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Trip from Crystal Lake, IL to Upper Alton, IL

Drive Time

5h 55m

Distance

290.3 mi

467 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

36 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 42m ★
6 AM
5h 55m
8 AM
6h 21m
10 AM
6h 4m
12 PM
6h 2m
3 PM
6h 6m
5 PM
6h 20m
8 PM
5h 48m

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 Crystal Lake, IL, IL

Crystal Lake, IL

Mohan Nannapaneni

Downtown Upper Alton, IL, IL

Upper Alton, IL

Mike Tyurin

Trip Overview

The drive from Crystal Lake, IL to Upper Alton, IL covers 290.3 miles and takes about 5h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 55, IL 47, South Randall Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 189.8 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.09 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

145.1 miles from Crystal Lake, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 55m highway drive covering 290.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and IL 47. The longest continuous stretch is about 189.8 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 32 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 189.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and IL 47. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.3 miles in near CR 83 / Orchard Road.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 290.3 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 30.3 miles (CR 83 / Orchard Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.8 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point; at 51.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

5
30.3 mi into trip | ~50m in | CR 83 / Orchard Road

Turn right onto CR 83 / Orchard Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
45.8 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in | IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road

At end of road, turn right onto IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road

Navigation decision point

5
51.5 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in

Turn left

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
82.2 mi into trip | ~2h 1m in

Take the exit toward I 55 South: Bloomington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
8
144.9 mi into trip | ~3h 9m in | I 55

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

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 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

Towns Along This Route

Between Crystal Lake, IL and Upper Alton, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Greenville.

Springfield

144.9 mi in | ~3h 9m | via I 55

Greenville

272.3 mi in | ~5h 26m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 189.8 mi 3h 24m
IL 47 22.1 mi 25m
South Randall Road 17.9 mi 28m
Orchard Road 11.2 mi 18m
State Route 140 9.6 mi 13m
North Randall Road 6.6 mi 10m
Minkler Road 4.3 mi 6m
Ashley Road 3.8 mi 5m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 189.8 mi, about 3h 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Crystal Lake, IL and Upper Alton, IL.

1

Start on East Crystal Lake Avenue

25 ft · 4 sec · East Crystal Lake Avenue
2

Turn right onto South Main Street

1.7 mi · 3 min · South Main Street
3

Continue on V32

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Pyott Road
4

Turn right onto A45

1.2 mi · 1 min · James R Rakow Road
5

Continue on V29

2.2 mi · 3 min · North Randall Road
Use the straight lane.
6

Continue on V29

18 mi · 28 min · South Randall Road
Use the straight lane.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto CR 34

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Randall Road
8

Continue on CR 34

2.6 mi · 4 min · Randall Road
Use the left lane.
9

Continue on CR 34

3.3 mi · 5 min · North Randall Road
10

Turn right onto CR 83

11 mi · 18 min · Orchard Road
Use the right lane.
11

Continue on Minkler Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Minkler Road
12

Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road

128 ft · 3 sec · Minkler Road
13

Continue on Minkler Road

3.4 mi · 5 min · Minkler Road
14

At end of road, turn right onto IL 126

0.5 mi · 47 sec · East Schoolhouse Road
15

Turn left onto Ashley Road

3.8 mi · 5 min · Ashley Road
16

Turn right onto Caton Farm Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · Caton Farm Road
17

Turn left

7.2 mi · 9 min
Use the straight lane.
18

Continue on North Bridge Street

1.3 mi · 1 min · North Bridge Street
19

Continue on IL 47

22 mi · 25 min · IL 47
20

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 45 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
21

Merge onto I 55

62 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55

65 mi · 1 hr 10 min · I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55

63 mi · 1 hr 7 min · I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
24

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
25

Turn right onto IL 140

0.7 mi · 1 min · East State Street
26

Continue on IL 140

9.6 mi · 13 min · State Route 140
27

Continue on IL 140

1.8 mi · 3 min · East Bethalto Drive
28

Continue on IL 111; IL 140

1.4 mi · 2 min · East MacArthur Drive
29

Continue on IL 111; IL 140

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Macarthur Drive
30

Continue on IL 111; IL 140

2.4 mi · 4 min · College Avenue
31

Turn right onto Washington Avenue

0.6 mi · 59 sec · Washington Avenue
32

Arrive at destination

Washington Avenue

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 145.1 miles from Crystal Lake, IL, or about 3h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 189.8 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 59m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 145.1 miles or 3h 9m 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 49m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Upper Alton, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Crystal Lake, 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 Crystal Lake, IL

This is one driving day of about 290.3 miles and 5h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Crystal Lake, 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 189.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 145.1 mi from Crystal Lake, IL · 3h 9m into the drive

Downtown Normal, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Normal, IL

145 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

Joliet, 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 145.1 miles from Crystal Lake, 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 189.8 miles.

Arriving in Upper Alton, IL

The final approach into Upper Alton, 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 Upper Alton, 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...

4 mi from route ~11 min detour Free near mile 210.2
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.09 one way

$88.19 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 102 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $48.61 $97.22
premium $4.80 $54.80 $109.61
diesel $5.64 $64.49 $128.99

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 101.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

36 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Woodman's Markets - Tesla Supercharger

North Aurora, IL

Tesla

16 DCFC

Meijer - Tesla Supercharger

Algonquin, IL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Meijer - Tesla Supercharger

Elgin, IL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Meijer - Tesla Supercharger

Oswego, IL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Clarke Mosquito Control Products Inc -A

St. Charles, IL

Blink Network

8 DCFC

Casey's General Store - Tesla Supercharger

Dwight, IL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Thorntons, W Algonquin Rd, Lake in the Hills, IL

Lake in the Hills, IL

BP_PULSE

6 DCFC

Meijer Algonquin #206 (Algonquin, IL)

Algonquin, IL

Electrify America

6 DCFC

BP_PULSE: 5 Tesla: 5 ChargePoint Network: 5 UNIVERSAL: 4 Blink Network: 4 NAYAX_ENERGY: 3 Non-Networked: 2 Electrify America: 2 RED_E: 2 IN_CHARGE: 2 NOODOE: 1 eVgo Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 87.1 1 $30.48 $13.93
Efficient EV 72.6 0 $25.40 $11.61
EV Truck/SUV 116.1 1 $40.64 $18.58

Gas CO2

102 kg

EV CO2

34 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 days ago

Origin

Crystal Lake, IL

Morning in Crystal Lake on Monday

Local time

7:31 AM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Upper Alton, IL

Morning in Upper Alton on Monday

Local time

7:31 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°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

14 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 55m 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 Crystal Lake, IL to Upper Alton, IL covers 290.3 miles and takes about 5h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, IL 47, South Randall Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 145.1 miles from Crystal Lake, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.09 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 16 significant decision points across 290.3 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 30.3 miles (CR 83 / Orchard Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.8 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point; at 51.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Between Crystal Lake, IL and Upper Alton, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Greenville.

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