Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 51m
Distance
96.4 mi
155 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Belleville, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Frankfort, IL
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Belleville, IL to Frankfort, IL covers 96.4 miles and takes about 1h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 64, Ken Gray Expressway, Lebanon Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 58.7 miles on I 64. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.07 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.
Midpoint
48.2 miles from Belleville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 96.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.
This is a 1h 51m highway drive covering 96.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 64 and Ken Gray Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 58.7 miles on I 64.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
190 ft
Total Descent
228 ft
Highest Point
554 ft
~48.2 mi in
Elevation Range
133 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and Ken Gray Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 66.4 miles in near I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 51m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 66.4 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 93.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.8 miles (IL 149 / West Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward IL 149: West Frankfort, Zeigler
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Enter roundabout onto IL 149 / West Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Turn left onto North Benton Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto East Saint Louis Street
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 64 | 58.7 mi | 1h 3m |
| Ken Gray Expressway | 27.1 mi | 29m |
| Lebanon Avenue | 5.2 mi | 9m |
| West Main Street | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Maple Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Air Mobility Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Benton Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Belleville, IL and Frankfort, IL.
Start on East F Street
Turn left onto Lebanon Avenue
Continue on South Main Street
Turn right onto Maple Street
Turn left onto IL 158
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
Take the exit
Enter roundabout onto IL 149
Continue on IL 149
Turn left onto North Benton Road
Turn right onto East Saint Louis Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.2 miles or 57m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Frankfort, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Belleville, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Belleville, IL
This is one driving day of about 96.4 miles and 1h 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.2 mi from Belleville, IL · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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.
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 48.2 miles from Belleville, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Frankfort, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$15.07 one way
$30.14 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.55 | $33.09 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.55 | $37.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.28 | $42.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.12 | $4.63 |
| Efficient EV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.44 | $3.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.6 | 0 | $13.50 | $6.17 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Belleville on Friday
Local time
7:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Morning in Frankfort on Friday
Local time
7:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
74°F
Nashville, IL
48 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Elevation is sampled from USGS 3DEP. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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