Cape Girardeau to Des Moines: Road Trip Guide & Distance

How far is Cape Girardeau from Des Moines?

The distance from Cape Girardeau to Des Moines is 368 miles (592.2 km) as the crow flies. Des Moines is located NW of Cape Girardeau. By car, the driving distance is approximately 441.5 miles, taking about 8h 53min. A direct flight would take roughly 1h 14min. Both are located in United States — Cape Girardeau in Missouri and Des Moines in Iowa.

This is a solid day of driving. Be sure to take breaks every 2-3 hours to avoid driver fatigue, and plan your meals ahead of time. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare.

Coordinates come from public place data for Cape Girardeau and Des Moines. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.