Drive Time
5h 32m
Distance
296 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
The drive from East Saint Louis, IL to Schaumburg, IL covers 296 miles and takes about 5h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pennsylvania Avenue, North 9th Street, I 55 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.95 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
148 miles from East Saint Louis, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 46m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 32m drive with frequent turns across 296 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North 9th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 55 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 355 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 355 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IL 72 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Higgins Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between East Saint Louis, IL and Schaumburg, IL.
Start on North 10th Street
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
Turn right onto North 9th Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North 9th Street
Exit the roundabout onto North 9th Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward I 55 North, I 70 East
Exit the roundabout onto I 55 North, I 70 East
Merge slight left
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
Take the exit slight right toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
Keep slight left to continue on I 355 North: Northwest Suburbs
Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Road, Golf Road
Turn left onto East Higgins Road
Continue on West Higgins Road
Turn left onto North Roselle Road
Turn right onto West Thacker Street
Turn left onto North Pleasant Drive
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148 miles or 2h 46m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Schaumburg, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving East Saint Louis, 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 East Saint Louis, IL
This is one driving day of about 296 miles and 5h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 148 mi from East Saint Louis, IL · 2h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
148 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 148 miles from East Saint Louis, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Schaumburg, 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 Schaumburg, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$43.95 one way
$87.89 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $49.56 | $99.13 |
| premium | $4.65 | $54.24 | $108.47 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $61.81 | $123.62 |
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: 103.6 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.8 | 1 | $31.08 | $14.21 |
| Efficient EV | 74 | 0 | $25.90 | $11.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118.4 | 1 | $41.44 | $18.94 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in East Saint Louis on Saturday
Local time
6:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Schaumburg on Saturday
Local time
6:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
53°F
Bloomington, IL
148 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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Return Trip
Schaumburg, IL to East Saint Louis, ILPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from East Saint Louis, IL or browse trips ending in Schaumburg, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for East Saint Louis, IL or Schaumburg, IL on MapSof.net.