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

The driving distance from Waynesville, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO is about 197.7 miles (318.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 151.3 miles (243.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 09m 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
197.67 mi
03h 34m
Flight
151.29 mi
243.47 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waynesville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
151.29 mi
Kilometers
243.47 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
197.67 mi
Kilometers
318.12 km
Drive Time
03h 34m

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 03h 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cape Girardeau
Sat, May 30, 5:01 PM CDT
Return by in Waynesville
Sat, May 30, 8:35 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waynesville
2026-05-30T13:26
Arrive Cape Girardeau
Sat, May 30, 5:01 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 34m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:35 AM to 11:35 AM CDT

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

Leave by
9:50 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waynesville
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 Waynesville
105.5 mi
01h 47m
To Cape Girardeau
92.1 mi
01h 47m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph E
Destination
81°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
1 to 6 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    2.1 mi · 4 min

  2. 2

    Turn left onto I 44 East: Rolla

    652 ft · 16 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left

    78.6 mi · 1 hr 25 min

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward MO WW, MO AB, MO 30: Saint Clair

    895 ft · 23 sec

  5. 5

    Turn right

    728 ft · 22 sec

  6. 6

    Continue on West Gravois Avenue

    1012 ft · 25 sec · West Gravois Avenue

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward MO 30, MO 47

    58 m · 5 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto East Gravois Avenue

    27 mi · 38 min · East Gravois Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn right

    11.6 mi · 17 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    55 m · 5 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Metropolitan Boulevard

    641 ft · 15 sec · Metropolitan Boulevard

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward I 55 South: Cape Girardeau

    66 m · 10 sec

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto I 55 South: Cape Girardeau

    832 ft · 10 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Jeff McBride Memorial Highway

    84.8 mi · 1 hr 31 min · Jeff McBride Memorial Highway

  15. 15

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

    814 ft · 17 sec

  16. 16

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

    1354 ft · 29 sec

  17. 17

    Continue on North Kingshighway

    3.6 mi · 6 min · North Kingshighway

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Broadway Street

    2 mi · 4 min · Broadway Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Broadway Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
19 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Jeff McBride Memorial Highway
84.8 mi · 43%
I 44 East
78.8 mi · 40%
East Gravois Avenue
27 mi · 14%
North Kingshighway
3.63 mi · 2%
Broadway Street
2.03 mi · 1%
I 55 Business
0.26 mi
Longest Stretch

Jeff McBride Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto Jeff McBride Memorial Highway

84.8 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
03h 34m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.4 mi
151.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Scotsdale
01h 47m from Waynesville
Leave By
9:50 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Waynesville and Chance Rain Showers near Cape Girardeau.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 197.7 miles (318.1 km) and usually takes 03h 34m 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 105.5 miles from Waynesville and 92.1 miles from Cape Girardeau.

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

The direct path is about 151.3 miles (243.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.4 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 9:50 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.28 one way or $52.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Waynesville and Chance Rain Showers near Cape Girardeau.

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 Waynesville and Cape Girardeau. Straight-line distance: 151.29 mi (243.47 km).

Waynesville

#1 Waynesville

City in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States

Population5,308
Coordinates37.8286500, -92.2007200
Altitude246
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 Historic 66 (-92.200715, 37.828737)
End: Broadway Street (-89.518146, 37.305904)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 318 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.97 gal
26.4 L · about $26.28
Round trip
$52.57
13.94 gal · 52.8 L
Estimated CO2
61.9 kg one way
Round trip: 123.9 kg / 273 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $26.28 $52.57
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.64 $59.29
Premium $4.65 $32.44 $64.88
Diesel $5.30 $36.97 $73.94

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 Waynesville and Cape Girardeau. The current time is 13:26:29.

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.