Origin
Decatur, IL
Late night in Decatur on Thursday
Local time
12:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Decatur, IL to Alton, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 24m
Distance
107.5 mi
173 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 15m
★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 45m
10 AM
2h 32m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 33m
5 PM
2h 44m
8 PM
2h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Decatur, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Alton, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Decatur, IL to Alton, IL covers 107.5 miles and takes about 2h 24m 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 32.9 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.81 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
53.8 miles from Decatur, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Decatur, IL to Alton, IL covers 107.5 miles and takes about 2h 24m, 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 24 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 32.9 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.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Decatur, IL to Alton, IL is easy. At 2h 24m with 40% 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 53.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 87.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese 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
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
87.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
5
105.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 21m in
|
College Avenue
Enter roundabout onto College Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
107.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
|
Alby Street
Turn right onto Alby Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Decatur, IL to Alton, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Greenville along the way.
Greenville
87.2 mi in
|
~1h 51m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 32.9 mi | 35m |
| County Road 2080 E | 18.4 mi | 22m |
| South Taylorville Road | 12.9 mi | 15m |
| Sarpy Street | 12.2 mi | 21m |
| State Route 140 | 9.6 mi | 13m |
| Front Street | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| College Avenue | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| East Bethalto Drive | 1.8 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 32.9 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, IL and Alton, 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
33 mi
·
35 min
·
I 55
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
12
Turn right onto IL 140
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East State Street
13
Continue on IL 140
9.6 mi
·
13 min
·
State Route 140
14
Continue on IL 140
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
East Bethalto Drive
15
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East MacArthur Drive
16
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Macarthur Drive
17
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
College Avenue
18
Enter roundabout onto College Avenue
397 ft
·
7 sec
·
College Avenue
19
Continue on College Avenue
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
College Avenue
20
Turn left onto US 67
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Drive
21
Continue on US 67
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Piasa Street
22
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
West 3rd Street
23
Turn right onto Alby Street
118 ft
·
5 sec
·
Alby Street
24
Arrive at destination
Alby 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 53.8 miles from Decatur, IL, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.9 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 24 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.8 miles or 1h 15m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alton, 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 107.5 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 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 32.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.8 mi from Decatur, IL · 1h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 53.8 miles from Decatur, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alton, IL
The final approach into 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 Alton, 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
$16.81 one way
$33.61 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.45 | $36.91 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.69 | $41.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.73 | $47.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.29 | $5.16 |
| Efficient EV | 26.9 | 0 | $9.41 | $4.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43 | 0 | $15.05 | $6.88 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Alton, IL
Late night in Alton on Thursday
Local time
12:17 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
17 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 24m 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 Alton, IL covers 107.5 miles and takes about 2h 24m 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 53.8 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 $16.81 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 Alton, IL is easy. At 2h 24m with 40% 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 53.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 87.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Decatur, IL to Alton, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Greenville along the way.
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