The drive from Granite City, IL to Quincy, IL covers 139.9 miles and takes about 3h behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, Mark Twain Expressway, IL 57 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 74 miles on Avenue of the Saints.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.87 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.9 miles from Granite City, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 139.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Granite City, IL to Quincy, IL covers 139.9 miles and takes about 3h, 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 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 74 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in near North 9th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 139.9 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.7 miles (North 9th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.5 miles (US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
4.7 mi into trip|~7m in|North 9th Street
Turn right onto North 9th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
42.1 mi into trip|~55m in
Take the exit toward US 61 North: Hannibal
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 210B
Toward US 61 North: Hannibal
5
42.5 mi into trip|~55m in|US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto US 61 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
118.2 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 72 East, US 36 East, MO 110 East: Springfield, Illinois, Downtown Hannibal
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 72 East, US 36 East, MO 110 East: Spri...
5
127.1 mi into trip|~2h 38m in
Take the exit toward IL 57: Marblehead, Quincy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 57: Marblehead, Quincy
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Granite City, IL and Quincy, IL, road signs point toward Illinois and Hannibal.
Illinois
118.2 mi in|~2h 27m
Hannibal
118.2 mi in|~2h 27m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
74 mi
1h 28m
Mark Twain Expressway
37.2 mi
47m
IL 57
12.2 mi
21m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
6.4 mi
7m
Cedar Street
2.6 mi
3m
McMasters Avenue
1.7 mi
2m
V.F.W. Memorial Highway
1.4 mi
1m
McKinley Bridge
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 74 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Granite City, IL and Quincy, IL.
1
Start on Niedringhaus Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·Niedringhaus Avenue
2
Turn left onto IL 3
2.6 mi·3 min·Cedar Street
3
Continue on McKinley Bridge
1.1 mi·1 min·McKinley Bridge
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto North 9th Street
408 ft·14 sec·North 9th Street
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·10 sec
Toward I 70 West
6
Continue on I 70
37 mi·47 min·Mark Twain Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 210BToward US 61 North: HannibalUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 61
73 mi·1 hr 26 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on US 61
1.6 mi·2 min·McMasters Avenue
10
Continue on US 61
0.7 mi·1 min·Avenue of the Saints
11
Continue on US 61
403 ft·11 sec·McMasters Avenue
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 72 East, US 36 East, MO 110 East: Springfield, Illinois, Downtown Hannibal
13
Merge onto I 72; US 36; MO 110
1.4 mi·1 min·V.F.W. Memorial Highway
14
Continue on I 72; US 36; MO 110
0.9 mi·59 sec·Mark Twain Memorial Bridge
15
Continue on I 72; US 36; IL 110
3.2 mi·3 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
16
Take the exit onto IL 110
3.2 mi·4 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward IL 57: Marblehead, Quincy
18
Turn left onto IL 57
12 mi·20 min·IL 57
19
Turn left onto IL 57
0.4 mi·43 sec·IL 57
20
Turn right
71 ft·1 sec
21
Arrive at destination
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 69.9 miles from Granite City, IL, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74 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 31 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.9 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Quincy, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Granite City, 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 Granite City, IL
This is one driving day of about 139.9 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Granite City, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 74 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.9 mi from Granite City, IL
· 1h 28m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42
0
$14.69
$6.72
Efficient EV
35
0
$12.24
$5.60
EV Truck/SUV
56
0
$19.59
$8.95
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Granite City, IL
Morning
in Granite City on Saturday
Local time
8:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
NW 12 to 16 mph39% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:50AM CDT until April 21 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:48AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Quincy, IL
Morning
in Quincy on Saturday
Local time
8:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 13 to 17 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:50AM CDT until April 21 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:48AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
76°F
Troy, MO
70 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
1 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
3h on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Granite City, IL to Quincy, IL covers 139.9 miles and takes about 3h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, Mark Twain Expressway, IL 57. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.9 miles from Granite City, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.87 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 139.9 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.7 miles (North 9th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.5 miles (US 61 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Granite City, IL and Quincy, IL, road signs point toward Illinois and Hannibal.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
