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Trip from Alton, IL to Elmhurst, IL

Drive Time

5h 20m

Distance

277.7 mi

447 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

39 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
5h 7m ★
6 AM
5h 21m
8 AM
5h 48m
10 AM
5h 30m
12 PM
5h 27m
3 PM
5h 32m
5 PM
5h 46m
8 PM
5h 13m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Alton, IL, IL

Alton, IL

Samuele Pellegrino

Downtown Elmhurst, IL, IL

Elmhurst, IL

Pho Tomass

Trip Overview

The drive from Alton, IL to Elmhurst, IL covers 277.7 miles and takes about 5h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 55, Kingery Highway, State Route 140 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 244.2 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.18 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

138.8 miles from Alton, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 40m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 20m highway drive covering 277.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and Kingery Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 244.2 miles on I 55.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 244.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Kingery Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 117.3 miles in near I 55.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 277.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 117.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 146.6 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 264.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
117.3 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in | I 55

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 North: Chicago
8
146.6 mi into trip | ~2h 49m in | I 55

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
7
264.8 mi into trip | ~5h in

Take the exit toward IL 83: Kingery Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 274 Toward IL 83: Kingery Road
8
265 mi into trip | ~5h in

Keep slight left at fork toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road
8
265.2 mi into trip | ~5h 1m in

Keep slight right at fork toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road North

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Alton, IL to Elmhurst, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.

Peoria

146.6 mi in | ~2h 49m | via I 55

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 244.2 mi 4h 26m
Kingery Highway 10.4 mi 15m
State Route 140 9.7 mi 13m
College Avenue 3.9 mi 6m
West Bethalto Drive 1.8 mi 3m
West MacArthur Drive 1.4 mi 2m
West Macarthur Drive 1.3 mi 2m
West Saint Charles Road 1.1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 244.2 mi, about 4h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Alton, IL and Elmhurst, IL.

1

Start on Alby Street

190 ft · 10 sec · Alby Street
2

Turn right onto East Broadway

0.1 mi · 21 sec · East Broadway
3

Turn right onto US 67

0.4 mi · 36 sec · Piasa Street
4

Continue on US 67

0.9 mi · 1 min · Martin Luther King Drive
5

Turn right onto College Avenue

0.2 mi · 25 sec · College Avenue
6

Turn right

67 ft · 1 sec
7

Enter roundabout onto College Avenue

380 ft · 9 sec · College Avenue
8

Continue on College Avenue

3.6 mi · 6 min · College Avenue
9

Continue on IL 111; IL 140

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Macarthur Drive
10

Continue on IL 111; IL 140

1.4 mi · 2 min · West MacArthur Drive
11

Continue on IL 140

1.8 mi · 3 min · West Bethalto Drive
12

Continue on IL 140

9.6 mi · 13 min · State Route 140
13

Continue on IL 140

0.8 mi · 1 min · West State Street
14

Continue on IL 140

443 ft · 13 sec · State Route 140
15

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
16

Merge onto I 55

97 mi · 1 hr 44 min · I 55
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55

29 mi · 31 min · I 55
Toward I 55 North: Chicago Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55

118 mi · 2 hr 10 min · I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Exit 274 Toward IL 83: Kingery Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road North Use the right lane.
22

Continue on IL 83

10 mi · 15 min · Kingery Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Take the exit

338 ft · 9 sec
24

Turn slight right onto West Saint Charles Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · West Saint Charles Road
25

Turn left onto South York Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · South York Street
Use the left lane.
26

Turn left onto West Park Avenue

38 ft · 3 sec · West Park Avenue
27

Turn slight right

65 ft · 4 sec
28

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 138.8 miles from Alton, IL, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 244.2 miles.

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 37m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 138.8 miles or 2h 40m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elmhurst, 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 277.7 miles and 5h 20m.

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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 244.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 138.8 mi from Alton, IL · 2h 40m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomington, IL

139 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.

Popular next leg

Bloomington, IL to Elmhurst, IL

125.9 mi · 2h 31m

Pacing Suggestions

Decatur, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bloomington, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 138.8 miles from Alton, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 244.2 miles.

Arriving in Elmhurst, IL

The final approach into Elmhurst, 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 Elmhurst, IL.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

National Monument

In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 86.2
View on nps.gov
Pullman National Historical Park

Pullman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...

18 mi from route ~46 min detour Free near mile 268.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$42.18 one way

$84.36 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 97 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $46.50 $93.00
premium $4.80 $52.42 $104.85
diesel $5.64 $61.70 $123.39

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 97.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

39 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

County Market - Tesla Supercharger

Springfield, IL

Tesla

16 DCFC

Springfield, IL Rechargery Relay - S Dirksen Pkwy

Springfield, IL

IONNA

12 DCFC

Haymakers - Tesla Supercharger

Springfield, IL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Circle K - Tesla Supercharger

Normal, IL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Springfield, IL

Springfield, IL

RIVIAN_ADVENTURE

8 DCFC

Legacy Pointe - Tesla Supercharger

Springfield, IL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Normal, IL

Normal, IL

RIVIAN_ADVENTURE

8 DCFC

Super 8 by Wyndham Alton

Alton, IL

UNIVERSAL

4 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 9 UNIVERSAL: 7 Non-Networked: 4 Tesla: 4 EV Connect: 3 Blink Network: 2 FORD_CHARGE: 2 RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 2 Electrify America: 2 eVgo Network: 1 CIRCLE_K: 1 IONNA: 1 RED_E: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 83.3 1 $29.16 $13.33
Efficient EV 69.4 0 $24.30 $11.11
EV Truck/SUV 111.1 1 $38.88 $17.77

Gas CO2

97 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 hours ago

Origin

Alton, IL

Morning in Alton on Monday

Local time

7:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Elmhurst, IL

Morning in Elmhurst on Monday

Local time

7:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 15 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Along the Route

53°F

Bloomington, IL

139 mi in

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

4 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 20m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Elmhurst, IL covers 277.7 miles and takes about 5h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, Kingery Highway, State Route 140. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 138.8 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 $42.18 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 277.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 117.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 146.6 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 264.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Alton, IL to Elmhurst, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.

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