Origin
Alton, IL
Afternoon in Alton on Tuesday
Local time
2:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alton, IL to Decatur, IL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 5m
Distance
107.4 mi
173 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 56m
★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 23m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 10m
3 PM
2h 12m
5 PM
2h 22m
8 PM
2h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alton, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Decatur, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Alton, IL to Decatur, IL covers 107.4 miles and takes about 2h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Broadway, Piasa Street, Martin Luther King Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.79 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
53.7 miles from Alton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 5m drive with frequent turns across 107.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Broadway is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Alton, IL to Decatur, IL is easy. At 2h 5m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Alton, IL to Decatur, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Broadway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Piasa Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Martin Luther King Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| College Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Macarthur Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West MacArthur Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Bethalto Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Route 140 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Broadway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alton, IL and Decatur, IL.
1
Start on Alby Street
190 ft
·
10 sec
·
Alby Street
2
Turn right onto East Broadway
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
East Broadway
3
Turn right onto Piasa Street
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Piasa Street
4
Continue on Martin Luther King Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Drive
5
Turn right onto College Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
College Avenue
6
Turn right
66 ft
·
1 sec
7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward College Avenue
381 ft
·
10 sec
·
College Avenue
8
Exit the roundabout onto College Avenue
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
College Avenue
9
Continue on West Macarthur Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Macarthur Drive
10
Continue on West MacArthur Drive
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West MacArthur Drive
11
Continue on West Bethalto Drive
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
West Bethalto Drive
12
Continue on State Route 140
9.6 mi
·
13 min
·
State Route 140
13
Continue on West State Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West State Street
14
Continue on State Route 140
443 ft
·
14 sec
·
State Route 140
15
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
16
Merge slight left
33 mi
·
35 min
17
Take the exit slight right toward IL 48, IL 127: Raymond, Taylorville, Hillsboro
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
IL 48, IL 127: Raymond, Taylorville, Hillsboro
18
Keep slight right to continue on IL 48, IL 127: Raymond, Taylorville, Hillsboro
148 ft
·
3 sec
·
IL 48, IL 127: Raymond, Taylorville, Hillsboro
19
Turn straight onto North 22nd Avenue
7.2 mi
·
10 min
·
North 22nd Avenue
20
Continue on Sarpy Street
12 mi
·
21 min
·
Sarpy Street
21
Continue on County Road 975 N
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
County Road 975 N
22
Continue on Jaycee Drive
18 mi
·
22 min
·
Jaycee Drive
23
Continue on North Railroad Avenue
13 mi
·
15 min
·
North Railroad Avenue
24
Turn right onto West South Side Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West South Side Drive
25
Turn slight left
1.4 mi
·
2 min
26
Turn left onto East Wood Street
509 ft
·
16 sec
·
East Wood Street
27
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 53.7 miles from Alton, IL, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.7 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Decatur, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alton, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alton, IL
This is one driving day of about 107.4 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Alton, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.7 mi from Alton, IL · 1h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 53.7 miles from Alton, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Decatur, IL
The final approach into Decatur, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Decatur, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.79 one way
$33.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.44 | $36.87 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.67 | $41.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.71 | $47.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.28 | $5.16 |
| Efficient EV | 26.9 | 0 | $9.40 | $4.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43 | 0 | $15.04 | $6.87 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Decatur, IL
Afternoon in Decatur on Tuesday
Local time
2:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 5m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alton, IL to Decatur, IL covers 107.4 miles and takes about 2h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Broadway, Piasa Street, Martin Luther King Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 53.7 miles from Alton, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.79 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Alton, IL to Decatur, IL is easy. At 2h 5m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Alton, IL to Decatur, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Alton, IL to Decatur, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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