Origin
Chicago, IL
Night in Chicago on Wednesday
Local time
9:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chicago, IL to New Athens, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
6h 4m
Distance
310.7 mi
500 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 52m
★
6 AM
6h 5m
8 AM
6h 31m
10 AM
6h 14m
12 PM
6h 11m
3 PM
6h 15m
5 PM
6h 29m
8 PM
5h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
New Athens, IL
Snap Scribe
Trip Overview
The drive from Chicago, IL to New Athens, IL covers 310.7 miles and takes about 6h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Cermak Road, South Halsted Street, South Canalport Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.57 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
155.3 miles from Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 2m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 4m drive with frequent turns across 310.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Cermak Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
770 ft
395 ft
Total Climb
560 ft
Total Descent
754 ft
Highest Point
770 ft
~133.1 mi in
Elevation Range
375 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 4m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chicago, IL to New Athens, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Cermak Road | — | — |
| South Halsted Street | — | — |
| South Canalport Avenue | — | — |
| I 90 East | — | — |
| I 55 | — | — |
| I 55 South | — | — |
| Stevenson Expressway | — | — |
| Adlai E Stevenson Expressway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Cermak Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and New Athens, IL.
1
Start on the route
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
the route
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Cermak Road
3
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
South Halsted Street
4
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
285 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
5
Turn slight right
112 ft
·
5 sec
6
Take the ramp straight toward I 90 East, I 94 East
456 ft
·
11 sec
·
I 90 East, I 94 East
7
Keep slight right to continue on I 55: Saint Louis, Lake Shore Drive
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 55: Saint Louis, Lake Shore Drive
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: St Louis
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 55 South: St Louis
9
Merge slight left onto Stevenson Expressway
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Stevenson Expressway
10
Continue on Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
11
Continue on Adlai Stevenson Expressway
129 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
65 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
78 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
I 55 South: Saint Louis
14
Take the exit slight right toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
IL 159 South: Collinsville
15
Continue on Vandalia Street
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Vandalia Street
16
Continue on South Morrison Avenue
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Morrison Avenue
17
Continue on North Illinois Street
9.8 mi
·
15 min
·
North Illinois Street
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Illinois Street
180 ft
·
5 sec
·
Illinois Street
19
Exit the rotary onto South Illinois Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Illinois Street
20
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
21
Merge slight left
15 mi
·
24 min
22
Turn left onto White Cabin Lodge Road
518 ft
·
14 sec
·
White Cabin Lodge Road
23
Continue on South Van Buren Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
South Van Buren Street
24
Turn right onto South Benton Street
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Benton Street
25
Turn right onto Chester Street
62 ft
·
3 sec
·
Chester Street
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 155.3 miles from Chicago, IL, or about 3h 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 68 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.3 miles or 3h 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 4h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Athens, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chicago, 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 Chicago, IL
This is one driving day of about 310.7 miles and 6h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Chicago, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 155.3 mi from Chicago, IL · 3h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
155 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 68 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 155.3 miles from Chicago, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in New Athens, IL
The final approach into New Athens, 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 New Athens, 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
$48.57 one way
$97.15 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
109 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $53.33 | $106.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $59.79 | $119.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $68.60 | $137.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 93.2 | 1 | $32.62 | $14.91 |
| Efficient EV | 77.7 | 0 | $27.19 | $12.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 124.3 | 1 | $43.50 | $19.88 |
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Destination
New Athens, IL
Night in New Athens on Wednesday
Local time
9:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Bloomington, IL
155 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
6 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
6h 4m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Chicago, IL to New Athens, IL covers 310.7 miles and takes about 6h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Cermak Road, South Halsted Street, South Canalport Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 155.3 miles from Chicago, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.57 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 4m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chicago, IL to New Athens, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Chicago, IL to New Athens, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 395 ft to 770 ft elevation with about 560 ft of total climbing.
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