Trip from Decatur, IL to Edwardsville, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 5m

Distance

98.1 mi

158 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

4 AM

1h 57m ★

6 AM

2h 6m

8 AM

2h 24m

10 AM

2h 12m

12 PM

2h 10m

3 PM

2h 13m

5 PM

2h 23m

8 PM

2h 0m

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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Trip Overview

The drive from Decatur, IL to Edwardsville, IL covers 98.1 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 I 55, County Road 2080 E, South Taylorville Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.34 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

49.1 miles from Decatur, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 98.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (44%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Decatur, IL to Edwardsville, IL covers 98.1 miles and takes about 2h 5m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 15 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 40 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 51 Business / South Main Street.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Decatur, IL to Edwardsville, IL is easy. At 2h 5m with 44% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 51 Business / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (West South Side Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (IL 48 / South Taylorville Road): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

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

4

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 51 Business / South Main Street

Turn left onto US 51 Business / South Main Street

Navigation decision point

3

1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in | West South Side Drive

Turn right onto West South Side Drive

Navigation decision point

3

2.3 mi into trip | ~3m in | IL 48 / South Taylorville Road

Turn left onto IL 48 / South Taylorville Road

Navigation decision point

5

53.9 mi into trip | ~1h 15m in

Turn left toward I 55 South: East Saint Louis

Navigation decision point

Toward I 55 South: East Saint Louis

5

94.3 mi into trip | ~1h 59m in

Take the exit toward IL 143: Edwardsville, Marine

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward IL 143: Edwardsville, Marine

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 55	40 mi	42m
County Road 2080 E	18.4 mi	22m
South Taylorville Road	12.9 mi	15m
Sarpy Street	12.2 mi	21m
Front Street	7.6 mi	11m
IL 143	3.5 mi	6m
South Main Street	1.3 mi	2m
West South Side Drive	0.9 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 55 — 40 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, IL and Edwardsville, IL.

1

Start on East Wood Street

298 ft · 15 sec · East Wood Street

2

Turn left onto US 51 Business

1.3 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

3

Turn right onto West South Side Drive

0.9 mi · 1 min · West South Side Drive

4

Turn left onto IL 48

13 mi · 15 min · South Taylorville Road

5

Continue on IL 48

18 mi · 22 min · County Road 2080 E

6

Continue on IL 48

0.6 mi · 51 sec · County Road 975 N

7

Continue on IL 48

12 mi · 21 min · Sarpy Street

8

Continue on IL 48

7.6 mi · 11 min · Front Street

9

Turn left

0.3 mi · 44 sec

Toward I 55 South: East Saint Louis

10

Merge onto I 55

40 mi · 42 min · I 55

11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 28 sec

Toward IL 143: Edwardsville, Marine

12

Turn right onto IL 143

0.4 mi · 33 sec · IL 143

13

Continue on IL 143

3.1 mi · 5 min · IL 143

14

Turn left onto South Buchanan Street

120 ft · 2 sec · South Buchanan Street

15

Arrive at destination

South Buchanan Street

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 49.1 miles from Decatur, IL, or about 1h 8m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40 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 22 miles or 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 49.1 miles or 1h 8m 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 44m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Decatur, 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 Decatur, IL

This is one driving day of about 98.1 miles and 2h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Decatur, IL.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 40 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 49.1 mi from Decatur, IL · 1h 8m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Litchfield, IL

49 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

Edinburg, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Litchfield, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 49.1 miles from Decatur, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Edwardsville, IL

The final approach into Edwardsville, 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 Edwardsville, IL.

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

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...

26 mi from route ~64 min detour Free near mile 30.5

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.34 one way

$30.67 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$16.84	$33.68
premium	$4.89	$18.88	$37.76
diesel	$5.61	$21.66	$43.32

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: 34.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	29.4	$10.30	$4.71
Efficient EV	24.5	$8.58	$3.92
EV Truck/SUV	39.2	$13.73	$6.28

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Decatur, IL

Afternoon in Decatur on Thursday

Local time

1:52 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Edwardsville, IL

Afternoon in Edwardsville on Thursday

Local time

1:52 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

54°F

Litchfield, IL

49 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

2 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

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 Decatur, IL to Edwardsville, IL covers 98.1 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 I 55, County Road 2080 E, South Taylorville Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 49.1 miles from Decatur, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.34 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 Decatur, IL to Edwardsville, IL is easy. At 2h 5m with 44% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 51 Business / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (West South Side Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (IL 48 / South Taylorville Road): Navigation decision point.

The route from Decatur, IL to Edwardsville, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument.

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Trip from Decatur, IL to Edwardsville, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Edwardsville, IL

National Parks Near This Route

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Decatur, IL

Edwardsville, IL

Same local time

2 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 5m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More

Continue From Edwardsville, IL

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