec · George Brett Super Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

    2.6 mi · 3 min · Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    52.5 mi · 57 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

    32 mi · 34 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

    22.4 mi · 24 min · U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway

  25. 25

    Continue on Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway

  26. 26

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    81 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64 East, US 40 East, US 61 South: Chesterfield

    1567 ft · 33 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    25.1 mi · 31 min · Avenue of the Saints

  29. 29

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

    1829 ft · 39 sec

  30. 30

    Keep slight right to continue on I 270 South: Memphis

    1691 ft · 31 sec

  31. 31

    Merge slight left

    11.5 mi · 14 min

  32. 32

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

    1911 ft · 27 sec

  33. 33

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Memphis

    2031 ft · 44 sec

  34. 34

    Merge slight left onto Rosa Parks Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Rosa Parks Highway

  35. 35

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

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

  36. 36

    Continue on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway

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

  37. 37

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

    814 ft · 17 sec

  38. 38

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

    1354 ft · 29 sec

  39. 39

    Continue on North Kingshighway

    3.6 mi · 6 min · North Kingshighway

  40. 40

    Turn left onto Broadway Street

    2 mi · 4 min · Broadway Street

  41. 41

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Broadway Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Saint Joseph 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
41 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
8 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
135 mi · 33%
Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway
93.1 mi · 23%
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
54.4 mi · 13%
I 29 South
28.7 mi · 7%
I 435 East
28 mi · 7%
Avenue of the Saints
25.1 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway

Continue on Police Officer Steven Jarvis Memorial Highway

93.1 mi · 01h 40m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 09m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+75.8 mi
334.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kingdom City
03h 04m from Saint Joseph
Leave By
11:40 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Saint Joseph and Sunny near Cape Girardeau.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Saint Joseph to Cape Girardeau?

The road trip is about 410.2 miles (660.2 km) and usually takes 06h 09m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Kingdom City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 203.1 miles from Saint Joseph and 207.1 miles from Cape Girardeau.

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

The direct path is about 334.4 miles (538.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 75.8 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $54.57 one way or $109.13 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 128.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Saint Joseph and Sunny near Cape Girardeau.

Stop Ideas Near Kingdom City

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

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

RAIL

Jefferson City

46 mi away
101 Jefferson Street
RAIL

Hermann

52 mi away
Wharf & Gutenberg Sts.
RAIL

Washington

91 mi away
301 West Front St.
RAIL

Sedalia

115 mi away
100 block of Main Street, through parking lot

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Saint Joseph and Cape Girardeau. Straight-line distance: 334.4 mi (538.17 km).

Saint Joseph

#1 Saint Joseph

The most populous city in Buchanan County, Missouri.

Population74,074
Coordinates39.7686100, -94.8466300
Altitude270
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: Walter Welsh Avenue (-94.846632, 39.768853)
End: Broadway Street (-89.518146, 37.305904)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 660 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)13h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 07m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
14.47 gal
54.79 L · about $54.57
Round trip
$109.13
28.94 gal · 109.58 L
Estimated CO2
128.6 kg one way
Round trip: 257.2 kg / 567 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $54.57 $109.13
Mid-grade $4.25 $61.54 $123.08
Premium $4.65 $67.34 $134.69
Diesel $5.30 $76.75 $153.50

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Saint Joseph and Cape Girardeau. The current time is 21:13:30.

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.